What kind of business can I do with a 3D printer?

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Nowadays, 3D printing technology has become increasingly accessible, allowing more people to get a 3D printer in their home or workplace. However, many people are still unaware of the various ways in which one can make money with a 3D printer.

In this article, I want to list the types of businesses you can run with a 3D printer and explore some of the most common ways to make money with it.

1. 3D printing on demand

Put your 3D printer to work printing models requested by your customers. It's one of the most common ways to start making money with your 3D printer.

In this modality you are not selling a product, but the 3D printing service, since your clients will pay you for the time that your printer is working to print what they want.

On-demand 3D printing is popular because not everyone can afford to buy a 3D printer and have it in their homes (although prices have already dropped significantly for many models).

Still, even if they could afford to buy a 3D printer, many people don't have the skills or patience to operate them.

3D printers are expensive, difficult to use and most people's desire is to just have the part printed in 3D in your hands, without having to deal with all the other difficulties.

These people are the ones who are willing to pay a fair sum of money, in exchange for the work that you If you are willing to do, regardless of how difficult and expensive it is.

You can have a catalog or send interested people to pages like thingiverse or Cults.

I invite you to read: Fuzzy Lining in Cura – Add texture to your models!

2. Prototype printing for small businesses

Creating a die can cost a lot of money, and 3D printing can offer an inexpensive and immediate solution for individuals and small businesses who want to test their designs before making a large financial investment.

Your 3D printer and your knowledge may be exactly what they need.

3. Maintenance and repair of 3D printers

If it's been a while since you bought your first 3D printer and you think you know everything there is to know about it, you can offer 3D printer maintenance and repair services.

It doesn't matter if you haven't worked with all the 3D printer models on the market, you can specialize in the 3D printer model you have and offer your maintenance and repair service for that model and brand.

For example, if you have an Ender 3 you can be a specialist in that machine or those of the same brand since their characteristics are similar.

By specializing in a single model, you will be able to thoroughly understand all its faults and therefore have all the solutions ready.

Your customers will be grateful.

See also: How to perform maintenance on your 3D printer: Complete guide

4. 3D Design and Modeling Service

If there's one thing your 3D printer can't do, it's print without using a 3D model.

It is clear that 3D models are the food for 3D printers, since without them there would be nothing to print.

A great piece of advice that always resonates in the air is to learn how to design in 3D, or “model” in 3D.

If you are learning, or already know how to model in 3D, you can use your knowledge to sell that service.

In this case, clients would give you information about what they want and you would do the work of designing it. This service can range from the simple, such as adding branding to an existing design, to the more complex, such as creating a design completely from scratch at the request of your clients.

5. Post-processing service

If you are one of those people who They know how to paint very well with a brush or airbrush, you can offer your services to earn money with it.

3D printers usually have between 1 and 2 extruders, which means that the printed parts will be at most one or two colors.

Although there are products like Mosaic Palette, which allows you to mix between 4 and 8 filaments of different colors at the same time, not many will be able to buy it or get it (U$s 899.00 usd) and in the case of being able to buy it, you have to take into account the purging towers of filament, which can mean an extra expense reflected in the price to your customers.

if you know how to paint feel free to offer your services, as you will be quickly hired to do Post-processing work on 3D figures.

Many Makers will be grateful.

6. Sell your own products

In this mode, your 3D printer would not be working to satisfy the demand of random clients, but the demand of your own company either micro entrepreneurship.

You can create your own designs and sell them.

Selling your own products can boost your business, or help you start one. It will set you apart from the rest and give you added value, since your designs will be unique.

You can create an online store or use sales platforms such as Amazon or Mercalibre to sell them.

Note: Many of the free designs you can download from sites like Thinguiverse are protected by copyright. Make sure you ask permission before downloading and selling 3D designs that are not yours.

You can also see: “What to 3D print to make money” a list of ideas that will help you know what things you can print to sell on your own.

7. Sell your own 3D Designs

Sell your own STLs. If you know how to design, you can sell your designs on sales platforms such as Cults or Myminifactory.

This option can mean an extra income, since your models would be for sale on a website that would be in charge of carrying out the transaction and you would only be in charge of receiving the money from the sales.

See: How to sell 3d designs on Cults3d

8. Sell supplies and 3D printers

If you are a good salesperson and you like the idea of having your own store open to the public, you can become a reseller of supplies and 3D printers.

Here you can choose between an online or physical store, keeping in mind that you will need to have a significant amount of capital to make the initial investment, both in the products for sale and in the rental costs and payment of employees if you need them.

Clearly this business option would not be for everyone, since you will need a large amount of capital to invest.

In any case, you can start small, selling online and growing your business in stages.

9. 3D printing courses

Your knowledge has value and you can take advantage of it.

You can create your own YouTube channel and make videos about 3D printing to later monetize it or use it as a lever to promote your 3D printing courses.

You can create an E-book about 3D printing and sell it on platforms like Amazon, or even publish it on your own 3D printing Blog.

10. Stock Photos

If you have a 3D printer and are adept at photography, you can take photos and sell them on platforms like Shutterstock or istockphoto.

I have noticed that there are not many stock images for the sector and it may be interesting for those interested in earning some money selling photographs.

Tips to make money with a 3D printer

1. Offer personalized services

Offering custom services is a great way to make money with a 3D printer. Users can offer services that include creating custom designs and printing specific objects for clients.

2. Identify market demand

It is important to identify the market demand for 3D printed objects. Users can research the most popular products and current trends in the market and tailor their services accordingly.

3. Use high-quality materials

The quality of printed objects is essential to keep customers satisfied. It is important to use high-quality materials to ensure that printed items are durable and strong.

4. Promote 3D printing services

Promoting 3D printing services is important to attract potential customers. Users can use social media and websites to promote their services and reach a wider audience.

5. Keep up to date with technology

3D printing technology is constantly evolving, so it is important to stay up to date with the latest trends and advancements. This allows users to offer more advanced services and meet changing market demands.

Conclusions:

You can make money with a 3D printer, literally printing models and selling them through numerous platforms, such as Instagram, Amazon, Mercado Libre, your own store or Blog and/or Youtube channel.

Making money with a 3D printer can be an exciting and profitable endeavor for those who are willing to invest time and effort into developing their skills and services. Whether by creating custom objects, selling printed items online, or offering services to businesses, 3D printing offers a wide range of income-generating opportunities. By following the tips presented and staying up to date with technology, users can get the most out of their 3D printers and achieve success in the market.

In addition, I proposed other alternatives related to 3D printing as well as the sale of products and services.

1. 3D printing on demand.
2. Prototype printing for small businesses.
3. Maintenance and repair of 3D printers.
4. 3D design service and/or 3D figure modeling.
5. Post-processing service (Paint models).
6. Sell your own products (3D printed).
7. Your own 3D designs (STL files).
8. Sell supplies and 3D printers.
9. Sell 3D printing courses
10. Stock Photos (About 3D printing)

One of the most important things you should keep in mind is that you should always differentiate yourself from the rest.

No matter what you do always search Innovate, to be different and of improve yourself and your products.

One of the best ways to be successful is not to think about money and how much you are going to earn, but to think How can you solve a problem for your customers?.

The day you can make someone's life easier with something you do, will be the day you will succeed in whatever you set out to do.

I invite you to read: the best Cura setups for beginners either How to calibrate the flow to obtain more accurate prints.