We started this online 3D printing about a year ago to the day. At first, there were no great intentions. Initially, this store started to finance resin and other materials needed to continue 3D printing. I had no intention of running a business, let alone making a profit as successfully as it was. I thought what better way to celebrate a year in business than to share my thoughts and suggestions so that anyone who may be starting their own 3D printing workshop can walk away with some good advice.

Give yourself enough time

One thing I totally underestimated when I started this 3D printing workshop is how much time things actually take. Depending on the number of machines available, you can only accept so many orders. If you plan to take multiple orders at once, it may be best to use multiple printers. This not only saves you money if one of the printers fails, but it also doubles the number of products you can produce. Also, allow yourself plenty of time to clean, sand, pack, and do everything else before shipping. Do not exaggerate that 3D printing takes time.

Dedicated 3D Printing Room

I highly recommend having an area in your home dedicated to 3D printing. I understand that not everyone has the opportunity or space for this, but I still strongly recommend it. In addition to the printers themselves, you need space for the packaging and shipping materials and the 3D prints you will be storing.

good ventilation

This is a must if you are trying to sell resin 3D prints. You don’t want your house to smell like resin from some online sale, trust me, it’s not worth it. When offering your 3D room, it would be best to make sure that the room has good ventilation. Even if you don’t do it at home, you don’t want to be in an environment where there is constant smoke in the air.

packages print securely

I have successfully shipped over 500 packages, of which I would say 25 arrived broken. No matter how well you package your 3D prints, there is always a small chance that they will arrive damaged. Because I tend to go overboard wrapping the package with bubble wrap or wrapping paper and I suggest you do the same. Also, try to avoid selling 3D prints with small and breakable parts.

anticipate delays and prepare for failures

Eventually, like everything else, your printer will break. Something is wrong. Depending on the number of machines, one printer failure can seriously damage your production, so it’s always good to anticipate potential problems and have the parts and tools you need to repair or fix the situation. There is nothing worse than stopping your entire production while waiting for a filament, resin, or part to arrive.

Place an order or design your own unique items

Most online stores have similar or different designs. There is nothing wrong with many stores selling the same soda. However, if you want to be successful, it can be good to have your own unique items in addition to items made by a talented artist. If you don’t have the opportunity to create 3D models yourself, you can always order them. Ideally, you want something unique and something you can call your own, whether it’s a mascot or a niche character. Your own unique 3D models will help you stand out from the crowd.

if you don’t enjoy it stop.

Finally, I just want to say that if you’re not having fun with it, it might be good to stop. Running a 3D printing workshop is very time-consuming and if you don’t enjoy the hobby, I don’t see it as a viable way to make a huge income. It’s a fun and interesting side job, but it will in no way replace my main source of income. I still have fun with 3D printing and selling 3D prints, but as soon as it’s no longer fun, I have no problem turning it all off.