Materials for 3D printing: monopolies, consolidation, and development

The single most contentious issue in the world of 3D printing at the moment relates to the pricing of 3D printing materials. The market, which is almost exclusively controlled by the 3D printer manufacturers, is maintained at an artificially high level through the practice of "lock-in" on the part of some of the largest companies involved. Certain 3D printer manufacturers are using key-codes and RFID tagging to force their customers to obtain their material supplies exclusively from them, a practice which has a number of consequences. This article will assess the prevalent market practise, pricing dynamics, and strategies for growing the market size of a given 3D printable material.