3D Printing Genius: September 2015

You have googled it, asked around and even tried to calculate results in your head, how can small businesses make money in the 3D printing industry?

There are many ways to make money 3D printing if you are a small business.

1. Create products with your 3D printer

Before you start printing any and everything search for niche markets within the 3D printing industry that are in demand. Search on google or use google keyword planner to refine your search, search 3D printing forums, Etsy etc.

Once you have found a market that’s in demand, setup shop and sell on platforms such as Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Shapeways, or create your own website. If you’re a jewelry designer, customers will search for your products on a jewelry marketplace. If you want to sell Toys, then you need to find a platform where Toys are sold.

2. Create products for others using your 3D printer

There are a lot of designers, but a limited amount of 3D printer owners and businesses. Earn income by allowing other designers to use your 3D printer. The best part about this idea is that there are many networks that can connect you to designer. Check out 3D printing networks such as

3D Hubs has over 10,000 different 3D printers available in more than 80 countries and it’s a great place to share your 3D printer. Through 3D Hubs you will have direct communication with the 3D designer, choose between meeting face to face or virtually and choose wither the final product can be picked up or sent by mail. 3D Hubs takes 15% commission, which is added to the price you charge so you don’t lose money.

MakeXYZ allows designers to find a local 3D printer and calculate pricing based on the volume, this doesn’t include materials, machine time or set up fees. MakeXYZ takes 15% commission, which is added to the price you charge so you don’t lose money.

This sounds great right? But what If you don’t own a printer, how else can a small business make money in the 3D printing industry? Lend you design expertise and be a 3D print designer

2. Design products for others using your expertise and offer multiple materials

Shapeways

Shapeways is a New York City based premier online 3D printing service. The company offers a selection of 22 materials ranging from plastics ceramics to gold and platinum, in addition to expertise to help you in the design and creation of your product.

Shapeways customer service for technical issues is responsive which makes the printing process easy.

i.Materialise

i.Materialise is a Belgian based 3D printing service that offers a selection of over 17 materials including precious metals and ceramics, over 20 years of experience and is seen as a high-quality 3D printing option ($$$ high priced). They offer over 70 combinations of materials and finishes for both individual and personal applications and easy options to uploading and adjusting your model.

Sculpteo

Sculpteo is a France based 3D printing service that serves makers in both North America and Europe. The service is fast, affordable and high quality with a wide selection of materials offered. The services includes a 3D Printing Cloud Engine that lets you produce short series from 1 to 500 objects of everyday life products in less than a week. They also offer a Rapid Prototyping services that allow you to print a prototype in 3 days.

Ponoko

Ponoko is a New Zealand based 3D printing service that offers laser-cutting, 3D printing and CNC cutting. With Ponoko makers also has access to fabrication machines all over the world which can help markers complete any type of project. Makers has a choice of selling their products either via the Ponoko site, or their own retail outlets.

There are many ways to make money to make in 3D printing industry as a small entrepreneur, look for next week's post for finding specialize printing jobs.

3D business

How a small business can make money 3D printing?

You have googled it, asked around and even tried to calculate results in your head, how can small businesses make money in the 3D pr...

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How does 3D printing work? Well it is not as complicated as you think. 3D printing also called additive manufacturing involves creating a solid object by layering it with thin slices of material, plastic or metal.

Here is a quick step by step guide...

1. You create a 3D image of an item you want to print using CAD software program

2. The CAD program then converts the drawing into a STL file (Standard Tessellantion Language)

3. The file is then copied to the computer that controls the 3D printer

4. Once the machine is setup the building process is automatic, all you have to do is watch the printer work.

That is just a quick take on how 3D printing works; however, there are 6 different 3D printing technologies

Stereolithography (SLA) is a 3D printing method which is explained above. The printer requires computer aid design (CAD) file to process the object. The whole process consists of consequent printing of layer by layer.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology, is used to print prototype and final end use products. Pieces printed using this technology has a good quality that allows companies such as BMW or Hyundai to use printed pieces for testing of prototypes.

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is a technique that uses laser as a power source to form solid 3D objects using powdered material to construct its objects

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) uses a high-powered laser beam that fuses and melts metallic powders such as steel, titanium, cobalt chrome and aluminum. Selective Laser Melting is mainly used in the aerospace and medical orthopedics industry

Electronic Beam Melting (EBM) is another type of additive manufacturing for metal parts, the main difference between SLM and EBM, is EBM uses an electron beam.

Laminated object manufacturing (LOM) is a rapid prototyping system that fuses layers of adhesive-coated paper, plastic or metal together using heat and pressure. Then the printer cut "to shape" with a computer controlled laser or knife. The LOM method is seen as faster and more affordable.

With most of the important technical items addressed, "how 3D printing works", the next post will be about how to profit from the 3D printing industry, how can you save money and can 3D printing benefit your business?

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