3d printer business personal experience

What are these devices? Not so long ago, they appeared on the domestic markets. If you don't go deep into technical details, then we can say that this is a device that creates physical objects based on the developed 3D. Today, the variety of 3D printers is amazing - there are modifications that print with metal, wood fibers and even food concentrates. Imagine - you wanted to eat pizza and, voila - the finished product lies on the platform of your printer in 15 minutes. Of course, this kind of models is still very far from widespread, but we are interested in simpler units that create small objects from the material familiar to everyone - plastic.

First, let's figure out what plastic printing technologies are available today:

1) SLA... The print media is in a liquid state. A special platform is lowered into the body of the liquid. The laser heats up the liquid layer by layer in certain places, from which it solidifies. Gradually descending, a solid object forms on the platform, which, after printing is completed, is removed from the printing chamber.

2) SLS... The principle of this method is similar to the previous one, but the main difference is the powder used instead of the liquid.

3) FDM... The consumable is a thread of plastic wound on a special spool. This thread is fed into a special extruder, where it is heated to the required temperature and extruded onto the platform, forming the required object.

The first two technologies, although they allow you to create objects with the highest accuracy that do not require modification, are not interesting to us today, due to the high cost of the units themselves (starting from $ 5,000). Accordingly, hereinafter we will only talk about models using the FDM inkjet technology.

Talking about successful implementations business of this kind, first of all it is worth mentioning Spuni - spoon for feeding babies... The fact is that its creator started his production using several 3D printers. Today, startup Spuni is known all over the world, and its founders earn tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars.

So we got directly to the description of the required minimum to open our business. The first thing we need is, of course, the printer itself. The best option would be American MakerBot Replicator 2X, however, its cost (about $ 3000) is far from affordable for everyone. Accordingly, it makes sense to pay attention to manufacturers from the Middle Kingdom, namely, firms Malyan and WonWall(We have already told you how to buy in China and how to make money on it. - editor's note). Their models are almost exact copies. MakerBot, respectively, the quality and speed of printing is at the proper level. If we talk about specific models, then we can advise Malyan Desktop METAL or WonWall Migce Cuble 2 HD... They both have two extruders, a metal case, and pretty decent software. The price tag for each of these printers does not exceed $ 2,000.

In addition to the printer itself, we need several spools of plastic of different colors (depending on what we are going to print). There are several types of this material, then you will understand which one is best for you, but first, I recommend taking PLA. Also, it will not be superfluous: tape for pasting the platform, glue for printing, a set for post-processing of printed models and spray for polishing them.

In total, it turns out:

$ 2000 printer;
Two kilogram skeins of plastic 35 + 35 = $ 70;
A skein of special tape 60 $
Glue for printing $ 5;
Set for processing models $ 70;
Spray for polishing $ 4.

In total, it turns out 2209$ ... This amount is slightly higher than the average cost of starting a HOBIZ business. RU, however, for people who are fond of new technologies, this business will be very, very interesting. In addition to money, you will need to become somewhat familiar with 3D modeling programs, as well as answer the most important question - what to print?

What to 3D Print for Profit?

Perhaps you have already matured the idea of what can be printed on such a printer and will sell well. If not, I recommend starting with the simplest, namely the production of covers for mobile phones... On the Internet, you can download a huge number of models for any phone, and completely free of charge. Next, you just need to load the model into your printer and wait for the print to finish. On average, your device will form one cover for about 40 minutes, respectively, about a dozen objects can be printed a day. The average cost for which such a product will be bought is $ 10. Based on the fact that its weight is about 30 grams, and the cost of a kilogram coil of plastic is $ 35, it turns out that the material will be spent on 35/1000 * 30 = $ 1.05. The profit from one cover comes out $ 10 - $ 1.05 = $ 8.95. Of course, depreciation and the cost of other consumables are not taken into account here, but, as we can see, there will definitely be a benefit from such production.

Now a little about the sale. Many online stores of accessories for phones take goods for sale, therefore, I recommend contacting them. Points in trade and entertainment centers... Of course, they will take their percentage, but you need to understand that it will be quite difficult to sell 10 cases on your own every day. If you establish a production and sales scheme, the printer can pay off in one and a half to two months, after which you will receive a net profit that can be spent on the purchase of another model, thereby doubling the production volume.

