Desktop Factory – Closing Down

by Joseph Flaherty on August 13, 2009

desktop-factory-closing

Sadly, Desktop Factory has announced it will be shutting down and attempting to sell it’s assets. Unfortunately, they were unable to find financing to continue development of the $5,000 3D printer. Caught between tough markets, the unpredictability of hardware development, and the entrance of MakerBot, the $750 3D printer that fills a similar niche for 1/6th the cost, there wasn’t much hope for Desktop Factory.

Now the question is who will pick up the IP and hopefully the team behind it.

ZCorp – Probably not. Their technology is more versatile and seems like it could be scaled down at an even lower cost. They use HP printheads and simple mechanics so they should be able to create a device for well under $5K if a market ever develops.

Stratasys – Maybe. They have the Dimension brand, starting at $15K already, but the IP might have some value since the patents on Fused Deposition Modeling are reaching maturity. With their market share (>60%) they could reach a wide audience.

3D Systems – Unlikely. Recently launched the V-Flash $10K 3D printer with a similar technology, so they seem to be an unlikely partner.

Objet Geometries – Theoretical best fit. It would be a good match if only because they don’t have any entry level systems.  However, their focus seems to be on the higher end and pushing the limits of accuracy and multi-material 3D printing, not dominating the educational/hobbyist market.

In any case it is unfortunate to see the company close and would be worse still to see all of the effort wasted. Here’s hoping that the work is put to productive use somewhere.

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Tagged as: 3d printing, Desktop Factory, Fused deposition modeling

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  • Felix

    I wonder if the buyer could be a printer manufacturer with currently no 3D printer in his product line (e.g.: HP, Canon).
    I hope the buyer isn't already a 3D printer manufacturer, because he will only buy IP without using it. I think the 3D printer manufacturers don't want to have a price drop. They don't want something that can potentially harm/kill their existing (and much more expensive) product line.

  • http://www.replicatorinc.com Joseph Flaherty

    Felix, It would be interesting to see a printer manufacturer pick it up. HP would probably have some issues since they also make the nozzles for ZCorp, but it would be a cool addition to other companies portfolios.

  • http://atechnicalfix.com/ Forrest Higgs

    With Makerbot and the BitsFromBytes Rapman selling open source Reprap Darwin technology at a price range of US$750-1,200, I would be surprised if Desktop Factory finds a buyer. I think, though, that problems with bringing their technology to a working product was the death of Desktop Factory, not competition as such.

  • timothymayer

    And then there is the Fab@Home machine which is coming up fast!

  • http://atechnicalfix.com/ Forrest Higgs

    LOL! In your dreams. :-p

  • huang
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    I will wonder about how it is working. Hope it will be good one. Thanks

  • JustAGuy

    I rather doubt that the cool kids at MakerBot had much impact on Desktop Factory's demise. MakerBot lies squarely in DIY hobbyist territory. Desktop Factory seemed to be aiming a bit higher: small-businesses, semi-professional artists and the like.

    That said, I wouldn't be surprised if Cathy Lewis at Desktop Factory spewed her morning coffee all over her monitor when she first saw Bre demoing makerbot on YoutTube. :)

    -S

  • Forrest_Higgs

    Yeah, it's got to suck going to all that effort getting startup funding and putting together a cathedral model development team and then scrounging to get follow on funding and then have a bunch of open source crazies using a bazaar model beat you to the punch.

  • outkast

    That is sooo sad… am sad for Desktop Factory..

  • http://unilinkinc.com/panini.php panini

    WE can't hide the fact that now a days it is really hard to maintain a business for there are so many circumstances to deal with

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