Prusa CEO Declares Open Hardware 3D Printing Dead

Prusa CEO Declares Open Hardware 3D Printing Dead

Prusa CEO Declares Open Hardware 3D Printing Dead Open hardware 3D printing has long been celebrated for its community-driven innovation and collaboration, but recent developments suggest a sharp decline. Josef Prusa, CEO of Prusa Research, has publicly stated that “open hardware desktop 3D printing is dead,” marking a significant shift in the industry. Once a champion of open-source designs, Prusa’s declaration reflects the growing difficulties faced by companies trying to maintain transparency and profitability in a highly competitive market. Image credit: Alastair Jennings Why Open Hardware 3D Printing Is Facing Decline The decline of open hardware 3D printing is largely attributed to global competition, particularly from state-supported manufacturers that can scale production at lower costs. This shift has created an uneven playing field, making it increasingly difficult for companies that rely on open-source principles to compete. What was once a movement built on knowledge-sharing a…