Hello! In this article we will talk about making money with a 3D printer.
With the development of technology, new gadgets appear every time that are incomprehensible to ordinary users. Despite their uniqueness and commercial interest, 3D printers are no exception. They are still not actively used for industrial income, let alone at home. In this article we will try to figure out how you can make money with a 3D printer at home and what you will need for this.
General information on 3D printers
3D printer - peripheral device, which allows you to print three-dimensional models from various materials.
Unlike conventional printers, 3D printers create three-dimensional images using computer models. They print the object layer by layer. 3D printer is used:
- To quickly create prototypes of finished models. For engineering, this is a way to save time and make changes to an object at the stage of its development.
- For the production of finished parts from materials that are supported by 3D printers.
- For the manufacture of casting molds.
- For small-scale home production of almost any item.
- To create prostheses and implants.
- To create weapon components.
- And even for the construction of buildings.
In China, the government conducted an experiment to create houses with a 3D printer. The business has been quite successful, but the durability and strength of houses made with this device remains to be tested.
The main material for a 3D printer is plastic. For small-scale production, this is the best option, as it allows you to get a high-quality item for cheap money. A kilogram of ordinary plastic powder for a 3D printer costs about 500 rubles.
For more important production, expensive materials are used. These are simulators of wood, stone and industrial mixtures. They cost several times more, but are not interesting due to the high cost of the product.
In order to print something on a 3D printer, you need a three-dimensional model of the object. It is created in special programs - CAD editors. At first, working on creating models yourself is completely optional. There are a lot of different product options online, from cases to miniature figures from computer games.
After you have developed a model, the program decomposes it into layers. Then, layer by layer, the 3D printer reproduces the object. The main advantage of such printing is accuracy. It allows you to reproduce an object in the smallest detail.
How you can make money with a 3D printer: 6 ideas for making money
A 3D printer is great for small-scale production. This is an ideal option for a home business. For a small investment you will get a tool for creating a variety of items. There are several product categories that sell well.
Small toys and souvenirs
Plastic toys, interior decorations or small gift souvenirs can be easily printed on a 3D printer.
Figurines
The business of creating figures from game and book universes has always been profitable. I myself have seen more than once how models of characters from the Warhammer 40,000 universe were sold at prices starting from 2,000 rubles. The same goes for computer games.
Real human models have been in demand lately. This is the kind of portrait that every person would like to receive as a gift.
With a 3D model, you can create a mockup of what the characters look like and reproduce them. Not a single person who makes such figures by hand can compare with you in speed. Such models can be sold much cheaper, about 500 - 1,000 rubles. The only difficulty is that you have to paint it by hand.
Architectural models
Using the drawings, you can easily make a model of a house, cottage, even a car, with almost minimal effort. If you choose this option, you can go two ways: sell house models to ordinary people as decoration, or collaborate with engineers and construction firms to provide them with ready-made building models.
Even as souvenirs, models of buildings and cars sell well. For a small building you can get up to 2 - 3 thousand rubles. It will look good in the interior.
Molds for soap making
Soap makers are developing, they constantly need new forms, but making them by hand is almost impossible. You can sell soap making molds for your home business. They are not that expensive, up to 100 rubles, but if you work with several companies, you can periodically receive good orders.
This production is quite low. Despite the fact that one form is cheap, it will also be sold inexpensively. The only option when it will be possible to engage in such a business is if there are a large number of shops and soap makers in the city.
Spare parts
A 3D printer can print almost any small parts (up to 35 centimeters). Even spare parts for cars can be made from expensive materials, for example, a door handle, side mirror, etc. And not only for cars. You can put the production of spare parts on stream.
But rather, this is truly custom work. You can print parts for customers' products. But there is a great difficulty - developing drawings for such parts. It can take a lot of time, and your expenses over a long distance are unlikely to pay off, but as an option, custom work may be suitable.
Food industry
You can even create edible things with a 3D printer. Hydrocolloids or hydrogel are used to print food products. With their help, scientists can easily reproduce sugar, cream, chocolate, bananas, bread, etc. Developments do not stop and in the future it is likely that it will be possible to print even meat on 3D printers.
A simple printer can easily print sugar figures, cakes, candies, and pasta. People love tasty food that looks good, and you can make good money from it. The main problem is printing materials. They are quite expensive.
The most interesting product, in my opinion, are personalized figurines. They are expensive because they are custom designed, but they look attractive. In the West, such figures are very popular, and echoes of this trend are gradually reaching us, in Russia. This is still an untapped, but very promising niche that would be worth occupying.
How much to invest to make money on 3D printing
First we need a 3D printer. You can go three ways:
- Order in China. The quality of such printers is quite unstable. Either a good model or a defective one may arrive. The cost of a normal model from a trusted company is from 40,000 rubles.
- Buy a Russian 3D printer. The quality is better, there are practically no risks, but the minimum price is 25,000 rubles; for a good model you will have to pay from 50,000 rubles.
- Do it yourself. This is quite difficult, but if you bother, you can assemble an excellent model for 25,000 rubles.
