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3D printing trends Q1 2018

3D Printing Trends for Q1-2018 has been released and for the first time the report spans both 3D printing and CNC.

Written by George Fisher-Wilson

The new 3D Printing Trends for Q1-2018 has been released and for the first time the report spans both 3D printing and CNC. Although the name hasn't changed the content of Protolabs Network 3D printing trends continues to evolve and with it, new data made available.

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For this quarter three areas of data where omitted which can still be found below. The reason for this change is down to the Protolabs Network waiting list being introduced to help balance supply and demand geographically. This waiting list has meant a slow down in new printers added making categories such as Trending Printers, Printer Model distribution and Printer Manufacturer distribution less relevant. We understand that this information for some is still interesting so we've made sure to publish it here.

Trending Printers

Printer Model Growth
Creality CR-10 34.7%
Original Prusa i3 MK2S 18.2%
Ultimaker 3 Extended 17.3%
Raise3D N2 Plus 15.8%
Ultimaker 3 10.6%

Printer Model Distribution

Rank 3D Printer Model Ratio
1 Original Prusa i3 MK2 4.50%
2 Form 2 4.20%
3 Zortrax M200 3.60%
4 Ultimaker 2 3.60%
5 Original Prusa i3 MK2S 2.80%
6 FlashForge Creator Pro 2.80%
7 ANET 3D - A8 2.00%
8 Ultimaker 2+ 1.90%
9 Makerbot Replicator 2 1.80%
10 Creality CR-10 1.80%
11 Ultimaker 3 1.10%
12 Makerbot Replicator 2x 1.10%
13 Ultimaker 2+ Extended 1.00%
14 Raise3D N2 Plus 0.90%
15 Makergear M2 0.90%
16 Wanhao Duplicator i3 V2 0.90%
17 Lulzbot Taz 5 0.90%
18 BCN3D SIGMA 0.80%
19 Lulzbot Taz 6 0.80%
20 Ultimaker Original Plus 0.80%
21 Form 1+ 0.80%
22 FlashForge Dreamer 0.70%
23 Prusa i3 Hephestos 0.70%
24 Makerbot Replicator 5th Gen 0.70%
25 Ultimaker 3 Extended 0.70%
26 Other 58.20%

Printer Manufacturer Distribution

Rank Manufacturer ratio
1 Ultimaker 10.20%
2 Prusa Research 7.30%
3 Formlabs 5.80%
4 MakerBot 4.70%
5 FlashForge 4.70%
6 Zortrax 3.80%
7 Wanhao 3.40%
8 Stratasys 3.00%
9 3D Systems 3.00%
10 Aleph Objects 2.50%
11 Other 51.60%

Find out more industry data including the most used technologies, materials and printers in the Trend Report for Q1-2018 here.

Curious about the latest 3D printing trends? Our 3D Printing Trends Report for 2020 is now available for download here.