Employee Benefits (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Employer matching contribution percentage	50.00%
Maximum employer contribution amount of employee compensation	$ 3,000
Employee benefit expenses	527,000	489,000	241,000
Z Corp Plan [Member]
Employer matching contribution percentage	50.00%
Employee percentage of match	6.00%
Vidar Plan [Member]
Employer matching contribution percentage	50.00%
Employee percentage of match	6.00%
Rapidform Plan [Member]
Maximum employer contribution amount of employee compensation	$ 4,500

Maximum Employer Contribution Amount Of Employee Compensation

No definition available.

Name:	ddd_MaximumEmployerContributionAmountOfEmployeeCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	ddd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase in the fair value of plan assets from contributions made by the employer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage employer matches of the employee's percentage contribution matched.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercentOfMatch
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum percentage of employee gross pay the employee may contribute to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanMaximumAnnualContributionsPerEmployeePercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration