The Consumer Electronic Show is set to kick off tomorrow, but 3D Systems (DDD 1.60%) couldn't handle the wait and unveiled two new printers today -- the Cube 3 and Cube Pro. The company also announced its newly redesigned Cubify website to buy, sell, and share 3-D print files, which competes head on with MakerBot's Thingiverse file-sharing website. So just how do these new products stack up to competition?
The new 3-D printers' main competition will come from the likes of Ultimaker and Stratsys' (SSYS 1.54%) MakerBot brand of printers. At first glance it looks like the Cube 3's main advantage lies in its low price point and print speed, while the Cube Pro's three print nozzles give it a leg up over its current competitors. It's also evident that 3D Systems has been able to use its increased profitability to design much nicer-looking printers compared to the previous generation. At first glance it looks like these new printers are a step in the right direction.
Investors and fans will have to wait until MakerBot makes its big announcement at CES this week to see whether it also will launch a new printer.
Watch the video below for an in-depth look at 3D Systems' announcements, and how investors can tell if the company is successful.