There will be large costs at first. It will be very difficult for a novice businessman who is unfamiliar with the methods to establish a flow of sales of his own goods. This is why you need to invest money in advertising or look into promotion.
The best start for a beginner is social networks. Creating a VKontakte group in which you will sell materials will be the best option. You will have to spend money on a good targetologist who will attract clients. All this will cost about 20 - 50 thousand rubles.
Since we are talking about a home business, we will not need premises. Therefore there is no rental cost. The materials required to create products using a 3D printer usually cost about 20% of the final cost of the product. Therefore, the costs for them will be in the region of 10 - 15 thousand rubles.
Total. Printer at least 40,000 rubles + 30,000 rubles advertising + 15,000 rubles materials = 85,000 rubles initial costs.
How to Run a 3D Printing Business
When working with a 3D printer, you can earn money in 2 ways:
- Mass produce goods.
- Work to order.
The production of mass goods is a rather interesting business. You define the categories of products that you will 3D print, then sell them through your sales channels. This could be a bulletin board, a social network or a real store in your city.
The advantage of this approach to work is flexibility. You do what you want, but if you see that your products aren't selling well, you can always do something else. In addition, buyers see your products, which means they will be more willing to buy them, especially if the prices really aren’t bad.
Work to order is a more customized option. Clients come to you with their projects, and you carry them out. They charge a higher fee for such work, but there are much more headaches with such orders. However, the final profit covers all costs.
The main disadvantage of custom work with 3D printing is the small number of clients. You won't be able to put this kind of work on stream. The lack of clients cannot be compensated for by a high markup on work. Then no one will contact you.
Therefore, when you do not have work to order, you can safely make goods for sale. As soon as a client comes to you with his project, you make it, make a profit and go back to assembly line production.
This approach allows you to get maximum profits at minimal costs. You make the bulk of your money from mass production, and custom work will bring in more money from time to time.
How much can you earn with a 3D printer?
Experts say that income from one printer per month is approximately 50,000 rubles. It is impossible to earn more, because even with a large flow of clients, we run into the technical limit of the device. And if the work is one-piece, then you will have to add the creation of 3D models to the printing time.
Experts do not recommend buying multi-colored printers for running a home business. They cost several times more, but in fact, they are not much different from their single-color counterparts in terms of technical characteristics. It will be much more cost-effective to simply create products in one color and then tint them.
The biggest difficulty in such work is the low recognition of printed products. Buyers simply will not understand that they are made on a 3D printer. On the one hand, this is not bad, because you can sell some things, such as figurines, handmade goods, but on the other hand, it is very difficult to talk about your own business and get a good flow of customers.
For a month of continuous operation, we can receive a net income of up to 50,000 rubles with active loading and a good flow of clients. For beginners, a good indicator would be to reach 20-25 thousand rubles in net profit in the first months of work.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that the first 3D printers appeared a long time ago, this is still a kind of exotic technology that has not fully entered into everyday life. It is ideal for home business and small-scale production. There are several more niches that are still not occupied in Russia. Making money from a 3D printer can be an excellent option for a family business. I recommend taking a closer look.
♦ Capital investments – 130,000 rubles.
♦ Payback – 3−6 months.
Today, the business sector is not going through the best of times.
In addition to the difficulties created by the economic crisis, other problems are added: a high level of competition and a small number of unoccupied niches in most areas, the need to invest huge capital, low profitability, and others.
To make money as an entrepreneur, you need to look for new sources of income and be one step ahead of your competitors.
Your lifesaver today can be 3D printer. Business using this miracle technology has many advantages, does not require huge investments and can be done by people without special education.
If you take the risk of taking the unbeaten path and implementing innovative ideas, you can see how profitable a 3D printer business can be.
How to choose the right 3D printer for business?
To start making money from 3D printing, you need not only original ideas, a well-written business plan and a collected amount of capital investment.
The main thing you will need is a printer that prints in 3D.
You should select a technique based on the following criteria:
- Types of plastic that can be used for printing.
There are two types of plastic used for 3D printing: ABS (made from plant materials such as corn) and PLA (made from oil waste).
The second type of raw material is more durable and strong, but not everyone will want to buy things made from it, especially when it comes to children's toys or dentures.
This is why it is better to buy a 3D printer that works with two types of plastic. - The diameter of the printing nozzle, which directly affects the print quality.
It is better to buy a 3D printer whose nozzle size is no more than 100 microns. - Finished product size.
A good printer is one that can produce a product up to 30 cm cubic in size. and weighing up to 5 kg.
Printers that create very miniature products (no more than 10 cm 3) are not profitable to purchase. - Printing color scheme.
Most printers for home use print 3D products in one color.
Multi-color printing is possible with equipment that is very expensive and is unlikely to pay for itself, therefore, if there is such a need, it is better to tint the finished products manually.
This way, a business with a 3D printer will become self-sustaining in the shortest possible time. - Price.
Of course, you'll want to make sure your idea is as cost-effective as possible, but remember that a 3D printer business can be tough on the cheap.
If you buy cheap, low-quality equipment, it will break fairly quickly.
You should consider purchasing 3D printers that start at $1,000 and up. - Manufacturer.
