3D printing business idea

17 3D Printing Business Ideas for 2022

You’re our first priority.

Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners.

Explore 3D printing business ideas for B2B and B2C in the medical, arts, technology and manufacturing industries.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

One of the coolest and latest technologies to find popularity in the last few years is the 3D printer. While starting a business in the 3D printing industry would be an interesting endeavor for any entrepreneur, there’s also another pro to consider.

Even though the technology for 3D printing has been around for a while, the market is still finding new ways to innovate and apply the technology. If you’re looking for 3D printing business ideas, there’s no shortage of possibilities.

B2C product production

There are a lot of different 3D printing business ideas, and one exciting subset is B2C (business to consumer) product production. Within this area of 3D printing, you can create products to sell to consumers. 3D-printed products are attractive to customers because of their novelty, but they can also be great for business because they use less material, waste less and generally weigh less (and therefore cost less to ship). Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Customized earbuds

We all know the feeling of finding the perfect set of earbuds. They stay put, have great sound quality and they don’t make your ears hurt. Checking all of these boxes isn’t easy, which also means customers are often willing to pay for the perfect set of buds.

Consider this: Earbuds customized to fit your ear and your style. With this 3D printing business idea, customers no longer have to sacrifice style for comfort or compromise sound quality for fit.

While this isn’t a new idea — most hearing aids are already being 3D printed — it’s a business where there’s still plenty of space to compete in.

Using a smartphone app, customers take a picture of each ear, submit it, choose their styling options and pay. The earbuds are then printed and sent to the customer for a perfect fit. If you’re looking to start a physical location and serve your local community, you can also have customers come into your store to fit them for their perfect pair of earbuds.

2. Customized collectibles

While tastes and trends change, collecting will never go out of style. Fans love to collect figurines and collectible items for their favorite athletes, artists, gamers, singer and celebrities of any type. With this 3D printing business idea, the potential opportunities are endless. While the focus is collectibles, you can focus your business within a wide variety of niches, expanding as your business grows.

One of the benefits of this type of 3D printing business is that the inventory is small and lightweight, therefore easy to store and ship. This is especially important if you’re starting your business out of your home.

3. 3D printing education

While not quite as glamorous as some of the other 3D printing business ideas on this list, there’s plenty of space within the niche to teach the ins and outs of 3D printing for those looking to start their own 3D printing businesses.

For most people, 3D printing is a total unknown. You can cover the basics, dive deep on certain topics and just generally provide information that people will find interesting and educational. There are a lot of forms that this type of 3D printing business could take, including a blog, vlog or social media-based business.

B2B product production

If you’re not sure the B2C 3D printing business ideas work for you, turn your attention to these B2B (business to business) options. The B2B space has a lot more range and options for the kind of business you can operate. Working with other businesses means that you don’t have to work directly with consumers, which can alleviate the need for a customer service or large marketing department.

4. Improve upon existing products

There are so many products for sale on the market — seriously, just look at Amazon. But, many of those items are difficult to make, waste materials during production or aren’t cost-effective to produce. 3D printing can change that.

Bluevine Business Checking

NerdWallet rating

NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service.

at Bluevine, Deposits are FDIC Insured

While this will require a good amount of creativity, if you have the vision to reimagine how something is made to make it better, more sustainable or more cost-effective, you can turn to 3D printing. You might also take an existing product design and make it better or easier to use for the consumer. Another potential way to improve upon current products is to add customization.

5. Promotional products

Companies are always looking for new, interesting products to add their logo to and give away to potential customers. A 3D printer can make anything, opening up a lot of options for companies who are looking for innovative promotional products. Get creative and start producing something they’ve never seen before and you’re sure to have tons of business.

In addition to offering your services to companies, consider also working with ad agencies who have a long list of clients who are always in need of creative promotional materials.

6. Detailed models

While many businesses have moved to creating models in the digital space as much of the time as they can, at some point, they still have to create a working model. A 3D printing business can produce these models for various businesses.

Any industry that needs highly detailed models on a short timeline will want to work with a 3D printing company. A 3D printer is able to achieve a higher level of detail in a shorter period of time than any other methods.

If you’re interested in printing 3D models for other businesses, look to museums, architecture firms, interior design agencies and inventors to get started.

7.

E-commerce supplier

A common way to get started in the B2B sector is to work with large e-commerce suppliers. Most e-commerce suppliers work with factories overseas to manufacture products. These e-commerce suppliers work with a lot of different products and a large amount of inventory. If you can produce the supply that they need at a reasonable cost with a 3D printer, they’ll be very interested in working with you.

One of the major benefits of production with a 3D printer is the quality and detail of the product. You might even consider producing specific, intricate parts for a larger item. If you can save them money on the production costs for a complicated part that’s then added to a larger product, you’re in business.

Medical industry

While there are numerous 3D printing business ideas, one of the most interesting areas where business owners are innovating and creating new products with 3D printers is in the medical field. If you’re interested in improving technology and making the world a better place, the medical field is a great place to get started with one of these 3D printing business ideas.

8. Pill production

In 2015, the FDA approved the first 3D-printed pill. While most 3D printers work with materials such as plastic or aluminum, there’s also the option to print with numerous other materials. Certain materials are being used to create more effective medication that dissolves quickly and can be ingested more easily than traditional pills. If you already have a medical background but are looking for a new business venture, this may be the perfect fit.

9. Medical implants

Medical technology is rapidly changing and one of the many innovations helping to speed along that change is the 3D printer. As has been pointed out in other 3D printer business ideas on this list, one of the biggest benefits of 3D printing is the ability to customize.

Using a 3D printer to create medical implants means that each implant is perfectly created and customized for the patient who is going to use it. Innovators are even looking into 3D-printed tissue and organs. That innovation is still on the horizon, but they’re already 3D printing medical implants such as titanium bone implants and orthodontic devices, among many others.

10. Prosthetics

Another place where customization can really improve the medical field is with prosthetics. 3D printing of prosthetics can make them fit better and be more comfortable for the wearer and be more affordable to produce. That’s a win-win.

Within the 3D printing of prosthetics, there are a lot of niches to fill. You can produce prosthetic limbs, artificial teeth or support products such as wheelchairs and other mobility tools.

Technology and invention

Another really exciting space for 3D printing business ideas is within technology and innovation. There are many things happening within this space, some of which can even be improved by the technology afforded by the 3D printer.

11. Rapid prototyping

As any startup that’s building a new product or inventing something new knows, you have to have a working prototype. Many businesses spend a lot of time and money working up models and testing prototypes before they get it right. A 3D printer can make prototyping faster and more cost-effective. Once a prototype is printed, it’s simple to adjust the model and make changes before reprinting a new version. Iterating has never been so easy.

12. Electronic assembly

As technological products and motherboards get smaller and smaller, assembly gets more difficult and costly. There’s already a market for 3D printing laptop cases to cover the internal technology seamlessly and there’s lots of money being funneled into new technological innovations around 3D printing and technology. Robots printed by 3D printers? You bet.

For the savvy researcher and creative entrepreneur, there’s tons of space to get into electronic assembly with 3D printing.

Fashion and art

The 3D printer is the perfect catalyst for the intersection between technology and art. Many artists are always looking for the next big thing and how they can use that to inform their art and its impact on society. While you don’t have to be the next Andy Warhol, you certainly can use one of these 3D printing business ideas to expand your artist expression.

13. Sustainable, customized fashion

One of the many benefits of 3D printing is the sustainability in how materials are used and how little is wasted. Some 3D printers can even use recycled materials, such as plastic bottles, to print from.

If you’re looking to get into the fashion industry and want a cutting edge manufacturing style, 3D printing might just be the way to go. You can print accessories, jewelry, shoes or anything else you can think of. Even Adidas is getting into the 3D printing action.

14. Customized glasses frames

Who doesn’t love a stylish pair of sunglasses or eyeglasses? With businesses such as Warby Parker and EyeBuyDirect booming, this is a cool niche to get into. While glasses and sunglasses are functional, they can also be stylish.

Where does a 3D printer give you a leg up on the competition? Customization. No one's face is quite the same as the next person nor do most people have symmetrical ears. This all comes together for uncomfortable glasses and sunglasses. You can fix that with customized 3D-printed glasses.

15. Make your own art

Here’s a 3D printing business idea for those who are truly innovative and have their creative juices flowing. Make your own art. Yes, this business idea is nebulous, but that’s the fun. Art is all about creating something new, something that no one else has ever thought of before. All you need is an idea and a 3D printer. Plus, you can even sell your art online to keep overhead costs low.

Manufacturing

We can’t overlook the manufacturing industry in our list of 3D printing business ideas. Here are some options to consider.

16. Custom-made tools

Many manufacturing companies use custom-made tools. Those tools have to be painstakingly made just for them. Anything done in limited numbers raises costs. Unless you’re making it using a 3D printer. So, if you’re handy with tools and understand the tooling business, this just might be the right 3D printing business idea for you.

17. Rare spare parts

If you’ve ever owned a rare or older car, you know that repairs can be expensive and a headache. After a long enough period of time, there just aren’t spare parts. So, many restorers are making new parts. Instead of having them manufactured in the traditional way, they’re looking to 3D printers, which are much less time-consuming and more cost-effective.

On a similar note...

25 3D Printing Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2022]

Are you Interested in starting a 3D printing business in 2022?

Demand for 3D printing will quadruple over the next decade exceeding $50 billion. Thus, starting your own 3D printing business can be worthwhile.

We put together 25 of the best 3D printer business ideas you can start.

For each business idea, we'll show real-world examples of other 3d printing businesses to help you see what it takes.

Here's the full list:

3D printing for marketing products gives businesses a unique way to set their brand apart and make a lasting impression. As competition intensifies, businesses in different sectors choose 3D printing as a way to customize and create fantastic designs and products.

Therefore, if you want profitable and high-in-demand 3D printing business ideas, consider starting 3D printing for marketing products.

Case Study

My name is Vladimir Gendelman, and I am the Founder and CEO of Company Folders, Inc. We are the ultimate boutique presentation folder company. I founded the company in 2003, and since then, we have won multiple awards, including making Inc.’s list of 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America for three consecutive years. We have the largest selection of folders available anywhere, and we serve everyone from the travel agent working at home to schools and universities, government organizations, and large companies such as Google, Chick-fil-A, Sony, MGM, and the NFL.

Our main product lines are presentation folders, 3-ring bindersand envelopes. And our flagship product is a two-pocket presentation folder. We have printed over 20 million products for over 5,000 loyal clients. Our blog and design gallery have seen more than 5.5 million readers. We have hundreds of Google reviews with an average rating of 5 stars, and we’ve been featured in over 500 publications, including Forbes and Time.

—

I Built A Multi-Million-Dollar Presentation Folder Company From Scrat. .. ➜

The advent of 3D printing has provided designers and engineers with an alternative way to showcase their capabilities. Designers and engineers use transformative technology to create digitally engineered molds for patients. Through 3D printing technology, manufacturers can produce cost-effective short production runs to test the market or to offer customized product versions.

3D printing in design applies during product conception to allow designers to compare, test, and understand structural and visual qualities. At the prototyping stage, designers use 3D printing to create functional prototypes faster compared to when using traditional prototyping.

Therefore, starting a 3D printer business, consider printing for designers and engineers.

Case Study

My name is Roy Kirchner, an entrepreneur from Odessa, Florida. After years spent in the automobile and marketing and advertising industries, I decided in 2014 to form a new company solely focused on emerging new technology, 3D printing.

I started my company with an initial, out-of-pocket investment of $65,000, and today we are averaging monthly gross sales of $330,000.

