Description: In the last couple of years, 3D printing has become incredibly lucrative. The advanced technology has found uses in a wide variety of applications and looks to be very promising as more businesses integrate it into their workflow. In this article, we aim to show you how you can cash in on 3D printing.
What used to be a distant, futuristic concept has now become a staple in many industries and is constantly evolving at a fast pace. 3D printing is taking the world by storm due to its incredible usefulness, efficiency, and reliability. From printed toys, tools, appliances to large structures like printed ships, the uses for this technology are only limited by the scope of one’s imagination. While many people already use it, 3D printing services have not yet made it mainstream. As the technology looks to be incredibly promising, it is a great investment to make for anyone who wants to make money in 3D printing. We would like to show you some ways how you can monetize the technology. You should keep in mind that making money online keeps getting simpler in our day and age. When it comes to getting a business idea off the ground, fun should never be taken out of the equation. 3D printing sure lends itself well for that, so let’s dive into the process.
The Ways to Make Money in 3D Printing
Teaching 3D printing
As mentioned, there is a lot of interest in 3D printing nowadays. Forward-looking people, such as students, will surely be interested in learning how to implement the technology because it is a whole new niche. You could offer 3D printing classes to people who would like to know more about the technology, such as insights on how to set up a printer, as well as the step-by-step process of printing. While finding 3D printing teaching jobs may not be straight forward, social media and job offer sites are a good starting point to begin your search.
Offering Printing for Others
One great way to make money is to print 3D designs for other people. Some sites act as hubs for such services, like MakeXYZ or Treedigo, for example. It is a practical and smart approach to your business model. As the technology is fairly new, most businesses still do not have a 3D printer and will likely be hesitant to invest in one before they need it on the regular. On the other hand, there is quite a lot of hype around the technology, meaning that businesses will definitely be intrigued to try it for their purposes. By offering a printing service, you can close this gap and make a good profit. A great idea is to target gaming companies to create statues of in-game characters for them. Players are avid collectors of gaming memorabilia, and if a company is not making a profit on the passion of gamers, you could be the one to reach out and get the process started. One of our favorite online games is Magic Monk Rasputin – games like this, which feature strong main characters, are perfect for printing figurines.
Creating Prototypes
Another way to make money is by offering help with 3D printing for engineering companies in your area. You could aid them by making product models and various other prototypes. Such a business model lends itself well to 3D designers, as you do not necessarily need to have a printer available. You could simply take care of making the 3D designs and leave the printing to other companies. In case you want to get started with designing, make sure to learn your craft well. After that, create a portfolio of your designs and send them out to local companies. Engineering firms constantly work with new models of some sort, so there is a good chance that they will be glad to employ someone who can make the creative process more efficient.
We hope to have given you some insight into how you can get started on making money from the very promising technology of 3D printing. If you have any additional ideas, tips, or insights, we would love to know them. Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
About The Author:
Thomas Glare has more than ten years of combined experience in content, editing, and copywriting. He’s also participated in hackathons, mentored startups, and has served with digital agencies (with clients such as Disney) and as the Marketing Manager for a B2B software company.
