▁many ▁others . ▁As ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁ 3 - D ▁printer s ▁have ▁dropped ▁in ▁cost ▁to ▁as ▁little ▁$ 1 0 0 ▁and ▁low - cost ▁higher ▁quality ▁desktop ▁printer s ▁are ▁approximately ▁$ 2 5 0 0 . ▁These ▁types ▁of ▁devices ▁are ▁used ▁widely ▁in ▁industry ▁for ▁pro tot yp ing , ▁j ig ▁making , ▁fi xt uring , ▁fixing ▁small ▁custom ▁components , ▁and ▁even ▁add itive ▁manufact uring ▁of ▁actual ▁products . ▁ ▁In ▁addition , ▁higher ▁end ▁ 3 - D ▁printer s ▁have ▁now ▁become ▁relatively ▁common ▁for ▁production ▁and ▁add itive ▁manufact uring . ▁For ▁example , ▁General ▁Electric ▁uses ▁the ▁high - end ▁model ▁to ▁build ▁parts ▁for ▁tur b ines . ▁Many ▁of ▁these ▁systems ▁are ▁used ▁for ▁rapid ▁pro tot yp ing , ▁before ▁mass ▁production ▁methods ▁are ▁employed . ▁ ▁Volks wagen ▁uses ▁ 3 D ▁printer s ▁on ▁their ▁assembly ▁lines ▁to ▁print ▁tool ing , ▁j igs ▁and ▁fi xt ures . ▁They ▁estimate ▁that ▁ 3 D ▁printer s ▁save ▁ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 ▁EU RO ▁per ▁year ▁in ▁costs . ▁One ▁report ▁estimates ▁that ▁almost ▁ 7 5 % ▁of ▁desktop ▁ 3 D ▁printer s ▁made ▁are ▁used ▁in ▁industry ▁and ▁not ▁by ▁consum ers . ▁ ▁Military ▁and ▁defense ▁are ▁also ▁incorpor ating ▁the ▁use ▁of ▁ 3 D ▁printer s . ▁The ▁Royal ▁Netherlands ▁Air ▁Force ▁is ▁using ▁desktop ▁ 3 D ▁printer s