Stratasys unveils sub-$10,000 professional 3D printer

There has been a lot of movement in the world of consumer 3D printers this year – attractive price points like $2,000, and even going as low as $500 for a very limited model – are making 3D printing accessible to the consumer market for the first time. But there are also a lot of developments going on in the market of professional-grade 3D printers, and those are coming down in price point as well, relative to the rest of thast segment of the industry.

Enter the Mojo 3D printer by Stratasys, which is designed for professional engineers and architects, and related companies – you know, people who need to build incredibly detailed models for their job. It's got a 5 inch x 5 inch x 5 inch build platform and weighs just 50 pounds, giving it a low footprint as well. This isn't the kind of thing you buy so that you can make your own cups and coasters at home, but at the sub-$10,000 level, it does actually almost become a luxury consumer gift as well. Almost.

3D printing is making inroads not just in consumer applications but also for business, for medicine, and for third-world countries where resources are much more scarce. The majority of the material needed for a 3D printer can now be printed from a 3D printer. It's fascinating to watch this next evolution in scientific advancement.