What would convince you to purchase a 3D printer? Low price? Ease of use? A viable purpose? If so, then 3D printing start-ups may be on the right track.

While 3D printing’s uptake has been impressive — a 33.8% compound annual growth rate over the past three years — the machines have yet to find a place beside the coffee maker on the counter.

“A general-purpose 3D printer will not be sitting on most kitchen counter tops,” said Terry Wohlers, president of additive manufacturing research firm Wohlers Associates. “A food printer might in the future, but we don’t yet know enough about how the market will respond to their availability.”

A little more than a year ago, finding a 3D printer for less than $500 was hard.

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