—

How I Started A $330K/Month Ecommerce Specialized In 3D Printing ➜

3. Start a 3D-printed pills business

The first 3D-printed pill (Spritam) was approved by the FDA back in 2015. 3D-pill printing uses certain unique materials to create more effective medication that dissolves faster and can be ingested faster than traditional pills.

If you already have a background in pharmaceuticals and looking for a potential 3D printing business idea, you may want to focus on 3D pill printing.

4. Start a customized collectibles business

While some trends tend to go out of style fast, collecting is a trend that will not change any time soon. Many people still love collecting art pieces, images of favorite celebrities, athletes, artists, etc.

With 3D printing, you can start a collectibles business and focus on any niche. One of the benefits of using 3D in printing collectibles is the potential to produce lighter and easy-to-transport collectibles. Thus, 3D printer businesses can reach global customers without worrying about transportation.

Case Study

My name is Adam Torkildson (Tork to my friends). I run Tork Media, which is the umbrella company to several ventures I’m in various stages of running and/or funding.

I’m a partner and founder of 7 very different ventures; ranging from a solar farm in Bakersfield to selling sportscards on eBay (which is the one I like to talk about the most).

—

How I Started A $10K/Month Business Selling Sports Cards On eBay ➜

5. Start a corporate 3D printing service

Are you are interested in starting a 3D printer idea? 3D printing can help businesses with product designing and prototyping. Besides, 3D printers help create marketing and promotional materials, improve existing products, produce detailed models, etc.

Therefore, focusing your 3D printing business on corporate services can be a noble entrepreneurship idea.

Case Study

—

I Built A Multi-Million-Dollar Presentation Folder Company From Scrat... ➜

6. Start a 3D-printed arts business

Since the invention of 3D printing, technology has given a new meaning to art. With additive manufacturing, artists can deliver more creative art pieces featuring complex geometries and a high level of detail.

If you are an artist or have a passion for art, consider producing 3D prints and selling them in various online art galleries.

Case Study

Hi, my name is Saleh Sokhandan, I am the founder of Vidavin. I am a designer of creative and artistic products that are made based on 3D art and optical illusion techniques.

Our imagination is endless, and we like to accompany others in the joy of new experiences.

—

I Started A $600K/Year Business Creating 3D Art & Optical Illusions [. .. ➜

7. Start an existing items customization business

3D printing is one of the best tools for the design industry. An excellent application area of 3D printing is improving the existing items. Product customization with 3D printing enables businesses to create a lasting impression amongst their target customers.

For instance, orthopedics relies on customized adaptation to support orthoses and prostheses. With 3D printing, they can achieve custom shapes and material strengths that match the individual patients. Therefore, if you have a background in 3D printing, you can focus on helping manufacturers and designers achieve product customization.

Case Study

Hello, I’m David, CEO, and Founder of DesignEvo, an easy-to-use logo maker. We've been successfully focusing on graphics design and multimedia software ever since 2006!

DesignEvo logo maker is designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, agencies, website owners, freelancers, and even social media admins looking to create great logos in a breeze. Until now, we have over 29 million users worldwide, bringing us about 1 million dollars each month. Many of them are website owners or bloggers.

—

I Created A $12M/Year Online Logo Maker With 29 Million Users ➜

8. Start a customized glasses frames business

3D printing is now changing how eyewear manufacturers produce glasses. The glass product manufacturers are adopting layer-by-layer printing technology to deliver unique products and beat the competition by bringing more innovation to glass designs.

The printing technology allows glass companies to create highly complex structures and, in some cases, designs that could be unimaginable. If you are in the glass industry and looking for a great business opportunity, you may consider starting a customized glass frames business.

Case Study

My name is Mehdi Kajbaf, Co-Founder at Matboard and More ™ , the company that makes framing your art easier than you think. We brought sophistication to one of the oldest industries on earth, picture framing.

However, if you can live the life you want, have financial security for the future and the freedom to enjoy it, you are probably successful.