The highest quality 3D printers are made by the following companies: Hewlett-Packard, 3D Systems, EnvisionTEC, Stratasys Ltd and others.
Small 3D printer for business: advantages and disadvantages
Many foreign companies are now engaged in the manufacture of 3D printers, both for industrial scale and for private use.
Even real giants are produced that print bridges across a river or road surface.
You to start a business with a 3D printer , It is enough to purchase a small device that can easily be placed even in an ordinary apartment.
And once you have recouped your capital investment, you can think about purchasing more powerful equipment and moving to an industrial scale.
Business on a small 3D printer has a number of advantages:
- Even people with little income can purchase such equipment;
- the cost of raw materials for loading the printer is low;
- you can print many types of products that sell well;
- the printer supports several types of plastic;
- the print quality will satisfy your customers;
- A 3D printer can work tirelessly for several hours in a row and 10-14 hours a day in total.
If we talk about the disadvantages of a business organized using a small 3D printer, then it is worth mentioning:
- small volumes of production, which do not even approximately resemble industrial scale;
- The size of products made on a 3D printer does not exceed 30 cm3.
What can you print on a 3D printer as a business?
Interesting fact:
In 1966, the television series Star Trek first showed a prototype of a modern 3D printer, with the help of which the heroes created various food products while on a spaceship. It seemed unreal then, but today it has become a reality, just like a laser beam did in its time.
Don't be scared by the fact that you will first have to purchase a small 3D printer that is suitable for home use.
This miniature (compared to the industrial giants) technology prints many interesting and beautiful things that can be sold.
Using a 3D printer you can produce:
- Souvenir products.
- Creative design shoes.
- Kids toys.
- Worn parts for anything.
- Cases for tablets and smartphones, covers for notepads and books, business card holders, keychains, key holders, wallets and other stylish accessories.
- Jewelry for men and women, hair clips and more.
- Accessories for clothing and shoes: buttons, fasteners, buckles, etc.
- Dishes and flower pots.
- Outdoor advertising.
- Medical prostheses.
- Doll furniture and much more.
The main thing is creativity in choosing an idea: to do something that no one else does and at the same time do it beautifully, so that any client gasps with delight.
And naturally, we should focus on consumer demand.
If a certain type of product made with a 3D printer is not selling at all, then you should stop making it and do something that is well-sold by customers.
How to do business with a 3D printer?
Let’s say you’ve found a good 3D printer for home use in a store or online and are now deciding how to start making money from it.
A 3D printing business, like any other, requires drawing up a financial plan with step-by-step instructions.
This is the only way to move from the idea of a 3D printer directly to making money with minimal losses.
In order to start a 3D printer business, you will need:
- decide whether you will manufacture products at home or whether you are going to rent an office;
- purchase the printer itself and consumables for it;
- learn how to make various types of products for sale;
- find sales sources and conduct an advertising campaign;
- decide on the legal registration of your own business;
- collect the necessary amount of money to start a 3D printer business.
It doesn't take too long to start a 3D printer business.
In fact, you will be able to cope with all the mentioned conditions for implementing a startup in just a few months:
Stage | Jan. | Feb. | March |
---|---|---|---|
Buying a 3D printer and consumables | |||
Learn to work on it | |||
Business advertising | |||
Search for a sales market | |||
Starting a business |
Registering a business on a 3D printer
Experienced entrepreneurs advise not to rush to register as an individual entrepreneur immediately after you have an idea.
Just because you bought a 3D printer does not guarantee that there will be a line of customers lining up for you.
And you will have to pay taxes in any case, regardless of the profit of your business.
Work for a while as an illegal immigrant right at home.
You can register a business on a 3D printer as an individual entrepreneur or LLC only when your business begins to bring you huge profits, and legal entities appear among your clients who are ready to purchase large quantities of goods by bank transfer.
Premises and personnel for doing business with a 3D printer
Companies make printers capable of 3D printing, which are quite compact when it comes to equipment for home use.
Until you know how successful your business with a 3D printer will be, there is no need to rush to rent an office, the cost of which ruins many entrepreneurs.
Surely in your home there is a table at which you could work on a 3D printer and a cabinet or rack where the goods you have printed would be stored.
You should think about renting a separate office only after you have regular wholesale clients and expand your business.
In order to achieve a financially profitable implementation of the idea, you will need:
- learn to work with 3D equipment;
- master graphic programs such as Corel Draw, Photoshop and others;
- 3D print products for sale;
- create a website and update the range of products you want to sell;
- advertise your business with a 3D printer;
- conduct business with clients.
If you can do all this yourself, then you don’t need to involve anyone in your business.
Otherwise, look for an assistant who will directly work on the 3D printer, and you will take care of all organizational issues.
But there is no need to rush into hiring an assistant.
At the initial stage of starting a business, you can do it on your own.
Advertising a business with a 3D printer and finding clients
If you buy a printer to print 3D products for your own needs, then you don’t need any advertising.If your goal is to earn money and return the capital investments made in the business as quickly as possible, then you cannot do without an advertising campaign that will help attract as many clients as possible.
