My sense is that alot of companies are trying to get ahead of the curve on 3d printers. The major advance that will make 3d printers mass market items is probab

My sense is that alot of companies are trying to get ahead of the curve on 3d printers. The major advance that will make 3d printers mass market items is probably going to be in the moddeling software, and the "model store" ecosystem. This makes the printers themselves largely commodities from the start, so if a company already has a couple of prototypes done to the point where they have a solid printer, they are ready to ride the wave of mass 3d printing. Of course, this is assuming that someone solves the hardware problem, otherwise it is likely just a failed investment; but that just makes it a risky investment.