—

Finding Financial Freedom Through Starting A Matboard Business ➜

9. Start a customized earbuds business

Tailormade earbuds perform better. However, custom manufacturing is not economical, and collecting personalized consumer data can be complex.

Luckily, 3D printing is changing manufacturing processes and promising greater customer satisfaction. High-quality 3D printers and advanced scanning technology make it possible to manufacture customized audiology products such as earbuds.

Are you interested in designing and developing of audiology application? If yes, starting a 3D earbuds production business can be a great business idea.

Case Study

My name is Janne Kyllönen. I am the founder of QuietOn. We are making active noise-canceling earbuds for sleeping and are bringing relief for people who are struggling to sleep in a noisy environment surrounded by traffic noise or snoring.

—

We Make $6M/Year Selling Earbuds That Help You Sleep Better ➜

10. Start a 3D printer selling business

Business research projects that the global 3D printing service market will exceed $5 Billion in the coming decade. 3D printing enables manufacturers to achieve flexible designs, rapid prototyping, and much more.

Through additive manufacturing, businesses are achieving revolutionary benefits. Therefore, the demand for 3D printers will continue increasing rapidly over the coming years.

Are you looking for 3D printing business ideas? Maybe you should consider selling 3D printers. To start, find 3D printer manufacturers and apply to become their distributorship programs. Alternatively, you can create a 3D printer website and start selling printers and accessories.

Case Study

I started my company with an initial, out-of-pocket investment of $65,000, and today we are averaging monthly gross sales of $330,000.

—

How I Started A $330K/Month Ecommerce Specialized In 3D Printing ➜

11. Start a children's toys business

Are you interested in toy production? Using 3D technology, you can achieve better toy design. The tooling technology alleviates the pain points of toy designing and production and enables toy manufacturers to achieve personalized molds.

In today’s competitive business landscape, 3D printing can help you achieve faster time to market, more excellent toy designs and customization, and enable the creation of new business models. Therefore, if you are interested in a potential 3D printing business, you may consider a 3D toys printing business.

Case Study

Hey, y’all! I’m Hagan Walker - one of the co-founders of Glo! We make liquid-activated products under two different brands - Glo Cubes, which are light up drink cubes - and Glo Pals, light-up sensory toys for children. Both incorporate the same patented liquid activation circuitry.

Hold on to your seats. I believe telling a story should be real - it should include the highs and lows, tell you about how the path isn’t always straightforward, and detail how some things work out for a reason, so let’s start from the beginning.

—

How We Built A $1.2MM/Year Business Selling Light Up Ice Cubes ➜

12. Start a 3D modelling business

3D modeling is critical in product design, helping businesses achieve greater customer satisfaction. Several industries like film, medicine, gaming, and manufacturing are already making the best use of 3D modeling.

If you have 3D modeling expertise and are looking for a profitable 3D printing business idea, starting a 3D modeling business in 2022 can be worthwhile. To start, identify a niche, and identify potential customers within the niche.

Case Study

Hello, my name is Marco, founder of MazingXR (alongside my two co-founders). I’m 27 years old, born and raised in Austria – no kangaroos – it is a small country in the center of Europe. You might know Arnold Schwarzenegger, he is Austrian.

—

We Developed A $120K/Year Augmented Reality Solution For E-commerce ➜

13. Start a 3D robotics engineering business

Just as manufacturing uses 3D printing, so can engineering leverage the power of 3D in designing and prototyping robotics projects. According to experts, the global 3D printing robots market will reach approximately 4.9 billion in the next few years, achieving a CAGR growth rate of 15%.

The consistent growth of 3D printing in the robotics industry depicts the potential of 3D printing business ideas.

Most engineering companies use 3D printing technologies to develop customized robotic solutions for clients in the manufacturing, construction, healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and defense industries.
Therefore, if you have some background in robotics engineering and are interested in starting a 3D printing business, you may consider the application of 3D printing technology in developing robotic solutions.