Moreover, you need to use various tools to advertise your business with a 3D printer in order to attract both single customers who are looking for an original gift, and wholesalers in the form of souvenir shops and resellers in the market.
- Distributing flyers, business cards and brochures in high traffic areas.
- By placing outdoor advertising in public transport and on city streets.
- Offering your creative ideas to in social networks.
- By creating your own website with photographs of the product and approximate prices for it.
- Going in search of potential clients with samples of goods made on a 3D printer: to souvenir, hardware and children's stores, to resellers at the market.
How much does it cost to open a business with a 3D printer?
This type of business does not apply to startups that need multi-million dollar financial inflows.
The most you will have to spend on is the purchase of a 3D printer and materials for making goods using 3D technology.
There will be other expenses in business (website creation, advertising), but these expense items are not that expensive.
To start doing business with a 3D printer, it is enough to have 130,000 rubles:
If you want to purchase a more expensive 3D printer, register as an individual entrepreneur, rent an office so as not to work from home, and hire an assistant at the initial stage, then the amount of your capital investment in your business can increase significantly.
The numbers you see in the table illustrate the financial part of starting a small business that will expand gradually.
Interesting facts about 3D printers, their capabilities,
and how you can make money on them,
presented in the video:
How much will a 3D printer business bring to its owner?
The cost of printing 1 gram of plastic raw material on a 3D printer, taking into account the costs of electricity and printer maintenance, will be about 5 rubles.
But the selling price of the finished product is 40-50 rubles.
If you make 6 kg of products on a 3D printer using fully purchased reels of plastic threads, you will earn 240,000 - 300,000 rubles.
Let's subtract from this amount 15,000 rubles (the cost of plastic threads) and 5,000 rubles (advertising, electricity and additional expenses) and ultimately get 220,000-280,000 rubles in profit.
As you can see, this amount was able to not only recoup capital investments, but also allow you to earn 90,000 - 150,000 rubles in net profit.
But how quickly you can produce original products on a 3D printer and sell them depends entirely on you.
But get ready for the fact that even if your 3D printer works 10-12 hours a day, and your campaign to attract customers is extremely effective, it will take at least 3-4 months to use all the materials and sell all the manufactured products .
Business with a 3D printer can become either an incredibly promising and profitable startup that will allow you to build a huge business, or a toy on which you spent over 100,000 rubles in vain.
The final result of the implementation of this innovative idea depends only on you.
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3D printing is far from new in the industry, but modern technologies made it possible to use a 3D printer even at home. Now you can find compact and affordable models that can fit on a table next to a conventional laser or inkjet printer.
Classification
Currently, there are 7 main 3D printing technologies:
- Fused Deposition (FDM). The material is heated, positioned in the desired area, applied as a drop, strip, etc., and after cooling it hardens into the required shape.
- Polyjet (photopolymer printing), the raw material is only a special polymer that hardens when exposed to UV radiation.
- Laser Baking (LENS, an acronym for Laser Engineered Net Shaping) is one of the few technologies that allows high-precision printing from durable materials such as metal, ceramics, etc. The sprayed powder is baked on the fly at the desired point by a focused laser.
- Cutting and gluing thin sheets (LOM, an abbreviation for Laminated Object Manufacturing), the future object is laid out from thin sheets of raw materials (the latter are cut with a special knife or laser) layer by layer, at the end baking or heating may be required to glue the laminate.
- Stereolithography, a laser with high precision, causes local solidification of the polymer in a large container, layer by layer.
- laser sintering is a variation of the technology of baking powder material with a laser, in many ways similar to stereolithography.
- Layer-by-layer application of glue and base - 3DP (abbreviation for Three Dimensional Printing). This involves alternating layers of powdered material and glue.
Where to start hairdressing
Each technology has its own advantages and disadvantages, among which the main ones are:
- permission,
- print speed,
- cost and availability of consumables.
3D printing using plastics (as the most accessible and cheapest materials) with small part sizes has gained the most popularity in everyday life.
3D printer: what can be done as a business
Depending on the scope of application and technology, 3D printers can be used for the direct production of individual products using ready-made templates or to order, as well as as additional equipment at one of the stages of work/service provision:
In the industrial sector
- Production of test samples of components and assemblies
- Acceleration of individual stages of production (production of particularly complex parts)
- Design verification
- Production of casting molds
- And so on.
In architecture
- Production of complete statues or their fragments according to individual orders
- Fast printing of miniature toy models
- Printing complex decorative elements
In medicine
- Printing fillings, crowns or dentures
- Rapid cultivation of donor organs/tissues
- Creation of prosthetics according to individual parameters
In food production
- Applying three-dimensional paintings to cakes
- Creation of high quality decors
Construction
- Rapid construction of concrete house frames
- Laying bricks according to a given program without manual labor
Advertising
- Creating three-dimensional layouts
- Printing unique advertising items and symbols
Sewing
- Printing of custom fittings
- Creation of decorative elements for clothing and jewelry
Other accessories/products
- Smartphone cases
- Original dishes
- Small souvenirs and other gift products
- Logic toys and construction sets
- Non-standard furniture fittings
- Key rings
- Jewelry/Decoration
- And so on.