Besides household items, you can print custom-made plastic parts. The complexity of the part is limited only by the capabilities of the printer, and the demand for such a service is consistently high, since all the equipment around us consists of plastic, therefore, small elements old technology, car accessories, handles for household appliances and much more. After all, the technique breaks down not entirely, but with small elements, and because of a broken handle, you don't want to part with what else can work. Such little things cannot be found in stores and on the Internet, so you will always have orders.

Approaching this business with enthusiasm and a share of creativity, do not hesitate - you will succeed!

How much can you earn

Look for promising business ideas in 2019? One of them is the organization of a 3D printing company. Nowadays it is preferable for a business to be engaged in the manufacture of point products, which include parts for various radio-controlled models, for example: gears, bushings, buttons.

On a 3D printer, you can organize the production of cases for computers to order. As a rule, such products are successful, but require additional pre-sale preparation- installation of LED RGB blocks, etc.

A good option is to print models for coursework and graduation projects. This is the least expensive option because models in most cases will be provided by customers.

Try to establish cooperation with medical institutions. You can print prostheses and make probes.

Modern footwear and orthopedic insoles 3D printed are in great demand. These sneakers do not get wet, have a futuristic design and have a low cost price. The complexity of the work performed will be determined only by the ability of the 3D printer.

A step-by-step plan for opening a 3D printing studio in 7 steps

Initially, you need to make detailed business plan... It can include the following stages:

Despite the high growth in popularity of the technology, most people who buy 3D printers for their own purposes do not dare to create their business on them. This is mistake. Even the most expensive printer can be recouped within one year, especially when using composite printing technology.

The cost of a good 3D printer for printing shoes is approximately equal to the average annual salary of a regular office worker... Moreover, the very first large order is able to bring a net profit in the amount of two months' salary.

If we consider the issue of payback of a 3D printing studio, the time will be much less. Also, in this case, there will be additional costs for renting premises and advertising, but this will not significantly affect the final profitability.

How much can you earn

When calculating the profit, you need to take into account the weight of the 3D model, and therefore how much material was spent on it, the time for its production and what material was used in this case. The most popular consumables are ABS and PLA.

To make one gram of a model, the printer will take 5-10 minutes on average. It turns out that in a day, depending on the model, the device will be able to produce from 150 to 300 grams, subject to continuous production.

The finished 3D model is sold at a price of 50 rubles per gram.As a result, we get an amount from 7,500 to 15,000 rubles per day from one printer.

Per month continuous work you can get a profit within 230 thousand rubles. From this amount, money should be deducted for monthly expenses such as rent and a minimum tax percentage of 6% (if a simplified taxation system is used). We also deduct the cost of consumables. A 3D printer can consume up to 40 kg of plastic per month, that is, 20 thousand rubles.

Taking into account the monthly costs, we have the amount of 156 thousand rubles. net profit. If we take into account the working hours of the studio, then on average you can get 50-100 thousand rubles per month. net profit from one printer.

A business can pay off in about six months of work. In the future, it is advisable to expand the quantity and quality of equipment, purchase another printer and carry out more complex orders.

There is a very simple way to make money on plastic, we read how by reselling recyclable materials you can get a stable income.

How much money do you need to invest to open a 3D printing studio

3D printing equipment has dropped dramatically in recent years. But before buying a 3D printer, you should still familiarize yourself with the list of its capabilities and technical characteristics... There are many options available with parameters that are in no way inferior to their more expensive counterparts. At the same time, the desire to save money on equipment can lead to low demand among buyers and lack of demand for goods due to low detail or print quality.

Printer in the price range from 25-35 thousand rubles. prints in only 1 color, has mediocre print resolution and limited product size. Such a device will only work with a certain type of material and is more likely to be suitable for home use than for business.

If the goal is to make models to order or parts for repair, then you will need to pay 65-125 thousand rubles. Such a printer will run medium quality models and will have good performance.

