Consumer vs Enterprise 3D Printing

Consumer and enterprise 3D printing have been hurtling down the tracks of a roller coaster called The Gartner Hype Cycle. The path illustrates the maturity of emerging technologies as they pass through five key phases—technology trigger, peak of inflated expectations, trough of disillusionment, slope of enlightenment and plateau of productivity. While consumer 3D printing recently found itself in the trough of disillusionment after riding a peak of inflated expectations, enterprise 3D printing is much further down the tracks—serious digital fabrication is enabling companies put satellites into orbit, electric cars on freeways and everyday devices into peoples hands and homes. The Fathom team knows this firsthand, working with leading organizations to drive greater innovation and push the limits of manufacturing using 3D printing.

Gartner’s Research Vice President Pete Basiliere recently blogged about his visit to Fathom’s headquarters in Oakland, CA. He stopped by to learn more about what our experts are doing with additive technologies at the enterprise level.

To read the latest from Gartner on its hype cycle, check out 3 Trends Appear in the Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, 2016 by Kasey Panetta.

Gartner Credit / / What 3D Printing Means to Your Supply Chain and www.gartner.com/doc/3234217