Summary

This is a volumetric visualization of 3-D printer sales under $5,000 from 2007 through 2013.

Instructions

To accompany the WSJD review of the new MakerBot Replicator Mini, we asked the question, how would we use a 3-D printer in the newsroom?
So we decided to build a data visualization of 3-D printer sales, as a printable "thing".
Our normal dataviz instincts were challenged, as what works for a 2-D chart does not apply to an object sitting in front of you. Roger Kenny on our interactive graphics team created this model, along with our WebGL viewer which you can view here, along with an animated explainer video showing how 3-D printers work: http://wsj.com/3dprinting

Read our review of the MakerBot Replicator Mini
Data source: Wohlers Associates / WSJ.com