A good option for a start would be the Malyan FDM desktop 3D printer M180, the price of which barely exceeds 50 thousand rubles. Its advantages: double print head, convenient system thread change and the presence of an LCD display.

Next is to estimate the cost of a 3D scanner and printing consumables. The scanner will cost 50-100 thousand. To get started, you need about 10 kg. plastic, it will cost about 25 thousand rubles.

Depending on the region, the rental of the premises may be different. A medium-sized room of 20-30 m2 will cost 20-70 thousand rubles. But you can save money by organizing a printing studio at home.

A 3D printer requires 3D models. Some you can download directly from the network, to create new ones you will need to find a freelancer or specialist in working with 3D programs. It is important that this person has their own laptop and software for work. So you can save a significant amount, from 100 thousand rubles. Ordering models from freelancers from a monthly basis will come out about 15 thousand rubles.

Based on the list of purchases, leases and investments in development, to open your own 3D printing studio, according to the most conservative estimates, you will need to spend about 300-350 thousand rubles.

Do I need permission to open a 3D printing studio

There is no need for a special 3D printing license, but the studio's activities must be registered.

It's easier to do this by opening your IP, but if you intend to expand and work with retail outlets then immediately register LLC... Depending on the choice of organizational and legal form, the registration price will be 2000 or 15000 rubles.

To register, you need to submit an application, attaching your passport, a copy of the TIN code, as well as a receipt for payment of the state. duties.

The application itself is reviewed within three days, after which you will be issued a certificate. If you do not immediately switch to the simplified taxation system, then you will be transferred to OSNO. The simplified tax system in this case will be more preferable. You will also need to obtain permits from the fire inspection service and the sanitary and epidemiological station.

What OKVED to indicate when registering a business with 3D printing

When registering with the tax office, you must specify the following codes:

22.2 Manufacture of plastic products. The production of new or recycling of already used plastic products into by-products or finished products using processes such as press molding, stamping, blow molding and injection molding.
22.21 Manufacture of plastic plates, strips, pipes, profiles.

22.29 Manufacture of other plastic products. This item includes:

- manufacture of plastic tableware and kitchen items as well as toiletries;

- production of various plastic products: plastic hats, insulating fittings, lighting fittings, stationery and school supplies, garments (glued), furniture fittings, self-adhesive films, figurines, conveyor belts and drive belts, adhesive tape, shoe pads, plastic cigars and mouthpieces, combs, hair curlers, plastic souvenirs, etc.

22.29.2 Manufacture of other plastic products, not elsewhere classified.
22.20.9 Provision of services in the field of production of other plastic products.
74.81 Activities in the field of photography.
22.25 Other printing activities.

Actual sites and services for making money on 3D printing

Shapeways is a service that specializes in making money using 3D printers. In addition to providing its services in the field of 3D printing, the service is also a trading platform where you can buy and sell templates.

Makexys - This service has been around for quite some time. Thanks to him, the owner of the printer has the opportunity to make models to order.

The main advantage of this service is that it processes information about the distance between the customer and the contractor, which makes it possible to meet with the customer in person or minimize shipping costs.

Etsy is a marketplace where many people post their unique 3D models.

There is also a topical idea related to printing, namely business on photo printing on mugs and t-shirts, read about it.

When 3D printers first appeared on the free market, they were far from perfect. Small dimensions of the construction platform, not high speed and the unsatisfactory quality of the print head made them impossible to use for commercial purposes.

Today the situation has changed radically!

Italian surgeons use non-professional printers to print copies of their patients' fractures, which can significantly improve the efficiency of surgery by examining the trauma in detail.

The US National Research Council has approved a program for the use of desktop 3D printing equipment during space missions.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has introduced off-the-shelf SLS and FDM printers to automobile and aircraft manufacturing.

Yesterday's modders and geeks, for whom 3D technology was originally a toy, learned to monetize it, turning into today's entrepreneurs.

Is it possible to become financially independent with an ordinary FDM printer at hand? Answer to this question you will find if you read this article carefully.

3d printing as a business

First of all, I would like to highlight the popular Shapeways service, for which the business on 3D printers is the main field of activity.

