LulzBot
LulzBot designs and manufactures professional-grade, open-source FFF 3D printers (TAZ and Mini platforms) in Fargo, North Dakota, serving education, manufacturing, creative, defense, and bioprinting customers via direct sales and a multi-tier distributor network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLoveland, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What LulzBot does
LulzBot is a US-based, open-source 3D printing hardware and software company operating under the legal entity Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D, LLC (FAME 3D), headquartered and manufactured in Fargo, North Dakota. The company designs, manufactures, and sells professional-grade FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) desktop 3D printers across two flagship platforms — the TAZ series (TAZ 8, TAZ 8 Long Bed, TAZ Workhorse+, TAZ Pro variants) targeting professional and industrial use, and the Mini 3 targeting desktop applications — supplemented by the SideKick personal platform and the LulzBot Bio bioprinter for life sciences. Underlying technology centers on a modular tool head ecosystem (Galaxy Series: Meteor, Asteroid, Twin Nebula) with dual independent Z-axis architecture, active bed cooling, BLTouch leveling, and open firmware (Klipper on Mini 3), supported by the free Cura LulzBot Edition slicer and Mainsail web interface.
The business model is primarily hardware sales of printers ($1,295 to $2,995+ per unit), tool heads, filaments, and replacement parts, supplemented by recurring revenue streams including extended warranty subscriptions (1-3 additional years) and out-of-warranty repair services ($150 minimum assessment fee). Go-to-market combines direct e-commerce (lulzbot.com, buy.lulzbot.com) with a multi-tier distribution network spanning national industrial distributors (Grainger, McMaster-CARR, Digi-Key), specialized 3D printing resellers (MatterHackers, IT-Works 3D), and regional partners across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The company also runs an enterprise field sales motion and a community-led marketing approach leveraging open-source publishing under GPLv3, an active forum, Discord, and educational content (LulzLessons).
LulzBot serves diverse customer segments including education (K-12, higher education, military training via US Navy MakerSpaceUSNA), manufacturing (rapid prototyping, print farms like MilliBox's 8-unit fleet, and parts production), creative professionals (YouTube creators, animators, artists), government/defense, and specialized applications such as healthcare prosthetics and agriculture. The company has accumulated over 80 industry awards since 2015 and maintains a reputation for reliability, repeatability, and Made-in-USA positioning, though it competes in a market facing significant pressure from lower-cost Asian manufacturers.
LulzBot firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LulzBot
- Legal name
- Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D, LLC
- Website
- https://lulzbot.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- LulzBot designs and manufactures professional-grade, open-source FFF 3D printers (TAZ and Mini platforms) in Fargo, North Dakota, serving education, manufacturing, creative, defense, and bioprinting customers via direct sales and a multi-tier distributor network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LulzBot industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Desktop 3D Printers
- NAICS
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)
- SIC
- Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)
- akta.pro primary industry
- 3D Printers (Additive Manufacturing) (HDACAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Engineering Prototype Builds (Form/Fit/Function) (IMAAAFAB)
Keywords
Where LulzBot is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Loveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
LulzBot business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- 3D Printer Hardware Sales: Sale of 3D printers including TAZ 8, TAZ Workhorse+, Mini 3, SideKick platforms, and legacy models. Hardware sales represent the primary revenue stream with printers ranging from desktop to professional-grade industrial machines.
- Tool Heads and Accessories: Modular tool head system sales including Meteor, Asteroid, Twin Nebula series, along with specialized tool heads for different filament types and applications.
- Filament Sales: Sale of 3D printing filament materials including PLA, PETg, TPU, carbon fiber nylons, and specialty materials. Also includes biofabrication materials.
- Replacement Parts: Sale of replacement parts and components for LulzBot 3D printers.
- Repair Services: Out-of-warranty repair services with $150 minimum non-refundable assessment fee. Expert technicians restore printers to working condition with parts and labor covered under extended warranty options.
