What 3D control systems does

3D Control Systems is a privately held, Walnut, California-based manufacturing workflow software company founded in 2014 by John Dogru and Anton Vedeshin. The company provides cloud-based additive manufacturing (AM) software that spans desktop 3D printer fleet management and enterprise-scale workflow automation for industrial manufacturers. Its product portfolio consists of three offerings: 3DPrinterOS, a cloud operating system for desktop 3D printers used in education, makerspaces, and OEM deployments; ZAP (Zero-latency Autonomous Platform), a purpose-built enterprise platform integrating CRM, ERP, PLM, MES, and QA modules for additive manufacturing; and 3DOS, a decentralized manufacturing DeFi protocol for distributed production. The platform is technology-agnostic across 3D printer manufacturers, CNC machines, and robotics, and operates on Microsoft Azure with end-to-end encryption (RSA 4096-bit) and GDPR-compliant infrastructure. The company claims 150,000+ users, 50,000+ managed printers, and 100+ enterprise and educational institution customers across automotive, aerospace, medical, government, and education verticals.

The company's business model is primarily subscription-based SaaS. ZAP is sold through direct enterprise field sales with quote-based pricing targeting large manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, medical, and aviation, while 3DPrinterOS is delivered via self-serve cloud for education and maker markets. Professional services for integration and customization supplement software revenue. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales (led by CEO Michelle Bockman, ex-HP 3D Printing and GE Digital), product-led growth for education, OEM embed and channel partnerships (HP, OctoPrint, PrintParts), trade show presence (RAPID+TCT, AMUG), and content marketing. Total disclosed funding raised is approximately $2.35M across 2014-2016, the company reports being profitable, and headcount is reported as 1-10 employees. Notable named customers and pilot participants include Duke University, Harvard, MIT, UC Berkeley, Google, Microsoft, NASA, Bosch, Dremel, and the U.S. Navy.

Name

3D control systems

Legal name

3D Control Systems, Inc.

Website

https://3dcontrolsystems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

3D Control Systems is a privately held, cloud-based additive manufacturing workflow software company offering 3DPrinterOS for desktop printer fleet management, ZAP for enterprise MES/PLM/ERP/CRM/QA integration, and 3DOS for decentralized manufacturing, serving automotive, aerospace, medical, government, and education customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Additive Manufacturing Workflow Software

NAICS

Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

Machine Control, Firmware & Print Management (IMAAACAD)

Keywords

• Additive manufacturing software
• Manufacturing execution systems
• 3D printer management
• Cloud manufacturing platform
• 3D printing workflow

Headquarters

HQ city

Walnut

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. ZAP Enterprise Software Subscriptions: Purpose-built advanced manufacturing software platform (MES+PLM+ERP+CRM+QA) sold as enterprise SaaS subscription to automotive, aerospace, medical, and manufacturing customers. Pricing model not publicly disclosed — quote-based enterprise licensing with multi-year contract potential.
2. 3DPrinterOS Education & Enterprise Licenses: Cloud-based 3D printer management software sold to educational institutions (makerspaces, university labs) and enterprise customers. Educational license brochure available; enterprise management software brochure available. Subscription or per-seat model implied for SaaS delivery.
3. Professional Services & Integration: Implementation, integration, and customization services for ZAP enterprise deployments. The company emphasizes integration with CAD, metrology, post-processing, and advanced manufacturing machine partners as part of its service offering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

3D Control Systems develops and sells cloud-based, technology-agnostic software for managing and operating 3D printing and additive manufacturing workflows. Its product suite includes 3DPrinterOS for managing fleets of 3D printers across multiple brands, ZAP for streaming and viewing 3D models, and 3DOS for end-to-end digital manufacturing execution, sold to enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions.

Product overview

3D Control Systems is an end-to-end, fully automated software solution provider for additive manufacturing. The company offers three core products: 3DPrinterOS (cloud-based operating system for managing desktop and enterprise 3D printers with workflow management, file preparation, and analytics), ZAP (advanced manufacturing workflow platform combining MES, PLM, ERP, CRM, and QA capabilities powered by AI for industrial 3D printing, CNC, and robotics), and 3DOS (blockchain-based DeFi protocol for decentralized manufacturing). The portfolio spans from educational and enterprise desktop 3D printing management to industrial-scale advanced manufacturing automation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 3DPrinterOS: Cloud-based operating system for desktop 3D printers in Education, Enterprise Makerspaces, and 3D OEMs. Provides firmware, software, and cloud platforms covering every aspect of 3D printing and advanced manufacturing workflows.
• ZAP
• 3DOS

