Jun 7, 2014
3D printer maker ROBO 3D announced last week the results of its annual Big 3D Printer Consumer survey, which this year indicates that 79% of the people surveyed will be purchasing a 3D printer. The survey was open to all 3D printer consumers in the U.S.
According to the survey of over 400 users, consumers are mainly interested in purchasing a single extruder 3D printer. Conversely, only 5% surveyed are interested in purchasing an industrial 3D printer.
These stats reinforce the 3D printer sector's economic viability and potential to create a significant number of jobs in the years ahead. In fact, Wall Street analysts project the industry will have $1 billion in revenue by 2016, nearly double the revenue from 2013.
Findings from the 2014 survey include:
Key demographics are falling behind in the 3D printer industry:
- Only 4% of the survey respondents were women
- Millennials are the least engaged age group in 3D printing, followed closely by baby boomers at 10% and 15% conversely.
- 45% of the respondents have an income of up to $80,000.
Printers and Features Most Appealing to Consumers:
- 22% said they would like the ability to print 3D items faster.
- 16% would like more materials to print with.
- A full 24% would like more build volume with their printers.
- $500-$1000 is the range that the majority of consumers are willing to spend on a 3D printer.
Items Consumers are 3D Printing
- 46% of users are printing office items.
- 65% are printing items for the home/household
- 63% are printing parts for machinery
- 80% are printing prototypes
The survey also indicates that the majority of consumers are purchasing 3D printer machines and accessories online, due to the lack of big box and other stores stocking 3D printing items. A full 70% purchase items online, virtually site unseen.
"The survey is indicative of nationwide consumer trends in the 3D printing industry. To be truly mainstream, the industry as a whole needs to be appealing to both women and millennials." said Braydon Moreno, CEO, ROBO 3D "The survey also showed us that the majority of consumers are not willing to spend more than $1000 on a 3D printer, which shows us that their is a market need for more lower priced units like the ROBO R1 we produce."
See the full infographic below!
Posted in 3D Printers
Maybe you also like:
- Monoprice's new dual color 3D printer, an OEM version of Flashforge Creator X?
- New Matter MOD-t 3D printer to launch on crowd-funding site soon
- China using 3D bio printer to create artificial dura mater
- Flying 3D printer could help remove nuclear waste
- Solidscape introduces MAX 2 high precision 3D wax printer
- Joshua Harker Offers 3D printed 'Mazzo di Fiori', raising funds for next-gen 3D printer
- Blueprinter SHS 3D printer has started shipping in Europe
FDM will soon be obsolete as Chinese manufacturers begin to produce inexpensive SLA type units. 3D printing innovation will begin to occur using various high speed inkjet technologies with amazing variation of jettable materials. So, some of these metrics may be misleading. Still very interesting!
Tom McBaum wrote at 6/8/2014 9:16:57 AM:
Those who *think* they want to print with multiple material types who end up printing with only PLA forever: 99% Percentage of time those with dual extruder printers end up printing with only one extruder head: 99%
TK wrote at 6/7/2014 4:09:48 PM:
It's nice to get reports like this and not surprising people would be interested and range to be well below $1000. Also 3d printer features desired rings true also - build size, speed and color, which matches up with growth in 2d printers.
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