- Extended Warranty: Extended warranty programs offering 1, 2, or 3 additional years of coverage beyond standard 1-year warranty, extending up to 4 years of total coverage. Must be purchased within 30 days of printer purchase.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | TAZ 8 - Professional-grade industrial 3D printer |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | TAZ Workhorse+ - Mid-range professional 3D printer |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Mini 3 - Desktop professional 3D printer |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Mini 2 - Legacy desktop 3D printer (closeout) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Extended Warranty - 1, 2, or 3 additional years |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Repair Service - Out of warranty assessment |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
LulzBot product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LulzBot designs, manufactures, and sells professional-grade open-source FFF/FDM 3D printers (TAZ 8, TAZ Workhorse+, TAZ Pro Platform, Mini 3, SideKick, LulzBot Bio bioprinter) along with modular tool heads, filaments, accessories, free slicing software, educational curriculum, and repair services. The company targets education, manufacturing, creative, and government/military customers with hardware designs published under GPLv3 and free software under LGPLv3. All products are manufactured at the company's Fargo, North Dakota headquarters and sold direct, through national distributors, and via specialized resellers worldwide.
Product overview
LulzBot is a professional-grade open-source 3D printing company offering a portfolio of FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) desktop 3D printers, accessories, and software. The product line centers on two main printer platforms: the TAZ series (TAZ 8, TAZ 8 Long Bed, TAZ Workhorse+, and TAZ Pro Platform variants including TAZ Pro Long Bed) and the Mini series (Mini 3). Specialty offerings include the LulzBot Bio bioprinter and the SideKick personal desktop platform. Supporting the hardware are Galaxy Series Tool Heads (Meteor, Asteroid, and Twin Nebula dual extruders), Cura LulzBot Edition slicer software, and educational services including free LulzLessons curriculum. Accessories such as TAZguard Enclosures, MegaSpool Feeders, and Magnetic Flex Beds extend the core platforms. All products are designed, manufactured, and supported in Fargo, North Dakota, with hardware designs and software published as open source under GPLv3.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Galaxy Series: Tool head lineup including Meteor, Asteroid, and Twin Nebula models designed for reliability and versatility in 3D printing.
- LulzLessons
- Cura LulzBot Edition
Quantifiable outcome
- Machines achieving 850+ days of continuous print time
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use LulzBot
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
LulzBot technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature10 records
LulzBot partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and regional.
- MatterHackers / Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific)strategicMatterHackers partnered with NIWC Pacific in a CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) to evaluate LulzBot and open-source 3D printing solutions for military use. This partnership demonstrates the applicability of LulzBot technology for defense applications.
- National Film Board of CanadacoreNational Film Board of Canada co-produced 'Bone Mother' stop-motion animation film with See Creature Animation, utilizing LulzBot Mini 3D printers for character and set production. NFB excited about creative combination of 3D printing and art.
- IT-Works 3DcoreOfficial LulzBot reseller specializing in 3D printers and related products. Strong partner providing regional coverage and customer support.
- GraingercoreNational industrial distributor offering LulzBot products through established procurement channels for enterprise and institutional customers.
- Digi-Key ElectronicscoreGlobal electronics distributor offering LulzBot products to US and global customers through extensive distribution network.
- McMaster-CARRcoreIndustrial supply company distributing LulzBot 3D printers through multi-location US presence, serving enterprise and commercial customers.
- MatterHackerscoreSpecialized 3D printing retailer and reseller offering LulzBot products with technical expertise and customer support.
- Dynamismregional3D printing reseller serving US and UK markets, offering LulzBot products with regional market coverage.
- FarnellregionalEuropean electronic components distributor offering LulzBot products in UK and Belgium markets.
- Element14regionalAsia Pacific electronics community and distributor offering LulzBot products across multiple locations in the region.
- EduporiumregionalEducational technology reseller specializing in 3D printing solutions for education, offering LulzBot products to schools and educators.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LulzBot competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Anycubic: Anycubic is a direct competitor in consumer and prosumer FFF/Resin 3D printing at lower price points. It competes with LulzBot on accessibility for hobbyists and education but typically lacks the modular, open-source positioning LulzBot emphasizes.
