this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2024
36 points (92.9% liked)

3DPrinting

15278 readers
111 users here now

3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.

The r/functionalprint community is now located at: [email protected] or [email protected]

There are CAD communities available at: [email protected] or [email protected]

Rules

If you need an easy way to host pictures, https://catbox.moe may be an option. Be ethical about what you post and donate if you are able or use this a lot. It is just an individual hosting content, not a company. The image embedding syntax for Lemmy is ![](URL)

Moderation policy: Light, mostly invisible

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

I found this interesting. It's a different view point than "buy the latest and greatest".

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

There are print request sites where people will put up a print model and filament requirements and you can agree to provide them by X date for Y dollars.

Sometimes people need one offs and dont want to buy a printer, so they pay $50 for $5 worth of plastic/electricity. Sometimes other folk need 100 of something and pay $5/each for something like a green rectangle. With solar panels or cheap electricity, as long as you are making a profit after buying plastic and have the process tuned in, you basically have machines making $1-3/hr just running 24hr/day.

[–] Pohl 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Fascinating. A whole hidden world.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I think it's likely a very hard niche to break into and keep orders coming.

It also seems like a lot of people find a device or appliance where there are no replacement parts or very expensive ones and they sell printed ones at a nice markup.

It might be that those green squares fix a $300 thing for $20 when the manufacturer wants $80. Print them, toss them up on etsy/amazon and call it a day.

I know years ago I bought a replacment knob for a kitchenaid mixer that I got used. Was something like $10 for likely $0.25 of plastic, but it made sense to buy to solve my one issue instead of buying a whole 3D printer.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

A friend of mine Is a good way into repaying his bambu x1c by taking commissions from friends and Facebook marketplace