A lot of 20 year patents on FDM have expired within the last 5-10 years. Technology that was only affordable to R&D labs and university have made it to the end

A lot of 20 year patents on FDM have expired within the last 5-10 years. Technology that was only affordable to R&D labs and university have made it to the end user and experimenters. More hands in the pot means more diverse ideas. Expertise isn't cloaked in NDAs but published in wikis.