14. Start a medical implants business

One of the benefits of 3D printing healthcare is helping doctors and researchers reconstruct various human body parts. Thus, additive manufacturing has helped save lives by enabling doctors to achieve successful implants.

For example, additive manufacturing (3D printing) has made jaw reconstruction possible. Also, 3D-printed knee implant companies like Conformis applied 3D printing to create implants, an initiative that has given new hope to patients.

Therefore, if you are in the medical industry, you may consider starting a 3D medical implant printing business.

Case Study

Unlimited Tomorrow, a medical equipment manufacturing company, was founded in 2014 by Easton LaChappelle.

TrueLimb is their main product: an affordable, lightweight, and intuitive bionic arm.

In 2018, the company raised $1.6 million in less than a month. They put this toward funding a full-scale production line for TrueLimb.

TrueLimb costs $7,995, and if a child outgrows the piece, they upcycle the components and replace it for about $4,000.

Read the full article on forbes.com ➜

—

Unlimited Tomorrow Cracks The Code On Robotic Arm Prosthetics ➜

15. Start a prosthetics 3D printing business

Approximately 2 million people are living with limb loss in the US alone.

Fortunately, 3D printing makes an incredible difference in the medical industry and saves millions of lives. Today, patients can request 3D-enabled knee replacements and prosthetic arms. The 3D printing technology can also improve the lives of those reliant on prosthetic limbs.

According to the American Orthotics and Prosthetics Association, the average prosthetic costs between $1,500 and $8,000. By contrast, 3D-printed prosthetic costs as little as $50. Therefore, given that over 2 million people could be suffering limb loss, starting 3D prosthetics printing can be a great business idea.

Case Study

Unlimited Tomorrow, a medical equipment manufacturing company, was founded in 2014 by Easton LaChappelle.

TrueLimb is their main product: an affordable, lightweight, and intuitive bionic arm.

In 2018, the company raised $1.6 million in less than a month. They put this toward funding a full-scale production line for TrueLimb.

TrueLimb costs $7,995, and if a child outgrows the piece, they upcycle the components and replace it for about $4,000.

Read the full article on forbes.com ➜

—

Unlimited Tomorrow Cracks The Code On Robotic Arm Prosthetics ➜

16.

Start a jewelry and ornaments production business

Until recently, jewelry was done by hand, with machines used to facilitate metalwork and fabrication. However, jewelry making is set to change as jewelers turn to 3D printing.

3D printing enables jewelers to conceptualize and prototype rings, necklaces, and other jewelry products. Digital technologies help to personalize creations while a customer waits. Apart from enabling faster production of jewelry, the technology has helped in the delivery of personalized designs.

Therefore, if you are in the jewelry industry or interested in venturing into the industry but not sure where to start, you may factor in 3D jewelry and ornaments printing.

Case Study

PupRing is a company run by Parth Kukreja and Alex Djordjevic that sells pet jewelry online.
This company is a startup in the custom jewelry industry that is expanding quickly. They produced more than 70% of their overall income online.
PupRing transform the pawprints, names, and priceless memories of your pet into pieces of wearable jewelry that you can use to carry them with you wherever you go.
Since opening their TikTok account in November 2020, they have gathered more than 135,000 followers and 35,000,000 views.

Listen to the full podcast on podcasts.apple.com ➜

—

19 Yr Old Makes 1 Million Per Year Selling Pup Rings On TikTok With P... ➜

17. Start a 3D food printing business

Some application areas of 3D printing in the food industry include producing customized food designs, personalized and digitalized nutrition, a simplified supply chain, and broadened source of available food materials.

3D printing has enabled researchers in the food industry to provide suitable alternatives for meat. Startups are working to ensure the appearance, taste, texture, and flavor of 3D-printed meat matches closely with the current meat-eating experience. Other applications of 3D printing in the food industry include 3D baking decoration equipment, 3D food design platform, and 3D printing desserts.

Research shows that 3D food printing is expected to reach approximately $873 million over the next few years.