Ideas for starting a business from scratch without investment or initial capital
And this is not a complete list of business ideas with a 3D printer and the use of 3D printing.
3D printer - business idea with plastic figures (souvenir products)
There are a lot of options for building a working business model. Below we will dwell in more detail on the creation of original game sets based on online games, etc.
Be careful, printing of character models and elements of games, films and other works may be prohibited by the company that owns the trademark or brand.
The best option would be to create sets of models based on your own design, register your trademark and document your intellectual property rights.
Thus, there are 2 development paths:
- Release of sets of board games (with a playing field, original game rules and other paraphernalia);
- Production and retail/wholesale of gaming models only.
If the first option is the most far-sighted, then the second is much simpler to implement and affordable for the initial investment. More on the latter below.
Business 3d printer where to start (starting investments)
To start a project, in addition to registering as a legal entity, you will need:
- Buying a 3D printer. The cost depends on the functionality, accuracy and speed of printing, the technology used and consumables. To create plastic figures, you will need a 3D printer that works with plastic, with high positioning accuracy (up to 50 microns). A working volume of 30 cm will be more than enough. Such models cost about 165 thousand rubles. (for example, 3DISON PRO/Korea, Printbox3D 180/Russia, etc.), prices for professional models reach several million rubles.
- Purchase of consumables. A special plastic filament (ABS, PLA, PVA, etc.) will be used for printing. Cost about 1400 rubles. per kilogram. You will need several of the most popular colors (4-5 bobbins).
- Operator's workplace. Personal computer – from 20 thousand rubles. Access to the Internet – from 700 rubles/month. Complex software for working with a printer, as well as for modeling parts, can be found completely free of charge (under GPL licenses, etc., for example, Cura, CraftWare, TincerCAD, Autodesk 123D Design, etc.).
- Renting a workspace for printing and storing products greatly depends on the region, location in the city’s infrastructure, and the opportunities provided by the landlord. Prices for commercial area of 15 sq. m. start from 9-11 thousand rubles.
- Budget for advertising and creating your own website. If a website can be created on free platforms, then advertising in print and online publications cannot be abandoned. The amount allocated monthly is from 6 thousand rubles.
A 3D printer is a device that allows you to create three-dimensional models of any shape from special plastic. It is enough just to create a three-dimensional image of the required object in a computer program designed for this.
Know-how became available for purchase by individuals not so long ago, so printing 3D models is a fairly profitable and in-demand business idea today.
The technology for creating 3D models becomes cheaper over time, which increases the number of potential clients. Production may become especially in demand in areas where three-dimensional layouts are widely used, for example, industry or architecture. The curriculum of architectural universities includes the creation of models, so if there is such an institution in the city, you can earn money with the help of students.
Another idea for using a printer is making souvenirs. If you use a tandem - a 3D printer and a 3D scanner, you can even create exact mini-copies of people. To do this, you just need to scan the customer and print the resulting model using a printer. You can also make figurines of heroes from popular games, cartoons or movies. For those who don't know how to use special programs, you can offer not only printing, but also computer modeling services. There is a business idea for making money by making jewelry with a 3D printer: it could be rings, earrings, bracelets. You can start producing small household and decorative goods: dishes, photo frames, hooks.
In some countries, there are entire factories that custom-print almost any item, including weapons and rocket engine parts. Printers vary greatly in price, depending on the capabilities, purpose and manufacturer of the device. Imperfect prints produced using a cheap printer may need to be refinished by hand, sanded and smoothed out.
Return to contents
Start-up costs for organizing a business for the production of 3D products are over 170 thousand rubles. This amount includes the cost of purchasing equipment, hiring 3D modeling specialists, and renting premises. The business idea is implemented in stages:
- First, you need to go through all the necessary procedures by registering as an individual entrepreneur.
- Now you can purchase the equipment necessary for work. A three-dimensional printer will cost about 80 thousand rubles, although, as mentioned above, it all depends on the capabilities and manufacturer of the device. The price of ABS plastic is 2400 rubles. for 1 kg, in total, to begin with you will need about 8-10 kg of plastic. This item can also include the purchase of a computer or laptop - about 20 thousand rubles.
- Hiring a modeling specialist - from 10 thousand rubles.
- To rent a room of 15 sq. m., you will need at least 12 thousand rubles.
- A good idea is to include in your plan the creation of your own website, the development and content of which will cost approximately 30 thousand rubles.
Thus, the starting cost will be approximately 176 thousand rubles. The business plan is designed for a small city. On average, a printer is capable of printing 200 g of products per day, while the average cost of 1 g of product is 40 rubles. Per month - about 240 thousand rubles. Taking into account all the monthly expenses for the purchase of plastic, taxes, rent, the net profit will be approximately 150 thousand rubles. The plan indicates revenue per printer. Within a few months of work, taking into account the constant availability of orders, the start-up costs are fully recouped.
A 3D printer can print products for various consumer sectors. A 3D printer is simply made for small businesses. He gave people an affordable new opportunity to earn a decent living and do what they love. What sellable products can you 3D print to start a home business? The household 3D printer has still been assigned modest characteristics, but if you analyze them in detail, you can see a wide range of satisfaction for consumers of exclusive small-scale products. From toys to printed shoes.