- Snapmaker: Snapmaker competes with LulzBot in the prosumer desktop 3D printing market with multi-function 3-in-1 machines (printing, laser, CNC). It overlaps with LulzBot's Mini and SideKick lines for creative and education buyers seeking versatility.
Direct peers
- Formlabs: Formlabs is a peer in the professional 3D printing market but uses resin (SLA) rather than FFF. Both target professional and education buyers with premium-priced machines and proprietary software ecosystems.
- Ultimaker: Ultimaker is a direct competitor in the professional FFF segment and is also the upstream provider of the Cura slicer that LulzBot forks into Cura LulzBot Edition. Both target manufacturing and education verticals with networked, professional-grade 3D printing solutions.
- Markforged: Markforged is a peer in industrial and composite 3D printing, competing with LulzBot's manufacturing-segment TAZ platforms for industrial prototyping and end-use part production. Markforged's emphasis on carbon fiber and metal printing extends the competitive overlap.
- Bambu Lab: Bambu Lab is a rapidly emerging direct competitor offering high-speed FFF printers at aggressive price points (sub-$1K), competing directly with LulzBot's Mini 3 in speed and with TAZ 8 in professional throughput. Its closed ecosystem contrasts with LulzBot's open-source positioning.
- Prusa Research: Prusa Research is the closest direct competitor to LulzBot in the prosumer and professional FFF desktop segment. Both sell open-source-derivative printers with strong community followings; Prusa competes head-to-head with LulzBot's Mini 3 and TAZ lines on reliability, modularity, and ecosystem.
- Creality: Creality is a high-volume direct competitor in desktop FFF 3D printing, known for aggressively priced consumer and prosumer machines (Ender, K1 series). It competes with LulzBot on entry-level and prosumer price points, though typically at lower price and with closed firmware.
- Raise3D: Raise3D is a direct peer in professional desktop and industrial FFF 3D printing, with comparable printers targeting manufacturing and education buyers. Both compete on reliability, dual extrusion, and professional software workflows.
Broad incumbents
- MakerBot (Stratasys): MakerBot, a Stratasys brand, competes with LulzBot in the desktop and education 3D printing segments. As part of the larger Stratasys industrial additive portfolio, it offers broader enterprise reach but less focus on open-source hardware than LulzBot.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LulzBot social profiles
Digital presenceLulzBot financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LulzBot leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
LulzBot funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LulzBot M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LulzBot
What does LulzBot do?
LulzBot designs, manufactures, and sells professional-grade open-source FFF/FDM 3D printers (TAZ 8, TAZ Workhorse+, TAZ Pro Platform, Mini 3, SideKick, LulzBot Bio bioprinter) along with modular tool heads, filaments, accessories, free slicing software, educational curriculum, and repair services. The company targets education, manufacturing, creative, and government/military customers with hardware designs published under GPLv3 and free software under LGPLv3. All products are manufactured at the company's Fargo, North Dakota headquarters and sold direct, through national distributors, and via specialized resellers worldwide.
Is LulzBot a public or private company?
LulzBot is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was LulzBot founded?
LulzBot was founded in 2011. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is LulzBot based?
LulzBot is headquartered in Loveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does LulzBot make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. 3D Printer Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are tool Heads and Accessories, filament Sales, replacement Parts, repair Services and extended Warranty.
Who are LulzBot's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Anycubic and Snapmaker. Direct peers are Formlabs, Ultimaker, Markforged, Bambu Lab, Prusa Research, Creality and Raise3D. MakerBot (Stratasys) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does LulzBot have an API?
No public API is recorded for LulzBot.
What industry is LulzBot in?
LulzBot's product category is Desktop 3D Printers. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACAEAH, 3D Printers (Additive Manufacturing), with a secondary code of IMAAAFAB, Engineering Prototype Builds (Form/Fit/Function). Its NAICS code is 3391 and its SIC code is 3555.