A small private enterprise, registered in 2007, has grown into a large manufactory, employing 90 people and 50 printers.

The company offers its customers to print any STL models on its equipment for a moderate fee.

In addition, the service simultaneously acts as trading platform where you can sell your templates and buy someone else's.

Shapeways has FDM, SLS, DMLS and EBM equipment in its arsenal that prints with plastic, nylon, resins, ceramic powder and metal clay. The company processes about a million private orders per year.

The demand for the services of the service is by no means decreasing, as evidenced by the infographics:

In Japan, similar services are provided by the private service Rinkak, company-owned Kabuku, in Russia - CubicPrints. Nobody bothers you to independently implement this idea, and, possibly, make your own adjustments to it.

However, in order to start your own 3d printing business, it is absolutely not necessary to rent a workshop, hire designers and buy a dozen printers.

Don't believe me? See for yourself!

How to make money on a 3d printer

3D printing cases:

One more example: a young American, Grant Gabrielson, started his business selling unique hot chocolate molds. The eighteen-year-old inventor hasn't really come up with anything new: he just prints several types of personalized forms, on the working side of which text up to forty characters long can be applied.

As a result, everyone who buys molds will be able to make chocolates at home in the shape of hearts, rhombuses, triangles and ovals with the original minting in the form of a congratulatory inscription or an emblem.

To get started, Grant needed a reel of PLA plastic, food wax, $ 100 in initial investment, and a MakerBot desktop printer.

Accessories

Newly minted company Nervous System has released a collection of plastic trinkets for women of all age categories... Designers use plastic, steel and silicone in their work.

Molecular chemistry, biology and physics-inspired bracelets, necklaces, pendants, brooches, hoops and hairpins fly like hot cakes.

The products created under the wing of the Nervous System brand are truly exclusive - the developers use a special algorithm that makes the patterns unique and inimitable.

If you liked drawing at school, you have a well-developed artistic thinking, and Isaac Asimov himself may envy your imagination, then why not try to establish home production of your own accessories?

Personalized office stands, painted floor lamps, curly vases and personalized medallions are waiting for their customers!

OwnPhones has set up production of earbuds wrapped in a case, the design of which is dictated by specific customer wishes.

Of course, not everyone can assemble wireless headphones at home, but it's much easier to personalize a customer's order.

With a little conjuring over the drawings of templates for mugs and glasses, available on the net in countless numbers, you can turn them into personalized dishes.

Remember how popular photo cups were?

Imagine what a sensation a mug with an embossed name or a silhouette of the face of its owner will cause!

Already today, some craftsmen, having enlisted the support of 3D scanners, print realistic figurines of newlyweds that decorate wedding tables.

The 3d printing business sometimes goes beyond generally accepted moral principles. Japanese artist Megumi Igarashi made about $ 10,000 selling 3D models of her genitals.

Pitfalls for an aspiring entrepreneur to keep in mind

3D printer business at home is still far from perfect ...

Before embarking on the path of 3D design, you need to clearly understand what difficulties you will face:

1. Contrary to the common misconception, not everything can be printed. Print resolution, geometry and object dimensions are serious obstacles to consider before starting prototyping.

2. Desktop printers are not suitable for printing complex assemblies. Due to technological limitations, an FDM device can only perform the basics in this direction.

3. Multicolor printing is a prerogative industrial equipment... Modern printers with two extruders can work with two colors, but you can forget about the smooth transition between colors.

4. Printed models often need processing. Stock up on sandpaper, files, and solvent baths for chemical treatment surfaces.

5. Cost calculation finished product should include the additional waste of ink associated with printed supports, substrates, and skirts, which will then have to be cut off.

Conclusion

Today, the combination of "a business idea, a 3d printer and a little patience" can only work if you are not going to compete with a serial manufacturer.

Desktop 3D printing is definitely suitable for exclusive personalized objects, small-scale production, the production of which is cheaper than making a mold for casting and prototyping.

The research group of Wohlers scientists claims that the 3D printing market has grown by more than 27% in the last 3 years and will double by 2015.

