Document and Entity Information (Abstract) Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Trading Symbol Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] AssetsAbstract ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period Cash and cash equivalents Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,443 (2010) and $1,790 (2009) Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,300 (2014) and $8,133 (2013) Inventories, net of reserves of $2,406 (2010) and $2,693 (2009) Inventories, net Inventories, net Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid expenses and other current assets Deferred income tax assets Current deferred income tax asset Assets, Current Total current assets Property and equipment, net Total property and equipment, net Property and equipment, net Intangible assets, net Intangible assets, Net Intangible assets, net Goodwill, Total Balance at end of period Balance at beginning of period Goodwill Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Long term deferred income tax asset Other assets, net Other assets, net Assets Total assets Assets LIABILITIES AND EQUITY LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities: Debt, Current Current portion of debt and capitalized lease obligations Accounts payable Accounts payable Other Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued and other liabilities Total Customer Deposits Customer deposits Deferred Revenue, Current, Total Deferred revenue Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Long-term portion of capitalized lease obligations Long-term portion of capitalized lease obligations Convertible Notes Payable Net carrying value Convertible senior notes, net Deferred Tax Liabilities Long-term deferred income tax liability Other liabilities Total Other liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Carrying Amount Balance at December 31, Balance at January 1 Redeemable noncontrolling interests Stockholders’ equity: Common stock, $0.001 par value, authorized 220,000 shares; (2013) and 22,774 (2009) issued Common stock, $0.001 par value, authorized 220,000 shares; issued 112,233 (2014) and 103,818 (2013) Additional paid in capital Additional paid-in capital Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock, at cost: 709 shares (2014) and 600 shares (2013) Accumulated deficit Accumulated earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income Ending Balance, AOCI Beginning Balance, AOCI Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total 3D Systems Corporation stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Balance, Value Balance, Value Total stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity. Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Balance, Shares Balance, Shares Common stock, shares issued Treasury stock, shares Treasury stock, shares Consolidated Statements Of Operations And Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Revenue: Revenue: Sales Revenue, Goods, Net, Total Products Services Services Intercompany sales Revenue from unaffiliated customers Consolidated revenue Total revenue Revenue Cost of sales: Cost of sales: Cost of Goods Sold, Total Products Cost of Services, Total Services Cost of Goods and Services Sold Total cost of sales Gross Profit Gross profit Gross profit Operating expenses: Operating expenses: Selling, general and administrative Selling, general and administrative Research and development Research and development Operating Expenses Total operating expenses Total operating expenses Operating Income (Loss) Income (loss) from operations Income from operations Operating income (loss) Interest And Other Expense Net Interest And Other Expense Net Interest and other expense, net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Income before income taxes Income tax (benefit) expense Income tax expense Provision for income taxes Total income tax provision ProfitLoss Net income Net income Net income Noncontrolling interest Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net income (loss), Total Net income attributable to 3D Systems Corporation Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Other comprehensive income (loss): Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Unamortized Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of Tax Pension adjustments, net of taxes: $515 (2014), $78 (2013) and $316 (2012) Pension adjustment Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation gain (loss) attributable to 3D Systems Corporation Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Liquidation Of Business Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of Tax. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Liquidation Of Business Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of Tax Liquidation of non-US entity Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Total other comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income (loss) Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Foreign currency translation (gain) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to 3D Systems Corporation Earnings per share, basic and diluted Basic and diluted net income per share Net income per share available to 3D Systems common stockholders – basic and diluted Earnings per share, basic and diluted Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Tax Pension adjustment, tax Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Equity [Abstract] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member] Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Treasury Stock [Member] Treasury Stock [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Parent [Member] Total 3D Ssytems Corporation Stockholders' Equity [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Equity Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Member] Exercise of stock options, Value Exercise of stock options, Shares Exercised Number of stock options exercised Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation Tax benefit from share-based payments arrangements, Value Shares issued for the increase in additional paid in capital (APIC) resulting from a tax benefit associated with share-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Includes, but is not limited to, excess tax benefit. Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Shares Tax benefit from share-based payments arrangements, Shares Issuance (repurchase) of restricted stock, net, Value Issuance (repurchase) of restricted stock, net, Shares Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Convertible Securities Issuance of stock for 5.50% convertible notes, Value Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Convertible Securities Issuance of stock for 5.50% convertible notes, Shares Common Stock Dividends Value Including Stock Splits Common Stock Dividends Value Including Stock Splits Common stock split, Value Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Stock Splits Common stock split, Shares Stock issued for acquisitions of businesses Issuance of stock for acquisitions, Value Issuance of stock for acquisitions, Shares Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Issuance of stock for equity raise, Value Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues Issuance of stock for equity raise, Shares Stock-based compensation expense, Value Stock-based compensation expense, Shares Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination Noncontrolling interest for business combinations Foreign currency translation adjustment Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Longterm Debt Type [Domain] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Convertible Debt [Member] Senior Convertible Notes Due December 15, 2016 [Member] Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member] Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member] Senior convertible notes, rate Interest rate Interest rate on debt Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Deferred income taxes Deferred: Total Benefit of deferred income taxes Depreciation And Amortization Depreciation and amortization Other Noncash Expense Non-cash interest on convertible notes Provision for Doubtful Accounts Provision for bad debts Stock-based compensation Stock-based compensation Loss (gain) on the disposition of property and equipment Gain (loss) on the disposition of property and equipment Deferred interest income on long-term note receivable. Deferred Interest Income Deferred interest income Gain loss on conversion of convertible debt. Gain loss on conversion of convertible debt Loss on conversion of convertible debt Changes in operating accounts: Changes in operating accounts: IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsAndOtherReceivables Accounts receivable IncreaseDecreaseInInventories Inventories Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Total Accounts payable Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities Accrued liabilities Increase Decrease In Customer Deposits Customer deposits Deferred revenue Deferred revenue Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net Other operating assets and liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Cash flows used in investing activities: Cash flows from investing activities: Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets Additions to license and patent costs Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash assumed Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments Other investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows provided by financing activities: Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Proceeds from issuance of common stock Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements Stock option and restricted stock proceeds Proceeds from exercise of stock options and restricted stock, net Payments of Capital Distribution Cash disbursed in lieu of fractional shares related to stock split Proceeds From Repayments Of Restricted Cash Financing Activities Restricted cash Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations Repayment of capital lease obligations Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash provided by financing activities Effect of exchange rate changes on cash Effect of exchange rate changes on cash Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental Cash Flow Information: Cash interest payments Cash income tax payments Transfer of equipment from inventory to property and equipment, net. Transfer of equipment from inventory to property and equipment, net Transfer of equipment to inventory from property and equipment, net. Transfer Of Equipment To Inventory From Property And Equipment Net Transfer of equipment to inventory from property and equipment, net Debt Conversion, Original Debt, Amount Notes redeemed for shares of common stock Basis Of Presentation [Abstract] Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure Text Block Basis Of Presentation Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Significant Accounting Policies Acquisitions [Abstract] Business Combination Disclosure Text Block Acquisitions Inventories [Abstract] Inventory Disclosure Text Block Inventories Property And Equipment [Abstract] Property Plant And Equipment Disclosure Text Block Property And Equipment Intangible Assets [Abstract] Intangible Assets Disclosure Text Block Intangible Assets Goodwill [Abstract] Goodwill [Abstract] Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill Employee Benefits [Abstract] Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block] Employee Benefits Accrued And Other Liabilities [Abstract] Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities Disclosure Text Block Accrued And Other Liabilities Hedging Activities And Financial Instruments [Abstract] Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure Text Block Hedging Activities And Financial Instruments Borrowings [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Borrowings Lease Obligations [Abstract] Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block] Lease Obligations