3D Systems' True Competitor Has Risen: Makerbot

• Report this Comment On January 30, 2013, at 6:19 PM, e320 wrote:

  MakerBot sounds interesting. Is it a public company and, if so, what is its ticker symbol? Many thanks, e320

• Report this Comment On January 30, 2013, at 7:46 PM, jjbang wrote:

  Earlier Motley Fool Advisor aarticles have said MakerBot is privately held. And I just found this description through Google: "MakerBot is a privately-held, venture capital backed designer and manufacturer of 3D printers..."

• Report this Comment On January 31, 2013, at 1:28 AM, proteus371 wrote:

  Makerbot as well as Cube from 3D are both home based hobby models for making bobels and small random toys. Things like a cell phone case or little robot.

  However, 3D also makes large proto type models very valuble to industry, also other more high end printers useful in medical and other fields. I don't really feel , at around $2500 a pop and up, that the home printer models are anything more tha an expensive gadgit at this time.

• Report this Comment On February 02, 2013, at 7:24 PM, colleran wrote:

  Wait, there is no comparison between 3D Systems and Makerbot. While 3D Systems has consumer 3D Printers, almost all of its revenue comes from proprietary professional 3D Printers.

  Also, Makerbot has dozens of competitors that use exactly the same technology with more coming each week. Search for '3D Printer' on Kickstarter. In addition, there are some printers like the Form1 which produce 3D models with much finer detail than a Makerbot does. It is true that Makerbot is a first-mover and has that advantage. It may become a successful company but the jury is still out on that one.

  Also, 3D model files on Thingiverse are available to anyone with a 3D Printer, including 3D Systems Cube. Any model file can be used by any consumer 3D Printer. Also, Thingiverse is 'open source' which means that designers contribute the files with the idea that anyone can use them for free. I don't see how Makerbot is going to make money on it or how it is an advantage for Makerbot.

• Report this Comment On February 02, 2013, at 7:44 PM, TMFBlacknGold wrote:

  In 2011 MakerBot had 21.6% market share for the entire industry. Don't mistake it as a hobby-only fling, as it has plenty of industrial customers.

  --Maxxwell

• Report this Comment On February 03, 2013, at 1:16 AM, TMFBos wrote:

  Sorry for the long delay everyone, understand there may have been some confusion around the competitor "terminology". To be a little more specific, Makerbot is shaping up to be 3D System's prime competitor in the low end consumer/professional printing spaces in relation to the Cube and CubeX. I recently attended the a additive manufacturing conference where Makerbot and 3D gave some presentations and that along with some other research, has led me to believe the two offer the most compelling products in the low end areas. That being said Makerbot definitely doesn't have as robust an offering as 3D Systems but does compete handily at the market 3D Systems is putting their sole focus on right now, low end DIY's (do it yourself). Investors should keep an eye on the two as that market is the one with the greatest opportunities at the moment. Also note that while the design files can be used on any printer, I do believe brand loyalty would have a marginal factor for customers using cubify.com or thingiverse.com. Should have been a bit more specific in the ole video folks.

  Fool On!

  Blake

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