M3D, LLC

M3D, LLC
Company type	Private
Industry	3D printing
Founded	January 1, 2014; 12 years ago in Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Founder	David Jones, Dr. Michael Armani
Headquarters	Fulton, Maryland, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Dr. Michael Armani (CEO), David Jones (President)
Products	Micro 3D printer, Micro+, M3D Pro, Promega, Crane Quad Color 3D Printer, 3D Ink filaments
Number of employees	70 (2016)

M3D, LLC is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in 3D printers, headquartered in Fulton, Maryland. Its primary offering is known as the "Micro 3D" or simply "Micro."

Established in 2014 by Maryland natives David Jones and Dr. Michael Armani, both graduates of the University of Maryland, the company merges skills from computer science and bioengineering fields. Jones holds the position of President, while Armani functions as CEO.

Startup

The company’s initial funding, roughly , originated from the founders’ own capital. Additional resources were secured through a Kickstarter campaign aimed at pre-selling the Micro printer, initially priced at (with early supporters paying ). The campaign rapidly exceeded its target within 11 minutes and ultimately raised by selling 11,000 units.

In August 2016, M3D introduced the M3D Pro, designed for more advanced users. Its Kickstarter campaign lasted 45 days, concluding in October 2016, raising over initially and surpassing by May 2017. The Pro model featured an innovative structural printing mode using a 750-micron nozzle to enhance interlayer adhesion. Concurrently, M3D released the Micro+, equipped with an ARM-core processor that doubled printing speeds and improved software compatibility.

Although initially promising, the M3D Pro encountered quality assurance challenges and software complications that delayed delivery to Kickstarter backers. After a short-lived public availability in 2018, it was discontinued and removed from M3D’s product lineup.

By early 2022, M3D’s website offered only printer manuals and driver downloads without listing any new products for sale, indicating that the company might be scaling down operations or possibly ceasing business activities.

Consumer market

M3D focuses on the consumer segment by providing an affordable, compact, and user-friendly 3D printer. In October 2014, the Micro was characterized as "one of the most affordable personal 3-D printers that requires no assembly." The device measures 7 inches on each side and weighs approximately 2 pounds. While its initial Kickstarter price was $299, it increased to $349 by October 2014. This cost-effectiveness was achieved by lowering power consumption to one-tenth that of professional-grade printers and utilizing standardized electronics sourced locally.

Consumables Market

The company manufactures its own line of 3D Ink (filament) compatible with its printers, including temperature-sensitive color-changing filaments. In 2016, M3D introduced Tough 3D Ink for producing durable and flexible prints along with ABS-R filament—a PETG-based alternative to ABS that emits less odor, adheres better, warps less, and does not require a heated print bed.

Industrial 3D Printing

June 2017 saw the release of M3D’s first large-format printer, the Promega. This model features a compact footprint measuring 20 inches cubed externally while offering a print volume of 15.3 inches cubed, making it one of the most space-efficient options in its class. It also debuted a "Compound" print head capable of blending two filaments into one extrusion stream, allowing users to print with single materials or custom blends with similar melting points.

Color 3D Printing

In April 2018, M3D launched the Quad via Kickstarter—a four-color mixing extruder system. By June of that year, they announced the Crane Quad Color 3D Printer which incorporated the Duet3D controller to enhance operational performance.

Operations

Originally established in Bethesda, Maryland, M3D moved its headquarters to Fulton, Maryland toward the end of 2014. By October 2014, the workforce comprised 25 employees, with intentions for swift growth. This number expanded to 70 staff members by April 2016, distributed among departments such as customer support, marketing and design, engineering, software development, and executive management. Production of the Micro units takes place at a manufacturing facility located in Howard County, Maryland, which began operations in October 2014.

Corporate governance

Since its inception in 2013, M3D has been led by Dr. Michael Armani as CEO and David Jones as president.

List of 3D printer manufacturers