A Farewell to Arms - The Final Chapter
AM Survivor #30
My dear readers - the AM Survivor series is coming to an end. This is the 30th and final edition.
It turned out to be a bit weird series. My original assumption was to write inspiring stories about how to deal with the most typical problems experienced by people working in the 3D printing industry.
How to survive them and turn them into success.
Instead, it ended up with me analyzing these problems and breaking them down into their fundamental components. I conducted a vivisection of the biggest crises an AM business owner can face. I described the greatest traumas.
As a result, instead of being inspiring, it turned out rather dark…
Now, from the perspective of 30 weeks, I have the feeling that with this series I was, to some extent, settling accounts with my own past in the 3D printing industry. A kind of public therapy.
Interestingly, based on the comments I received from readers, I know that the articles were generally well received. The topics I raised were fully understandable to founders and managers running AM companies - they touched the very core of the described problems.
But not to everyone.
AM Survivor was the least-read series on The 3D Printing Journal. Out of 29 published articles, only 7 crossed the threshold of 1,000 views, and none reached 1,200 (the record holder had… 1,194). Compared to other articles, where 1,000 views is rather the default, this is a very weak result…
Additionally, I have the impression that it was after these articles that the most people unsubscribed from the newsletter. Although the total number is steadily growing, articles from the AM Survivor series slowed that growth the most.
Finally, I also started to feel somewhat tired of constantly describing bad and negative stories… As I wrote above - this series was supposed to be different: optimistic and calling for action. It turned out gloomy and judgmental…
So I came to the conclusion that enough is enough… This is the last article in the series this year, and at the same time one that carries a full, closed number: #30.
One of the most important skills in life is knowing when to let go. Knowing when developing a project starts turning into stubbornly pushing a project forward…
This is that time.
Thank you to all readers for the views, likes, and comments.
Oh, and after the New Year, something else will appear in its place. Something you will definitely like. See you soon!
And to conclude, the TOP 10 most-read articles from the AM Survivor series…
#10 - When to say ‘STOP’: the difficult art of closing an unprofitable company
Founders often run “zombie companies” because shutting down feels like a personal amputation, driven by sunk cost fallacy and fear of shame. Key red flags include unpaid salaries, taxes, or rent. Prolonged negative results and team burnout are clear signs. Closing my own unprofitable venture was extremely hard, but it led to new beginnings.
Read full article…
#9 - The Old AM is in crisis, while The New AM is thriving
The industrial 3D printing sector faces stagnation, with pioneers like Desktop Metal symbolizing the collapse of the “mass additive manufacturing” era. Their vision of replacing traditional methods has proven a mirage. Meanwhile, a new, flourishing desktop market is experiencing a renaissance. The market is polarizing: a mass, consumer-oriented segment and a specialized, high-end industrial one. The future appears brighter for the accessible, user-friendly desktop ecosystem.
Read full article…
#8 - The progressive decline of 3D printing pioneers
The 3D printing market faces a paradox - early specialist firms invested heavily in customer education, building the market with high-margin, premium printers. Now, informed consumers are turning to new, purely commercial players like Bambu Lab and Creality. These large-scale distributors offer affordable, user-friendly devices with slim margins. While pioneers struggle to adapt their low-volume models, newcomers profit from the established demand without the educational overhead.
Read full article…
#7 - Addicted to grants
The AM industry’s hype, fueled by venture capital, has given way to a stark reality of burned-out models and lost value. In Europe, the dynamic differs, with public grants playing a dominant role. This creates an “innovation theater,” where success is measured by securing funding, not market sales. Companies adapt products to grant criteria, not customer needs, leading to non-commercial technology demonstrators and a toxic culture of dependency. This grant-driven model stifles real entrepreneurship.
Read full article…
#6 - Epitaphium Zortraxi
Poland’s Zortrax, once the global leader in desktop 3D printing circa 2015, is now on the brink of collapse. The company’s groundbreaking M200 printer set industry standards, but failure to innovate led to its decline. Its long-time CEO has resigned, to be replaced by a lawyer, as the company faces delisting and a desperate financial situation.
Read full article…
#5 - The moment when you lose direction
3D Systems is experiencing a prolonged decline. Despite offering machines across nearly every AM technology and holding key industrial certifications, its market valuation has plummeted below newer competitors. The core issue, as analyzed through its worsening financial results, is a profound loss of identity. By attempting to be everything - a hardware, materials, software, and services provider for countless industries - the company has become a master of none.
Read full article…
#4 - The AM gamble
Selling industrial 3D printers has become a high-risk gamble due to relentless market consolidation. The portfolio of top brands like Desktop Metal and Nexa3D has disintegrated within two years, leaving distributors with unreliable supply chains and devalued inventory. For distributors, technological diversification is insufficient; securing spare parts and negotiating continuity clauses are now critical for survival.
Read full article…
#3 - All those left behind
The bankruptcy of Desktop Metal has left a trail of collateral damage, with resellers, service providers, and end customers abandoned without support or spare parts. While the end surprised no one, the company’s silent collapse exemplifies a dishonorable trend in the AM industry. The lack of communication and accountability erodes market trust, demonstrating a profound disrespect for partners and customers who invested in their now-obsolete machines.
Read full article…
#2 - Time to stop making false promises
The 3D printing industry’s failure to meet explosive growth stems from fundamental strategic mistakes. For years, marketing prioritized revolutionary hype - promising to replace traditional manufacturing - over technical realities and stable economic value. This narrative targeted enthusiasts, not production engineers, neglecting discussions of ROI, standardization, and total cost. The resulting disappointment created deep market skepticism. To rebuild trust, the industry must shift focus.
Read full article…
#1 - Being active on LinkedIn doesn’t pay the bills
The AM industry is trapped in a "digital deadlock," where heavy investment in LinkedIn visibility fails to translate into real sales. Companies chase algorithmic reach and engagement, building a flattering brand image but neglecting concrete sales activities like client meetings. Real success is measured by paid invoices, not post views.
Read full article…
