> What has really happened is that the price on the systems have dropped steeply What has really happened is that the core patents on FDM technology expired in

> What has really happened is that the price on the systems have dropped steeply What has really happened is that the core patents on FDM technology expired in 2009, resulting in an explosion of new approaches to the technology and now you can buy a home unit for well under $200. 3D printing isn't that terribly complicated and the required hardware has been around for decades. The only thing that made it expensive was rent seeking.