In general, a 3D printer is a very interesting and quite expensive thing. Recently, this device has gathered a lot of fans, and this is not surprising: a 3D printer allows you to "print" both small souvenirs and large, huge objects that are used in industry. In view of this, a variety of the most unexpected ideas has appeared, how to start a business with a 3D printer. To some extent, the technology for creating objects in a 3D printer resembles the principle of operation of conventional printers:
- a picture is created by scanning or a computer program;
- the picture is displayed on the printer;
- there is a seal.
What is the main difference between a 3D printer
The main difference between a 3D printer is that it creates a three-dimensional image by scanning an item. The picture goes either to the computer or directly to the printer. At the operator’s command, the 3D printing process starts, and now a voluminous object is created. You may wonder what kind of material is used in the creation. Usually this is plastic or other consumable material used to refuel the printer.
It was this unique ability of the printer to create new objects that gave rise to new ideas that made it possible to do business with a 3D printer. We will certainly consider them in more detail. A little bit later.
Consumables
Creative business, 3D printer. Where to begin? Start with the accessories.
The material, which is taken as the basis, is determined by the future object.
ABC plastic. This material is very flexible, has a high degree of strength. Plastic itself is available in powder form or in the form of threads. During printing, it penetrates the printer's extruder, where it melts and then goes to the compartment, ready to print 3D parts. Its main drawback is that it can quickly collapse under the influence of sunlight.
Polycaplactone is a material with a low melting point. Able to harden quickly.
Low-pressure polyethylene is a very versatile and at the same time inexpensive material.
Entrepreneurs + 3D printer = 19th century business
Guess what material is used for printing in such printers? The most common foods. They are talking more and more often about cases when using a 3D printer ... human organs are created! As a “paint" take the stem cells of a person or animal.
Costly software is the foundation of a 3D printer. That it allows you to control the process of creating a three-dimensional image of the subject. To control printouts on simple 3D printer models, you can use Google CketchUp. This program is free.
Entrepreneurs quickly managed to realize the full potential of this technology. One of the first opportunities to realize a business with a 3D printer was the production of toys. How did this become possible? Today this is not a secret: a scanned image was made, which was taken as the basis for "printing" small copies of pets. Such a business using a 3D printer opens up just space for creativity and unlimited income.
An interesting application of 3D printing was found in the tourism industry: tourists were offered their own (!) 3D images made against the backdrop of various world attractions. It’s quite a real business with a 3D printer!
The most daring entrepreneurs have introduced 3D printing in the production of small household and plumbing items. There are known cases of 3D printing in the field of dentistry. Why did they need this? It is very simple - the creation of dentures, which are almost perfectly embedded in the patient's oral cavity.
The boy grew a brush
Some time ago, the media widely covered the case when a brush was created for a schoolboy so that he could work with both hands. It is noteworthy that the price of such a prosthesis using classical technologies was tens of thousands of American dollars!
These and many other examples revealed a huge potential in the use of a 3D printer, especially in business.
Principle of operation
There is a variety among the most 3D printers, although the principle of operation remains the same: there is a layered direction of the material, and as a result - a finished copy of the scanned object. In general, almost any item can be recreated on a 3D printer. Purely theoretically. The endless possibilities for doing business in this super-promising field are absolutely obvious.
What options should be considered when choosing a home 3D printer? Indeed, when buying a smartphone or laptop, we often know what to look for when choosing. But when buying a 3D printer, few people know such selection criteria. This part of the article will help you become competent in this matter.
Criterion for selection No. 1: price
On the World Wide Web, you can find ads priced at around $ 300. In the CIS, the situation is somewhat different - here you need to be ready to "fork out" for an amount equal, for example, to the cost of 2-3 smartphones smarted up. According to a representative of the Russian research and production group, the cost of a 3D printer in our country is at least 45 thousand rubles. According to him, at a lower cost of the printer you can expect the appearance of problems, because the price is clearly reduced to the detriment of the operation of some components of the printer.
The expert warns that so far in Russia units of foreign companies have their own representative offices. Therefore, service or technical support should not be expected. There are pleasant exceptions, for example, 3dphome, which is the official representative of the UP brand. The most budget option they are ready to offer costs 40 thousand rubles.
In addition, the cost of consumables should also be considered. Coils with plastic thread will cost 2000 rubles per cartridge weighing one kilogram.
Criterion for selection No. 2: type of plastic
To print household items, ABS plastic is used. This material is of petroleum origin. As an alternative, PLA plastic is used, the basis of which can be sugarcane or corn. It is worth noting that it is from PLA plastic that plastic cups are made, from which we drink water on a hot day. In addition, this material is very environmentally friendly. That is, a toy made from him will not pose a threat to the baby: he can sleep with her in an embrace and even lick if he wants.
It should be added that ABS plastic does not pose a threat to human health either. Moreover, it is more durable than PLA plastic. Of course, when choosing a 3D printer, it is advisable to choose a model that supports both plastic technologies.
Criterion for selection No. 3: multicolor
Inexpensive home models are not able to create an object that shimmers with multi-colored paints. And the problem lies precisely in the fact that you cannot tint the plastic during the printing process. The maximum that can be done is to combine colors. How is the combination achieved? If you equip the device with multiple printheads. This is very similar to the “Soviet” ballpoint pen, where there were several rods with their own color.
In general, multi-color 3D printers are very complex. The speed of their work is noticeably slow, printing is expensive. Therefore, while it is better to choose printers that print in the same color. You can colorize later, using a colored spray can.
Selection Criterion No. 4: Print Resolution
Print resolution remains the most important setting. This criterion is characterized by the minimum possible thickness of the plastic layer, which is involved in the formation of the object. As already noted, the printer creates an object on the principle of layering. The layers are very thin and therefore remain invisible to the eye. In view of this, the items received look very convincing!
3D printers for home use create layers with a thickness of 50 microns (the cheapest models have 250 microns), although it has been noticed that 100 microns is enough to create an object in good resolution. The diameter of the printing nozzle is very important: smaller means the printing will be more accurate.
Of course, all this is of particular importance when you need elegant objects, where the detail is very delicate. Are you printing a toy with eyes, a nose and a small mouth? Good resolution is required here. But if you need something like a bowl for a dog and other utensils, then thick layers are enough. In addition, then you will also save time, because the printing time will be less. Yes, and material will also need less.
Selection Criterion No. 5: print surface
Size is important here: if you want to "print" a small object, then a surface 12 cm long will be enough. For more "large-scale" objects, of course, you need a printer with a larger area. Although we should not forget that even from small individual parts you can eventually assemble a big thing - there would be a desire and good glue for plastic.
3D printer business ideas: 2 interesting niches
As noted earlier, the most agile entrepreneurs are already exploiting the possibilities of an outlandish device. Let's see two niches where we managed to start a business with a 3D printer.
Niche number 1. The service of creating an accurate three-dimensional mini-copy of the client. That's the doll!
This example looks at a business with a 3D printer and scanner. The client is scanned with a special scanner, and the resulting model gets into a 3D printer. You can do something like a plastic fighter man, with the difference that he will very much resemble a scanned client. This printing time takes several minutes. Of course, the client is in a pleasant shock. In Japan, by the way, there are already similar 3D photo-books where such fighter clients are made. Before printing, the model can be edited - using, for example, Photoshop, you can dress it in any historical clothing!
Niche number 2. Businessmen in the USA print popular computer game superheroes through a 3D printer. The business is curious. The resulting modelka is sold for $ 100 at a cost of $ 50. Profit! Alternatively, you can "print" the heroes of famous films.