You can organize your own online store of exclusive goods and print products for sale as orders come in. This is a way to manage trade in a store without any remaining stock in the warehouse. Also, 3D printing technology will give many people the opportunity to realize their innovative ideas. Useful inventions can now be tested and perfected at home without spending a lot of money. Below we will analyze in more detail all the areas of application of a household 3D printer in a small or home business.
A wide range of products can be printed with a 3D printer
Let's look at everything that can be printed on a 3D printer to organize a successful small business at home. First we define general characteristics manufactured products. To do this, let’s pay attention to the industrial features of the device for 3D crafts:
Advantages of home production organized using a 3D printer for $3000:
- high accuracy;
- good resolution printing;
- low price of raw materials;
- Supports both types of plastic.
Flaws:
- low productivity;
- product sizes are limited (within 30 cm).
Taking into account these production features, we can confidently characterize the main category of manufactured products. These will be exclusive high-quality products made from small-scale plastics. Well, and some other products outside of this category. The following products can be printed on a 3D printer:
Exclusive accessories:
- cases with modern design for smartphones and tablets;
- original keychains (with emblems, with animals, with Feng Shui elements, etc.);
- business card holders in a corporate style;
- souvenir boxes.
Souvenir products:
- miniatures of outstanding architectural buildings;
- figurines of sculptures and engineering structures;
- mini copies of people created from their photographs;
- jewelry (beautiful rings, bracelets).
Tools for fashion designers:
Exclusive toys for children:
- cartoon and computer game characters;
- basics for flocking and decorating toy animals;
- details of complex structures and mechanisms for folding into one large toy;
- constructors for modeling.
Housing:
- exclusive tableware with various design shapes;
- decorative elements for interior design;
- unique furniture fittings;
- original prefabricated children's furniture.
Replicas of broken or worn parts. There are all kinds of options here: plastic gears, bushings, caps, seals, buttons, latches, etc.
Training stands. For example: car structure, molecular structures, DNA layout, human structure, etc. As well as tools and supplies for laboratory work.
Some 3D printer artists print parts from 3D printers of certain models. Thus, you can even think about producing your own 3D printers of simple models. This automatically brings up the idea of not only replicating but also scaling up these amazing robotic computing devices.
Trade of three-dimensional images for printing on 3D printers
A 3D printer is a revolutionary device for home businesses. Now the implementation of good industrial ideas has become available to small businesses. More creative people will be able to realize themselves and develop independently, earning a living and doing what they love at the same time.
The predicted increase in competition should be taken into account. But fair competition is more good than bad. In the near future, a 3D printer will become a household device. This means that a new important change will take place in modern world. The number of consumers of 3D models created in 3D modeling programs will increase. This fact will affect the first opportunity to make money from the popularity of household 3D printing devices. Not just a printer! Today there are already several stocks selling three-dimensional images (3D models). And in a year, demand will soar, which will raise the price for the work of 3D designers and engineers. After all, it’s easy to imagine how people congratulate each other on e-mail or on social networks, but as a gift they will send not electronic “cool” cards, but files of ready-made 3D models. The birthday boy will be able to print them on his household 3D printer and receive his useful gift. It is important to note that one file can be sold a huge number of times.
To the list of ideas on the topic: “What can be printed on a 3D printer?” a clause should be added: “trading files for 3D printers.” Thanks to a 3D printer, you can earn money even before you have one. Trading 3D images is the first and residual (passive) income from the sale of files for 3D printing made of plastic. You need to start learning 3D design today in order to be one of the first among sellers tomorrow.
Innovative inventions are created using 3D printers
A great example of how you can 3D print your idea and bring it to life, giving the world a new useful invention.
Top 3D Shop
Doug Gonterman and Jessica Linebury used a 3D printer to bring their innovative product to life. They invented a spoon that helps children quickly learn to eat on their own without dirtying themselves and everything around them.
Home inventors have printed two types of their inventions from safe plastic. A spoon with a through hole and an unusual shape - for thick porridge. And a spoon with special grooves for liquid food. But to achieve the best result, it was necessary to go through a number of tests. And those spoons that turned out with the best effect differ significantly from the test versions. 3D printing technology allowed us to do inventive work, repeated testing, and sharpening products to achieve the best results. And how many more ideas are stored in the thoughts of small and home entrepreneurs, which people will admire many times over.
Choosing a 3D printer for a small business
What you need to know when choosing a 3D printer for small and home businesses:
- Price. You can find different offers on the Internet. But if you are purchasing a printer to produce unique and high-quality products for sale, then you shouldn’t even look at less than $1000. You should also consider the price of consumables. Bobbins with plastic thread are in the price range from $35 to $55 per 1 kg. (depending on the color and quality of the plastic). When purchasing, you should take into account the manufacturer of the device, since today there are still very few official representatives and problems may arise with the supply of spare parts.