Don't forget about these simple tips, and in the near future you will surely achieve success!

3D printing is far from new to the industry, but modern technologies allowed to use a 3-d printer even in a domestic environment. Now you can find compact and affordable models that can fit on a table next to a conventional laser or inkjet printer.

Classification

On this moment There are 7 main technologies for printing with a 3 d printer:

Fused Deposition (FDM). The material is heated, positioned in the desired area, applied in a drop, strip, etc., and after cooling it hardens in the required shape.
Polyjet (printing with photopolymer), the raw material is only a special polymer that hardens when exposed to UV radiation.
Laser baking (LENS, an abbreviation for Laser Engineered Net Shaping) is one of the few technologies that allows you to print with high precision from such durable materials as metal, ceramics, etc. The sprayed powder is baked on the fly at the desired point with a focused laser.
Cutting and gluing thin sheets (LOM, abbreviation from the English 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 needed to glue the laminate.
Stereolithography, a laser with high precision induces local solidification of the polymer in a large capacity layer by layer.
laser sintering - a variation of the technology for baking a 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 implies alternating layers of powdery material and glue.

In connection with the growing popularity of entrepreneurship as an alternative to the main job with a higher income, more and more ideas for organizing are emerging. own business... In order to make a choice, you need to focus not only on your own preferences and the level of profitability, but also on the number of direct and indirect competitors in the chosen area.

At the moment, 3D printing in our country is just beginning to develop and therefore is a fairly promising area that can bring a stable income.

3D printing can be thought of as the production of various objects by adding material. Using this method, in theory, you can make almost any object that can be used in various fields of industry, trade and services.

From the point of view of the business of a company carrying out such activities, it is necessary to register and buy the appropriate equipment and materials. After that, the required model is produced on a printer and sold.

At the same time, the business has a large number of advantages, among which are:

A wide variety of those materials that can be used in the manufacture of items.
A wide range of potential consumers - from medical professionals to artists and designers.
Quite low labor intensity and, as a result, reduction of personnel labor costs.
Relative versatility of the technology.
Not too high level of investment when opening and an acceptable payback period (almost directly depend on the cost of the purchased equipment).
Flexibility of technology.
Ease and availability of use.
Profitability.
Sufficiently high speed of product creation.

However, as in every area, there are a number of disadvantages:

First of all, they are associated with the limited technology: all objects are created in layers, there is a transition between the layers. Accordingly, the strength of the object will be slightly lower than when using standard production methods.
In addition, in some cases it is difficult to manufacture a product of the required shape: in particular, in the presence of overhanging elements, it is necessary to print additional structures for support, which are then extremely difficult to remove (in the case of production from the same material as the main product).
Finally, the third rather significant limitation is the size of the produced objects - for example, it is impossible to print both very small parts (smaller than the size of the nozzle) and very large ones. But this problem is gradually being solved in connection with the development of this industry.

Prospects of the business in question

Despite the presence of unresolved problems, the business is promising, since this type of production is practically waste-free, provided that it is possible to create very complex structures that are difficult to do in one stage under normal conditions.

In addition, as 3D printing develops, it will be usable in almost any area(including in medicine and food industry). In fact, this industry is considered as an alternative to conventional production, provided there is one limiting factor - the absence of compositions that would be close in their properties to strong cement and metal that can withstand very heavy loads.

It can be assumed that the development of the sphere will lead to some changes in the economic system: from negative - for example, the reduction of jobs in production, to positive - the achievement of the possibility of producing any thing.

Earning options

The first option is production of small copies of a person who made the order. This souvenir does not leave indifferent the majority of customers, therefore, if the company is located in big city with a constant flow of tourists, this idea is cost-effective and profitable. Developing in the same direction, you can print figures of heroes of popular TV series, films, games, etc.

Secondly, on a three-dimensional printer, you can carry out printing of works of art... it promising industry if there is a certain audience of potential buyers. At the same time, one can develop in this direction in two ways:

Organize the printing of products for artists, sculptors, etc.
Arrange the printing of famous paintings and other art objects for ordinary users.

