Forum traffic

[plexus]

Interesting to see the traffic here drop by 75% over the last 2 years. Thoughts?

[RetireeJay]

Does this measure how many "views" or how many "posts"? If I'm in an optimistic mood, I'd like to think that we've solved so many problems that visitor can get their questions answered without having to post new questions. But I know that's not anywhere near 100% of visitors!

[musk]

Site traffic is mimicking the stock price of Stratasys and 3d Systems over the same period.



- 2 years ago was a high water mark for interest in the technology.
- I'd bet that 95% of customers now buy factory assembled machines. If something goes wrong, people will be more likely to work directly with Printrbot since the machine should "just work".

[plexus]

[teicher]

Well, I think there are a handful of reasons that all play a role. You've got as printrbots official support forums, other 3d printing communities, the fact that 3D printing is still suffers from a lot of hype, and the simple reason that many people really don't have a use for it unless it's part of their job or they really like tinkering. Heck, I'll be the first to admit that I often found it more fun to struggle through getting the printer built, tuned and tweaked than to use the resulting plastic part.

[olendorf]

With the new Printrbot Simple costing $1299 expect to see this decline continue.

[KD6HQ]

I think it is because of a combination of reasons. This particular forum generally deals with one specific family of printers.
So yes if one is willing to do a little research many questions have been answered.

I also think that the word has gotten out, these are not plug N play machines. No matter what the vendors want you to think.
I think a lot of people have backed out of because of it. Makes me wonder how many machines are in a closet somewhere.
I'm still around because I like to tinker.

In fact I'm working (ordering some parts, and reusing others) on a core XY machine right now, this will be my 3rd build.
My next machine I'm planning is a cnc type. So for me this technology will be around for a while.

I will say that this particular forum has been very helpful to me, more so than some of the others.

Thanks to everyone for that.

[DonaldJ]