7月18日星期一，在康涅狄格州神秘区神秘水族馆的非洲企鹅采取了第一个由3D系统制作的新移动靴子。为企鹅为可爱的图片制作的活动，也是南卡罗来纳州的三维印刷公司岩石山的机会，为动物和人类提供了其产品的医疗用途。但是，当天吹笛者jaffray从中立者降级公司的额定评级时，企鹅兴奋被认为是不太讨人喜欢的消息，这引用了最近的3-D打印机需求的坍落度。在该公告之后，3D系统股票暴跌了8％，而其竞争对手的划分也被降级下调，沉没了9％。
Neither company’s stock has performed well this year, and these falls come within the context of several years of volatility for an industry that promises technological transformation of industries from medicine to manufacturing but is having trouble proving its relevance to many investors. By one measure —Kensho Technologies’ 3-D Printing Index，这跟踪了3D打印机制造商，生产用于3-D打印机的组件的公司以及创建必要的软件的公司 - 该部门在过去三年中持续超过32％。根据吹笛者贾菲雷的说法，该行业刚刚在对三维印刷系统的需求方面进行了最差的季度。与此同时，惠普和戴尔等技术巨头已经进入了3-D打印磨损，使用其建立的Clout和资源来避免完全中断。那么，为什么ARK投资管理是一家位于纽约的注册投资顾问，提供一系列专有交易所交易资金，选择7月18日，推出第一个且仅仅是3-D印刷的ETF？
“This is classic disruptive innovation,” says Catherine Wood, founder, CEO and CIO at ARK. “If you look at the S curve, you go through a height phase, a consolidation and restructuring phase — which we’ve just been through — and then takeoff. We think we’re in the saddle phase, getting ready for takeoff.”
The new ETF — PRNT — is listed on the BATS ETF Marketplace and includes 3D Systems, Stratasys, ExOne Co. and Organovo Holdings, as well as HP. It’s proof that whereas some investors have given up on the industry, many are still holding out hope for a 3-D revolution. ARK is not alone in believing the 3-D printing slowdown is temporary, and it is in fact an expected part of the disruptive process. The Consumer Technology Association最近预测到2017年，该行业将在2017年起草50亿美元的销售额，从2011年的17亿美元起，认为它将在工业革命结合的所有创新方面拥有“对世界上的更多影响。”
越来越多的痛苦已经冗长，他们可能被一些主要球员（包括Stratasys）的一些主要球员加剧。木材认为，以色列的Eden Prairie，Minnesota-and Rehovot，以色列的公司选择了错误的时间在2013年在2013年购买布鲁克林的消费者3-D打印机品牌Makerbot行业，这已成为股票方面的市场峰值价格。该公司已经花了过去的年度重组和缩小，自从外包生产Makerbot的计算机。但是木材和其他人认为消费者打印机，以及每个家庭在他们家中打印玩具和其他小工具的想法是一种分心。根据ARK的分析师表示，甚至原型设计甚至考虑太小，估计为飞机，鞋子和医疗工具等最终产品的3亿美元的3亿美元市场。据Ark Analyst Tasha Keeney表示，耐克和空中客车等公司目前正在涉及该市场的“最终前沿”。
“我认为我们在最终用户零件市场中普遍存在的人数不到1％，”Keeney说。
HP’s foray into the 3-D printing market, which analysts have blamed for at least part of 3D Systems’ and Stratasys’ recent slump, has been focused on commercial use of 3-D printers. In May the company unveiled the HP Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution, which it claims will make it easier and cheaper to create prototypes, as well as manufacture final parts. Nike, BMW, Johnson & Johnson, Autodesk and several other technology, retail and manufacturing firms have partnered with HP to help further develop its 3-D printing system, according to the company. This will necessarily put pressure on pure 3-D printing companies, and some consolidation wouldn’t be surprising, says Nick Kramer, senior director of data and analytics at New York–based management consulting firm SSA & Co. He believes the real opportunity in the industry hasn’t passed; it’s about to come into view.
“凉爽的因素已经消失,但我think now a lot of things are coming together to make 3-D printing ready for actual practical usage, adding value to the world,” Kramer says. “If anything, I’m more bullish than ever on the future of 3-D printing.”
这个行业的最大问题，以及它的“幻灭时期”的原因，因为克拉姆人称之为，对于一些公司来说，这是痛苦的，这是3-D打印机真正的商品，除了爱好者除外，除非是自己的商品。随着其他行业的开始将3-D打印插入其供应链，3-D打印组件的物品互联网能力在智能设备上变得更清晰，或者在订购后从亚马逊秒打印出购买- 预计需求将立即拍摄。问题是，哪些公司将最能出售它们？
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