The printer can also be used successfully in the fields of dentistry and jewelry production... The equipment allows you to create unique prostheses that are suitable for a specific client and to develop new models of jewelry.

Finally, if there is high-quality technology and a desire to develop in a more useful area for society, an entrepreneur can start manufacture prostheses, corsets and similar orthopedic appliances... Alternatively, various types of production are possible. teaching aids, on which schoolchildren and students study in the subjects of the natural scientific cycle (for example, it can be a DNA model).

You can watch the business development opportunities in this area in the following video:

Necessary premises for organizing work

In order to start working, any company must have premises. For a 3D printing firm, a small area will be enough. The main criterion is transport accessibility, as well as the cost of rent.

It is desirable that the entrepreneur has the opportunity to expand the area of the rented premises in the event of business development and the purchase of additional printers. The average size of a room for organizing a studio working in this area is from 18 to 33 square meters.

Since the office will be a kind of reflection of the company, it is important to do quality repair and think over the design. This is necessary for the reason that the sphere is fairly new, and potential clients once in the office of the company, they should be imbued with confidence in it. In this case, they will place an order and, in the case of high-quality performance of services, will recommend the company to their friends, which will guarantee an increase in the number of customers.

Equipment selection

There are a large number of printers in the 3D printing market. They all differ in 2 main criteria - cost and functionality... So, the cheapest models cost about 1.5 thousand dollars, and the price of the most expensive ones reaches the mark of 100-150 thousand dollars.

It is advisable not to save money on the purchase of equipment, since the high cost of the model guarantees great production possibilities (in terms of product shapes and materials used).

That's why the best option purchase of a printer for 10-20 thousand dollars in the case of a desire to provide services only to private buyers and focus on the manufacture of souvenirs and other similar products. If you want to work in other areas, you should lay from 50 to 70 thousand dollars for the purchase of equipment.

At the moment, a fairly large number of both foreign and Russian companies offering to purchase a three-dimensional printer. In order to correctly approach the choice, it is necessary to compare them according to the criteria of cost, functionality, the need for self-tuning.

In addition to a printer, an entrepreneur will need to purchase a powerful computer with the appropriate software for 3D modeling of objects. In addition, the purchase of consumables will be required: the most popular is plastic, the cost of which is about 1600-2000 rubles per 1 kilogram.

Client search and advertising

The main problem for any small company is customer acquisition, so advertising will become a rather serious cost item.

First of all, you need to create your own website, which will not only post examples of work and basic information, but also publish useful and interesting articles about three-dimensional printing available to the general user.
The second way is to use existing online platforms that specialize in the trade of 3D models. In this case, it is enough for an entrepreneur to post his models and take orders from clients. The disadvantage of this method is that for each transaction you will have to pay a certain commission to the service, usually a fixed percentage of the order amount.
The third condition for attracting customers is not directly related to marketing and advertising. It is about providing high quality services. Further, word of mouth will play its role.

In order to find clients, it is necessary to have specialists in the team with design skills and extensive experience in relevant 3D modeling programs. This is important because most clients are not ready to draw the prototype of the model themselves, which will subsequently be manufactured.

Organization costs and profit calculation

Cost and organization this business is relatively uncomplicated. So, in order to start an activity, you need to do the following:

Register a company (both possible and) - costs vary from 2,000 to 15,000 rubles.
Carry out the purchase of equipment: at least one printer and a powerful computer with software - from 12 thousand dollars.
Purchase expendable materials- costs will amount to about 20 thousand rubles for the manufacture of the first batch of goods.
Renting an office space - from 20 thousand rubles per month.
To repair an office space - from 50 thousand rubles.
Hire a modeling and design specialist - from 30 thousand rubles per month, depending on the work schedule.
Create your own website - from 15 thousand rubles (subject to design and design through the studio).
Advertise services - from 10 thousand rubles per month.

In this case, the profit from one printer (provided that it produces about 200-250 grams of the finished product per day) is from 150 to 200 thousand rubles per month... The average profit in the first months of work will be about 90-100 thousand rubles. Accordingly, the payback period of the initial investment will be from 8 to 15 months.

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