How To Start Your Own Business with a 3D Printer
From DIY Christmas gifts to using a 3D printer for school projects, owning a home 3D printer has a number of fantastic uses. But the possibilities don’t end there! What if we told you that it could also serve as a massive opportunity?
Starting your own business can sound like a daunting task, but half of the work is done for you when you have a 3D printer at your disposal. In this article, we will explore 6 ways that you can start your own business with a 3D printer. We’ve included a couple of our favorite models, as well as some templates to get you started!
6 Ways To Use Your 3D Printer to Start a Business
A growing number of businesses use 3D printing technology for various purposes. Today, it plays a significant role in both the medical and automotive fields, as well as in the fields of architecture, aeronautics, and even agriculture. The possibilities that 3D printers bring are endless!
Not only are they beneficial to large industries, but they’re also an amazing asset for anyone looking to start a small business. Here are six different ways that you can make your 3D printer your new favorite employee!
Offer 3D Printing Services To Others
Not everyone can afford a 3D printer, but loads of people could benefit from using one! If you’re lucky enough to have your own, you could provide a 3D printing service to others wanting to print anything from gifts to decorations.
Make 3D Printed Toys for Kids
There’s never a decline in demand for childrens’ toys! Something niche, like dollhouse furniture, will be highly sought-after and the templates are usually very simple and require little to no assembly. Plus, you get to make someone’s day!
Make 3D Printed Home Decor
There are endless templates for 3D printed home decor, each one more unique and interesting than the next! These could be made custom to order, or you can 3D print a few of each kind and add them to your business inventory. Who doesn’t love a unique piece to brighten up their living space?
Sell 3D Printed Character Figurines
These can double as gifts for kids or collectibles for adult fans of games or movies. Something that everyone can enjoy! 3D print and sell miniature Star Wars characters, anime figurines or even custom characters for your clients.
Make Customized Phone Cases
With everyone glued to their smartphones nowadays, it only makes sense that people would want to give it a personalized feel. Funky phone cases like this one will keep your customers’ smartphones safe while displaying their unique style!
Collaborate With Another Industry
As we mentioned earlier on in the article, there are many industries benefiting from 3D printing technology already. But your local architect may not need one often enough to invest in one for themselves, so you could offer to collaborate and 3D print building models to save them the time it takes to build one from scratch.
The Best 3D Printers for Starting your Own Business
If you haven’t made the investment yet, but you’re looking to get into the 3D printing business game, then this is the list for you! Here are our top picks for the best 3D printers to start your own business.
CEL-UK RoboxPro
The machine’s key priority is accuracy and usability, and it’s optimized for everyone looking for a printer that will help them realize their product ideas and get them to market. It’s suitable for commercial and educational use because of its enclosed nature.
SPECIFICATIONS
Print technology: FDM
Build Area: 210 x 300 x 400mm
Advantages:
- Changeable printer heads
- Network ready
Disadvantages
- The CEL-UK is a large-scale printer therefore it needs a lot of room.
FormLabs Form 3
The Form 3 is one of the most powerful 3D printers on the market thanks to its wide range of materials and technologies. High-quality designs, jewelry, casting, and manufacturing are all possible with this material.
SPECIFICATIONS
Print technology: Stereolithography
Build area: 145 × 145 × 185 mm
Advantages:
- High-quality printing
- Wide material support
Disadvantages:
- SLA prints do require cleaning
Flashforge Creator 3
The Creator 3 features a dual extrusion system that allows you to print two models simultaneously – either in mirror or duplication mode – and prints soluble supports as well as multi-color objects. This makes it a great 3D printer for starting a business, as it can print two products at one!
SPECIFICATIONS:
627 x 485 x 615 mm
Print technology: FFF
Pros
- Independent dual extrusion
- Built-in camera
- Excellent print quality
- Carbon air filter
- Wide range of compatible materials
- Auto-leveling
- Easily removable heated print bed
Cons
- No heated build chamber
- Expensive
Snapmaker 2.0 A350
The A350 has 3 uses in one: 3D Printing, Laser Engraving, and CNC Carving.
Despite its steep price tag, we guarantee that you won’t be disappointed with its precision and quality. This 3D printer is excellent for professional use because of its versatility and print quality.
SPECIFICATIONS
230 x 250 x 235 mm
Print Technology: FDM
Pros
- Extremely good-looking and well-built
- 3-in-1 uses
- Large work area
- Power loss recovery
- WiFi connectivity
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Software can be tricky
- Swapping build plates can be tedious
AnyCubic Photon Mono X
The Photon Mono X is our first choice for a professional and budget-friendly 3D printer. It is ideal for high-quality prints, so it’s a great machine for your business. For a price tag of around $499 on Amazon, this 3D printer is a steal!
SPECIFICATIONS
192 x 120 x 245 mm
Print Technology: MSLA
Pros
- Large build volume
- Fast print speed
- Produces high-detailed print models
- Quick to set up
- Built-in cooling system
- Built-in WiFi functionality
Energy-efficient
Cons
- Slicer software may need to be upgraded for optimal use (the Lychee Slicer is best for the .pwmx format)
Final Thoughts
Starting your own 3D printing business has a lot of potential, as well as being a versatile and affordable production method. And if you’re just getting started with 3D printing, we’ve got some killer tips for you!
Purchasing a 3D printer is one of the best investments that you can make in 2023, and with the ideas and templates above, it’ll pay for itself.