Built by university students from Pittsburgh and Cleveland, Ottia makes the Maker Machine, a compact factory-in-a-box that combines 3D printing with interchangeable tools for projects such as carving, engraving and food design. The company designed its enclosed machine around approachable software, modular repairs and a roughly $500 price point, aiming to put personal manufacturing within reach of enthusiasts and educators.
MakerGear, LLCFrom its Cleveland-area factory, MakerGear makes desktop and industrial 3D printers engineered for precision prototyping and production. The company’s machines are manufactured in the USA, with the M2—launched in 2012 and described as its original workhorse—bringing industrial-level performance to a compact footprint. MakerGear also earned a gold medal in the inaugural US Air Force Advanced Manufacturing Olympics, a fitting distinction for printers designed to run reliably over the long haul.BEACHWOOD, OH
UltiMakerUltiMaker is known for making professional 3D printing practical in product-development and manufacturing settings. Its FDM printers are used by designers and engineers to produce functional prototypes, custom tools, and replacement parts, while its Cura software supports the printing workflow.New York, NY
3DoodlerBorn from a handmade prototype in a Massachusetts makerspace and launched through one of Kickstarter’s most successful campaigns, 3Doodler makes 3D printing pens that let people draw physical objects in midair. Since 2013, the company has built a community of more than five million users, with products ranging from low-temperature pens for children to tools for educators, professionals, and edible candy creations. Its Start+ line emphasizes child safety and compostable filament, while tactile controls developed with the RNIB make the pen more accessible to people with vision impairments.
Zippy Robotics, IncFounded by Rocco Tuccio after he left Brookhaven National Laboratory in 2014, Zippy Robotics makes Prometheus, a desktop PCB milling machine that turns copper-clad boards into circuit boards in minutes. Designed in New York and assembled in the United States, the company pairs the machine with its ProCAM software so hardware engineers can mill, drill, and shape prototype boards at their desks.