Therefore, starting a 3D food printing business will be a noble idea.

Case Study

The startup podcast with more than 500 episodes to help you launch and grow. 10 million+ downloads. 500+ five-star reviews.

—

Episode 442 | Corporate Structures and How the Choice You Make Now Ca... ➜

18. Start a 3D-printed custom-made tools business

3D printed tools convey the usefulness of 3D printing technology in various areas today. Applying 3D in printing tools will benefit farmers, farriers, engineers, and other 3D printing enthusiasts needing handy tools. Examples of tools you can produce using 3d printing technology include functional hammers, wire cutters, saws, and other tools.

To start a 3d tools production business, ensure you understand how different tools work so that you can meet the design specifications.

19. Start a 3D selfie studio

While 3D printing has been used widely in construction, medicine, and engineering industries, it is now expanding to personal space. Today, we see graphic designers and artists turning into 3D selfie studios.

A 3D selfie studio provides a more elaborate process of scanning and printing images. The 3D selfie images can be made using plastic and other materials.

With the 3D technology finally starting to catch on, starting a 3D selfie printing business can be rewarding. You will need a full-body 3D scanner, 3D digital retouching software, and a full-color 3D printer.

20. Start a 3D-printed shoes business

3D printing is a technology that has revolutionized various industries, including fashion. 3D printed shoes are an interesting trend you may want to get into.

3D printing technology is used to prototype and try new shoe manufacturing processes. The technology enables designers to go further with the shoe designing process to create organic structures through additive manufacturing other than the traditional processes.

A 3D printing and footwear market study revealed that the industry will generate more than $8 billion in profits in the next few years. Therefore, starting a 3D shoe printing business can be rewarding.

To start a 3D shoe printing business, choose a niche, and buy the needed 3D printing equipment.

21. Start a 3D Scanning business

3D scanning business analyzes a real-world object or environment and collects data on its shape and appearance before creating its image digitally. Thus, 3D scanning is a faster and easier technique for creating 3D models when you want to recreate an existing object.

There are different 3D scanning techniques you can use today. Examples are Laser 3D scanning, photogrammetry, and structured light scanning.

To start a 3D scanning business, select the best 3D scanners and great 3D scanning apps. If you already have a smartphone, you can download a 3D scanning app and use it for 3D scanning.

22. Start a 3D-printed spare parts business

3D printing is revolutionizing the spare parts industry. The technology is helping the spare parts manufacturers and suppliers to strike a balance between the cost of spare parts production and the lead time.

The digital printing technology enables spare parts storage in the virtual inventory, a move that minimizes the need for storage spaces. The automobile industry can use 3D printing technology to produce spare parts. The additive technology is also perfect for manufacturing aircraft spare parts.

If you are interested in producing spare parts, you may consider starting your 3D printed spare parts business.

23. Start a 3D printing course

The 3D printing industry is snowballing thanks to its ability to create a wide range of versatile products quickly and cost-effectively. Owing to the increased demand, there is a rising interest among job-seekers who want to learn the skill to stand out in interviews, while others want to establish a 3-D printing business.

If you have 3D printing experience and are passionate about technology, you can start a 3D printing course.

24. Start a 3D architecture business

3D printing technology has helped bring architects’ dreams to life. The technology uses architectural illustrations and other reference materials to produce photo-realistic 3D images or animations of proposed buildings and developments.

Starting a 3D architecture business is well worth it. The profession is in high demand, and the profit margins tend to be higher than average. If you plan to start a 3D architecture business, you can specialize in interior design, architecture, science, medicine, fashion, etc.

3D fashion design is transforming how creatives in the fashion and luxury industry approach product development, pattern making, fittings, and much more.

The application of 3D printing technology is growing rapidly among fashion companies and designers willing to reduce their environment’s impact and make fashion design more straightforward.

Therefore, starting a 3D fashion design business could be rewarding.

To start a 3D fashion design business, consider registering for the fashion design certificate program and taking a 3D design course.

