In this constantly shifting industry, it can be a challenge to keep up with all the changes and developments of who is offering what in the way of 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Tuan Tranpham, Referral Channel Manager at Objet Inc., has created an excellent graphic to help anyone make sense of this industry.
This quick snapshot of industry developers will help you narrow your choice of an industrial or personal system, including scanners, software, and service bureaus. While this graphic doesn’t go into the different 3D printing technologies (SLA, SLS, FDM, etc.,) it is a good place to start your research when selecting a 3DP/AM system.
Everyone wants to know what one of these systems costs before going to far into the process. As we noted before, cost should not be your chief selection criteria. Your application needs should be first. However, this next graph gives you a good ballpark range of purchase prices. Some prices are not listed, so check with the manufacturer. Not included is the cost of materials, supplies, support, add on equipment and processes, which some of these systems have.
Hats off to Tuan, though, for putting this together. No doubt it will be a “living” document, changing as the industry changes.
Leslie Langnau
llangnau@wtwhmedia.com