- Support for types of plastic. Plastic for household 3D printers is made from petroleum products - ABS plastic or from renewable resources (from corn or sugar cane) - PLA plastic. The second one is used to produce plastic dishes and plastic toys for small children. ABS plastic is more heat-resistant and durable. But when choosing a 3D printer, it is better when it supports two types of plastic filaments.
- Diameter of the printing nozzle. Maximum print resolution is an important characteristic for each type of printer. Already today there are household 3D printers on sale that can print in a stripe invisible to the human eye (50 microns). And the finished products are smooth. 250 microns is a cheap printer. 100 microns is quite enough for home production. On the other hand, lower quality printing takes less time.
- Limit the size of the finished product. Cheap 3D printers print parts up to 12 cubic centimeters in size. A $3,000 printer can print parts up to 30 cc. and weighing up to 5 kg. The possibility of manufactured products being folded or glued together from several parts should be taken into account. This fact significantly affects the ability not to be limited by the maximum dimensions of printed parts with a 3D printer.
- Multicolor printing of models. Only the most expensive printer models can make multi-color 3D printing. They have several print heads that are combined during operation. This item does not play a major role in home production, so it is better to save money here, and the products can be tinted by hand. Or produce one product in several separate parts, changing the color of the thread for each of them.
Considering the tips described above for analyzing the characteristics when choosing a device, you can take the price-quality ratio of the Cubify 3D Printer model as an example.
3D printers are being progressively improved for small businesses
3D printing technology has rapidly gained popularity and is constantly evolving and improving. Although there are now a number of disadvantages of 3D printing technology (low speed, limited size), with growing needs and business expansion, it is possible to print with more than one 3D printer. Moreover, progress does not stand still.
HP (Hewlett-Packard) announced the release of a new 3D printer model specifically aimed at small businesses. The most important competitive advantage of the new device is:
- Higher 3D printing speed due to an innovative operating principle that will differ from conventional extrusion.
- Relatively low price - $15,000.
Considering this price, it is clear that the company’s intentions are aimed at small industrial businesses and the provision of 3D printing services. For household purposes it will be difficult to find a buyer. Volumetric printing of 3D models is certainly a promising area for small businesses. You should start learning 3D graphics modeling technology now. The time is coming for new opportunities. Today, expensive industrial 3D printers print two-story houses in 24 hours. The time will come, their price will become affordable for small businesses.
3D printing is a very promising area for business. This is one of the main trends in the modern world market. A properly organized and established 3D business allows you to earn decent money and realize your creative potential. Moreover, the possibilities of three-dimensional technologies are just beginning to unfold and many new discoveries await us in this area.
So, you have decided to make a 3D printer the foundation of your business. Taking advantage of the experience of successful entrepreneurs in the field of 3D printing, let us give you some useful tips. They will help you quickly and successfully start in the 3D business.
What can you offer to clients?
You can print different products on 3D printers:
- 3D souvenirs
- building models;
- toys;
- accessories (for example, covers for gadgets);
- costume jewelry;
- 3D copies of people;
- key chains;
- shoes with an original design;
- beautiful and useful things for the home (dishes, furniture fittings, decorative items, etc.).
- various parts and spare parts for a wide variety of mechanisms and cars
You can sign printed products to order. They will cost more than regular ones. But such things still sell well. The reason is simple - because of their exclusivity. So there is no room for platitudes here. Look for fresh ideas, be different, offer something original, and there will be no problems with sales.
Where to begin?
We offer a step-by-step work plan for opening a 3D printing studio.
- We draw up a business plan (proper planning is the key to success in any business).
- We submit an application for state registration.
- Select and purchase a 3D printer.
- We purchase consumables and additional equipment.
- We are mastering 3D printing technology.
- We select personnel (if necessary). To get started, you can use the services of a remote designer.
- We rent and arrange office space.
- We order a website.
- We organize an advertising campaign.
- We are forming a client base.
Required budget
State registration
Let's start with state registration. When choosing between an individual entrepreneur and an LLC, you should start from the scale and characteristics of your business.
What can you print and make with a 3D printer at home and for commercial purposes?
If you do not need loans, it is better to choose an individual entrepreneur. In this case, the registration, liquidation and reporting procedures will be simpler. And the situation with taxes is more pleasant. Costs for opening an individual entrepreneur – from 2 to 10 thousand rubles. (including payment for services to intermediaries).
Printer
3D printing is not a cheap technology. And first of all, you will have to spend money on good equipment. Many novice entrepreneurs immediately try to save money on it. And this is a big mistake, which will lead to the loss of customers and low demand for products. For example, if you buy an inexpensive printer for 20-30 thousand, you will be able to print products of only one color on it. This technique is intended more for home use. But you can’t build a profitable business on it.
There is a wide choice of printers for 3D printing on the market. In addition, there are a dozen printing technologies with different materials. You need to start with choosing a technology, because each of them has its own printer. To delight your customers with original 3D souvenirs, an average quality printing device will be enough. It will cost 80-120 thousand rubles.
Consumables and additional equipment
We immediately purchase the appropriate consumables for the printer. Some dealers give it as a gift along with the purchase of a printer. But this is just for testing. To get started, the studio will need from 8 to 10 kg of plastic. They will cost about 25 thousand rubles. You also cannot do without a computer. We set aside 30,000 rubles for it.
