Printable View
It seems logical to me that these big named printer manufacturers will eventually get into making 3D printers. The question is, "When"?
If they wait much longer, it will be too late. These companies are all big enough to put the dollars into research and development in order to come out with a truly unique and truly innovative 3D printer. I'm just wondering what is holding them up.
Jan
I'm not sure if these printer companies will enter the 3D industry or not. By the time they decide to, it may just be a little too late. 3D printing and 2D printing is so different, it will take a lot from these companies to catch up. However, you are correct in that they have the funding needed to do it.
I think that the way things will go is that within the next year or two you will see the various 3D Printing powerhouses like Statasys (ssys),they own Makerbot, 3D Systems (DDD), owner of cubify, and others get bought out by the HP's Dells, Googles of the world. I wouldnt be surprised if Apple even got into the game after a while with some sort of innovative device. Should be fun to watch. In my opinion, the 3D printing companies like DDD and SSYS are great buys, especially on this pullback we are seeing due to the debt ceiling mess.
I think the general agreement on this is: No, they won't. Even if they do, by the time they can do it well it will be too late.
In my opinion, one day soon Makerbot Industries will be one of those power companies up there with Dell, Canon, and HP. They may run the market for 2D printers, but Makerbot will run that of 3D printers. This much I am sure of.
Apple would probably have the best chances at catching up with the current market just because of what they've managed to do in the past. God knows that their printer would be all white, and it would take a sledge hammer to swap parts out.
That would certainly be an interesting turn of events. Who knows, maybe Apple will buy one out. That would be interesting for sure. Imagine the Apple iPrinter LOL.Quote:
I think that the way things will go is that within the next year or two you will see the various 3D Printing powerhouses like Statasys (ssys),they own Makerbot, 3D Systems (DDD), owner of cubify, and others get bought out by the HP's Dells, Googles of the world
I agree, that Statasys is the company that will be the ones to set the market. I think everyone else will be chasing them for years to come (unless of course someone buys them out).
LOL. The iPrinter is so sexy!Quote:
God knows that their printer would be all white, and it would take a sledge hammer to swap parts out.
HP has one. It's called HP Designjet 3D Printer series.
http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/sit...4892.492883150
I think it is ~$20,000 though.
How the hell does that even have a market at $20K?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jo1212
I could buy like 15 Replicator 2's with that money...
-AND I WOULD GLADLY DO SO!
1. This unit was released over 3 years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by MysteryAlabaster
2. Simultaneous 3-material (two different plastic filaments (i.e. different colours) and a dissolve-away support filament) printing capability. Makerbot's shiny new experimental Replicator 2X only has 2-material capability.
3. The unit is aimed at serious business rapid prototyping. Product support is important. If it breaks, you need someone to fix it ASAP, because you're losing money.
The fact that HP has a 3D printer (even though it is crazy expensive), means to me that they will be taking part in this industry in the coming years. Right now they don't have one that consumers can afford, but they are spending resources on research and development for 3D printing, so I fully expect to see some $1000 range printers released by them in the coming years.
HP recently announced that they will enter the consumer 3D printing market in Q2 of 2014!
They are going to push this industry forward, FAST.
Hold on!
Drew Taylor
https://3Dagogo.com
I think folks are confusing consumer printing with industrial printing. Industrial 3d printing has been around since the 80s and companies like Stratasys have been there since the beginning. Quite frankly, Makerbot is not really aimed at consumers anymore either. Even though they still have some consumer outlets, Stratasys bought Makerbot to fill the small business niche.
I hope that the big players do get involved. They have the ability to really move the consumer field forward that only lots of money and mass production can do.
Kdog I agree, and for now the money is to be made in the Industrial part of the industry. In 3-4 years though I think there will begin to be a lot of money in the consumer segment. I do however thing that in a couple years the consumer based 3D Printing industry will change drastically. I have a feeling that the technology will progress in a direction that no one can really imagine right now. Something different will stand out and really grow the consumer market. There is going to be a spark in a couple years. I just don't know what it will be.