Products and services

• 3DPrinterOS Cloud-based, OS-agnostic software platform for managing and operating 3D printer fleets of multiple brands from any browser; targeted at enterprises, educational institutions, and government organizations running additive manufacturing labs.
• ZAP Technology for streaming and viewing 3D models with zero latency, enabling fast, browser-based access to 3D content as part of the 3D Control Systems workflow stack.
• 3DOS End-to-end digital manufacturing execution system that orchestrates the additive manufacturing workflow from design to production within the 3D Control Systems ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced hidden variable costs by consolidating all manufacturing components into seamless automated interaction
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PrintPartscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 20213D Control Systems and PrintParts partner to introduce true end-to-end part traceability in additive manufacturing. The partnership enables PrintParts' customers to benefit from ZAP's workflow automation while PrintParts provides production-scale AM services integrated into the ZAP ecosystem.
• OctoPrintcoreTechnology or Integration · 20 April 2021OctoPrint and 3DPrinterOS partner to ease 3D printer integration. 3DPrinterOS serves as a corporate sponsor of OctoPrint open-source 3D printing community. The partnership enables OctoPrint users to easily set up and use 3DPrinterOS for enhanced printer management, addressing fragmentation in the 3D printing software ecosystem.
• HPcoreTechnology or Integration · 17 March 20213D Control Systems integrates the HP 3D Application Programming Interface (API) to enable HP Jet Fusion users to connect directly with ZAP software. The integration streamlines workflow, optimizes job efficiency, and provides real-time updates on performance and efficiency. This partnership positions 3D Control Systems as an approved connectivity provider for HP's industrial 3D printing ecosystem.
• America MakesminorOthers3D Control Systems is a member of America Makes, the nation's leading collaborative partner for AM technology research, innovation, and adoption. Membership provides access to the AM industry ecosystem and positioning within the US national additive manufacturing initiative.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• OctoPrint: Open-source 3D printer management platform with a large maker and prosumer install base. Direct competitor to 3DPrinterOS in the desktop 3D printer fleet management category; the two companies also have a formal integration partnership.
• Authentise: Workflow and management software purpose-built for additive manufacturing, covering order management, production tracking, and quality. Comparable in focus on AM-specific MES/ERP workflows versus general industrial software.
• AM-Flow: Additive manufacturing workflow automation and quote-to-production software targeting industrial 3D printing service bureaus and OEMs. Directly comparable as an AM-software specialist competing for similar enterprise workflow budgets.

Broad incumbents

• Materialise (Magics): Established 3D printing software (Magics, Streamics) and services company with deep enterprise footprint. Provides overlapping data preparation and workflow capabilities but as part of a much broader AM services and software portfolio.
• Stratasys (GrabCAD Print): Major 3D printer OEM that bundles GrabCAD Print workflow software with its hardware. Competes in the same desktop and enterprise 3D printing workflow category but with proprietary hardware integration rather than OEM-agnostic positioning.
• 3D Systems (3D Sprint): Industrial 3D printer OEM offering 3D Sprint and related workflow software. Overlaps with 3D Control Systems' enterprise 3D printing workflow focus but is anchored to its own hardware portfolio.
• EOS (EOSPRINT): Industrial metal 3D printer OEM with EOSPRINT and accompanying workflow software. Competes for AM workflow software budgets in aerospace and medical, the same verticals 3D Control Systems targets with ZAP.
• Siemens (NX for Additive Manufacturing): Industrial software incumbent with NX AM module integrating additive into its broader PLM/MES stack. Represents the dominant incumbent competitive threat for enterprise AM-software budgets in automotive and aerospace.
• PTC (Creo + ThingWorx): PLM/IoT incumbent embedding additive manufacturing capabilities into Creo and ThingWorx. Targets the same enterprise digital-manufacturing buyers as ZAP with deeper installed base and larger salesforce.
• Dassault Systèmes (3DEXPERIENCE): Major PLM vendor with additive manufacturing extensions within the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Competes for the same enterprise advanced-manufacturing software wallet, particularly in aerospace and automotive.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/3dprinteros
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/3dprinteros
• Facebookfacebook.com/3dprinteros
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3d-control-systems

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 3D control systems