Expenses for renting premises
The cost of rented premises depends on the region. It will cost you 20 – 80 thousand rubles. The average room size for a studio is 20–30 m².
Representation on the Internet
The creation, promotion and support of the site will require approximately 30 thousand rubles.
Modeling services. For 3D printing you need virtual 3D models. They can be periodically ordered from designers remotely. Payment for freelancer services – from 10 thousand.
rub. Plus, to get started, you will need a 3D printing operator. His salary is 20 thousand rubles.
The budget depends on the scale. In any case, you need to set aside 15-20 thousand rubles.
As a result, the amount of starting capital for opening a 3D printing studio is 250-300 thousand rubles.
A little about taxes
The most acceptable taxation option for a beginning entrepreneur is the simplified system (STS). This is a special (lighter) tax regime for small and medium-sized businesses with simpler accounting and tax accounting. For those who choose the “simplified” tax rate, the tax rate is 6 or 15%. The rate here depends on the object of taxation. 6% – corporate income tax. 15% is, accordingly, a tax on income from which the company’s expenses are deducted, that is, on profit. The object of taxation must be determined immediately before the individual entrepreneur is registered. It is not possible to change rates at your own discretion.
If you do not plan to hire more than 15 employees, you can use the patent tax system. It is intended exclusively for individual entrepreneurs and gives the right to obtain a patent for a certain period (1-12 months). Purchasing a patent exempts you from some taxes. Its cost is calculated based on the amount of potential income.
In general, with the simplified tax system it will be more convenient, faster and more profitable for you to pay taxes. So, instead of a whole list, you will have to pay one tax. So you don't have to turn to tax reporting specialists for help or advice.
How to promote a business
To successfully sell your products and find more customers, you should not neglect the opportunities that the Internet provides. Having opened a 3D printing studio offline, get your own website online. Don’t skimp on contextual advertising and website promotion – and your profits will increase several times. Allocate $100 monthly for advertising, and over time this expense will pay off. Or, in parallel with the studio in a specific city, you can open an online store of 3D goods.
In addition, take advantage of other opportunities to promote your business:
- Outdoor advertising;
- Advertising in local media;
- Flyer distribution;
- Promotions and discounts for first customers;
- Information on bulletin boards;
- Articles advertising the studio on the Internet;
- Pages on social networks, etc.
Forecasts and prospects
The cost of one 3D model primarily depends on how much it weighs. Added to the plastic consumption are other production costs, time spent on printing, and, of course, profit. The price of a 3D product is on average 50 rubles. for 1 gram. The average print rate for a printer is 200 grams per day.
The 3D business itself pays for itself in 4 – 8 months. With the development and popularization of 3D printing in the coming years, the payback period for this business will decrease.
In general, 3D printing is a wide field for the implementation of creative ideas and business. Currently, only a small part of its capabilities has been revealed. If this technology is just gaining momentum here, then Europeans will no longer be surprised by exclusive clothes and shoes printed on a printer. However, there are already 3D printing studios in many Russian cities. And, who knows, maybe you will be the one to find a new and unique use for 3D printing devices.
What can you 3D print to start a small or home business?
Cool 3D scanning technology - very impressive, just like in the Matrix! The mini-copy's striking resemblance to a human being! I recommend!
I am very pleased with the result. The coolest surprise I've ever had. The process was very impressive, and the result even more so. Everything is done efficiently and at a high level. Thank you! We wish you success in your unique studio!
We made copies of the whole family as souvenirs - what will it be like for the children to hold their little selves in the hands of about 10 years from now...) They gave “themselves” to their grandparents so that they could always be there.. This is a great idea for a family 3D photo album as a souvenir, and as a gift it’s very cool, now we give gift certificates from belokop.beget to close friends!
The best company in Europe today on the topic of exact copies of people. Only they had the opportunity to create an exact full-length copy of a person with monolithic 3D printing - now you can print out a great man or wife for yourself and put it in your office opposite your desk for motivation))
Amazing 3D scanning system - takes a split second. We were with small children and scanned them easily. They made it on a scale of 23cm - the quality is excellent, even the buttons on the jacket are visible. Thank you and good luck!
Thank you for the convenient scanning service - just 1 second, and the excellent quality of the mini twins. I confirm that the resemblance is one to one. An excellent alternative to photo albums, a cool idea for a personal gift to respected people!
I made a 3D figurine from them, they did everything beautifully. I gave it to my girlfriend on March 8th, she was so happy, I said, I look exactly like her. In general, their accuracy seems to be high. At first I was surprised by the price, but then I realized that this is a once-in-a-lifetime gift, so everything is OK!
We print
you can order.
Well done guys! The figurine is cool, kudos to you. Thank you very much, it was a pleasure to collaborate with you. I ordered a 3D figure of my wife and son from a photo for our 5th wedding anniversary, the deadlines were tight - no problem, we got the hang of it, my wife was in seventh heaven. Now we are planning to order a Certificate for a friends wedding!
The result is absolutely amazing)! An exact copy of me and my beloved;) Thank you very much, we will recommend you to our friends!