In August 2026, during the Formnext Asia show in Shenzhen, the third China 3D Printing Farm and Consumer Ecosystem Conference took place. Zhang Ximing, general manager of Fujian Wanxiang 3D and known online as “Dr. Weird,” dropped a set of hard numbers on stage.
As of August 2026, China’s 3D printing farms had about 390,000 machines. Bambu Lab accounted for about 350,000, while all other brands together made up about 40,000. The total was 50,000 in 2024 and 160,000 in 2025—nearly an eightfold jump in two years. He predicts 450,000–500,000 by the end of 2026 and 700,000–900,000 in 2027.
FDM batch production has been proven viable. The industry has moved from zero-to-one validation into one-to-n scaling. New players used to start with 10 or 50 machines; now they start at 100. China has about 40 farms running 1,000 machines or more.
The barrier to entry has fallen sharply. For a 1,000-machine farm, equipment investment was about $700,000 in 2024, about $420,000 in 2025, and only about $140,000 in 2026. With used machines plus new ones, about $140,000 can buy 500 A1s, and total investment—including space and supporting setup—can be around $280,000. The P1S fell from about $560 to about $280, while the A1 dropped from about $280 to just over $150. But behind the lower prices, some machines have clearly lost quality.
On materials, PLA and PETG have hit rock-bottom prices. Recycled and modified materials are being used widely, while pellet suppliers keep raising prices. For printing services, large orders now go for less than $0.014 per gram, with some taking jobs at about $0.008, $0.010, or $0.011 per gram. Original designs often earn money for only a week.
He sees three major trends: products will keep diversifying, and AI will generate more ideas and hit products; capital is already doing intensive research; and accessories such as nozzles, low-temperature plates, and UV printing will become a sizable business. Despite the brutal competition, most farms still recover their investment in one to one and a half years. As the payback window stretches from one year to two, there is still room and opportunity in between. The zero-to-one phase is done; the one-to-n phase has just begun.
