Turnover of China's 3D printing market is set to double in 2014 compared to 2013, according to an industry insider.

"The decades-old 3D printing technology is finally starting to expand in China, where the market size is poised to reach at least 4 billion yuan ($642 million) by the end of this year," said Luo Jun, chief executive of China 3D Printing Technology Industry Alliance.

The growth will easily be double of last year's figure of around 2 billion yuan, according to statistics released by the alliance, the nation's largest 3D printing organization.

Luo warned that rapid growth in low-end printer market may cause intense competition.

About 50 manufacturers of 3D printers have started operations in China over the past year and most of them provide low-precision devices, said Luo.

"Chinese vendors should sit down and discuss the future of the industry, or low-end competition will exhaust public's interest for desk-top printers," he added.

3D-printed houses built in Shanghai	3D printing - a new favorite in 2014 CES