The 3D printing boom of the 2010s may have started as a hobbyists dream but it has now morphed into a fully-fledged business for some thanks to a demand for 3D printed products. This has been made possible by the improvement in the quality of the prints produced and the quality of 3D printers now on the market. The Guider Series of printers from Flashforge, for instance, produce professional quality 3D prints.
Starting a 3D printing on demand business is one way to commercialize your 3D printing skills. These are some of the steps you should take when starting down this road.
Find Your Niche in the 3D Printing on Demand Business
When it comes to 3D printing on demand, it’s important to know whether there will be a demand. Choosing a niche to focus the business on could mean the difference between success and failure.
3D printing services have already curved out several niches in some industries. Machines like the Flashforge Hunter, for example, are made with dental and jewelry applications in mind. Another known niche is the 3D printing of architectural models. If you can take advantage of such a niche, you may be set for success.
Figure 1: You can set up a business specializing in production of architectural models.
If there is no obvious niche, you should do some research to identify one. You can start by finding out what kind of products people need that you can 3D print well. Finding a niche in the 3D printing on demand business will also keep you from getting overwhelmed by every kind of 3D printing request.
Identify a Good 3D Printing Service Space
A 3D printer like the Flashforge Adventurer 4 is like an entire manufacturing plant on top of your desk. The nature of 3D printing means that you may not need much physical space or even a physical shop to establish your business. However, it is still a good idea to isolate your business by having a space that is dedicated to it. This is a good way of ensuring you’ll have space for the things you need, and that you won’t have to deal with all kinds of random items in your workspace.
Figure 2: The Flashforge Adventurer 4 has excellent production capabilities.
Safety is also a good reason to isolate your workspace. Printers like the Foto 8.9 produce amazing prints, but they also use resins that should not come into contact with your skin. Isolating your workspace makes it easier to store and use such substances safely.
Capacity for 3D Printing on Demand
The expression ‘on demand’ is exactly what it sounds like. You’ll need to be able to produce items as quickly as possible when customers need them. Speed is one of the main reasons why people opt for such solutions. To be able to meet customers’ demands, you may need to have a certain number of reliable 3D printers ready or printers with specific qualities. However, you also don’t want to be too prepared. Having a lot of printers that rarely get used will make it harder for you to get a return on what you invest in your business.
Price Your 3D Print-on-Demand Services Appropriately
A common business failure is owners overpricing or underpricing their services. Overpricing will scare off potential customers and underpricing will quickly put you out of business and leave you with a hole in your pocket.
When starting a 3D printing on demand business, you need to come up with a formula for calculating 3D printing service costs. Costs you need to consider include:
- Material costs
- Electricity costs
- Tooling costs
- Shipping costs etc.
Figure 3: 3D printing material is not cheap and its cost must be factored into the pricing of services.
It may also be a good idea to have a base 3D printing service cost that has to be paid regardless of the order size. This will ensure you don’t waste money prepping for very small prints. Additionally, ensure that you charge for any extra service you provide to the customer. Some designs may need to be corrected if they turn out to be unprintable. Above all, be transparent with your pricing so customers know exactly what they’re paying for.
Leverage Your Strengths
It’s tempting to jump into a business simply because you’ve heard there’s a demand for that service. However, if you jump into the wrong pool, you may not last long. Good 3D printing services for hobbyists are those that allow them to utilize or build on 3D printing skills they already possess. This will make it easy to troubleshoot issues they encounter and even to size up an order to determine if they’ll be able to handle it.
Without the right experience, it’s easy to take on an ambitious order and fail to meet the client’s demands. 3D printing services for hobbyists offer the opportunity to turn a passion into a money-making activity. However, a 3D printing on demand business will require more than passion to succeed. You will need a good strategy to start off on the right foot.