Article Sources:

3D Printing Industry Analysis at Grand View Research
With 24.3% CAGR, 3D Printing Market Size Worth USD 83.90 Billion in 2029 at Globe News Wire
Three Areas Holding Back The $10.6B 3D Printing Industry at Forbes
Global 3D printing products and services market size from 2020 to 2026 at Statista

Pat Walls, Founder of Starter Story

Want to start your own business?

Hey! 👋I'm Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story.

We interview successful business owners and share the stories behind their business. By sharing these stories, we want to help you get started.

Interested in starting your own business? Join Starter Story Premium to get the greatest companion to starting and growing your business:

Connect + get advice from successful entrepreneurs
Step by step guides on how to start and grow
Exclusive and early access to the best case studies on the web
And much more!

The simplest way to start selling online

With BigCommerce, you can build, run and grow a better online business in less time, with less cost.

Start a trial: Build a store that caters to your unique needs. Get 15 days free when you pick your plan, no strings attached.
Launch your store: Customize your storefront with powerful features. No design skills needed.
Convert more sales: Build buzz, find your target customers, and drive even more online traffic.

Start your free 15-day free trial today ➜ (no credit card required)

Which 3D printing business will be successful? / Habr

What kind of successful business can be opened using 3D printers? I will make a reservation right away that so far there are few such examples. I'll tell you about some of them.

3D Printing Studio

The first thing that comes to mind is setting up a 3D printing studio. Its business model is based on modeling and printing models for the client. The main success factor is to ensure a consistently high level of equipment utilization. For such a project, it is more important to focus on mass replication than on printing single copies, even in large volumes. The cost of printing a small model should be low, and the labor costs should be high. The main production processes are the high-quality development of printing technology for each specific detail or project, the selection of the right material. The client model is checked for errors, and both the material and the printer are selected. It remains to agree on the price and, in fact, print the model. It is necessary to approve it with the customer, and, if necessary, modify it.

You can build such a studio with almost any level of investment: start with one or two printers, gradually increase the equipment fleet or immediately invest in a 3D printer fleet. You can also purchase industrial equipment for functional prototyping and small-scale production. But in any case, the most important thing is to correctly build the business model of the enterprise.

Small-scale production

The second most popular business idea is a small-scale production studio. In this case, the main task is not to find a client, but to understand what product will be in demand. There are many examples of such studios, and their success primarily depends on the quality and originality of the products offered. For clarity, consider the production of molds for the manufacture of confectionery. They are easy to model, customize, print and sell. The target audience of this product is clear and stable, the product is easily promoted in social networks, the cost is low, and the most budget 3D printers are suitable for production. The main thing here is the optimal ratio of the number of devices with production volumes. Another popular example: accessories for gamers. Game weapons, masks, costume elements from computer games for cosplayers. The product is not so massive, but consistently in demand, and its price niche is significantly higher. More time will be spent on modeling and printing, but in return you get markets around the world, since the studio is not limited to the location of your region.

3D printing of medical products

The third version of the 3D printing studio is medical. Today it is very much in demand. Prostheses, orthoses, orthopedic insoles, hearing aids, temporary crowns, aligners, spectacle frames are complex in conventional production, but our technologies greatly simplify this process. The equipment here is selected based on the specific task. Usually one company is focused on printing a particular line of models. The accumulated experience allows you to create a product with unique properties as efficiently as possible. In this direction, business goes in tandem with science. The success of the enterprise directly depends on innovative approaches in orthopedics and medicine in general.

3D printing of art objects

Fourth place will be given to art. 3D printing of sculptures is another way to capitalize on this technology. Creating a large art object is not an easy task, and certainly not a cheap one. However, many interiors or public spaces are in need of an aesthetic upgrade. Modern sculptors began to use the new technology in their work precisely to create final products, and not prototypes or layouts, as one might think. To achieve this goal, large-format printers using FDM technology (the model is formed from molten plastic) are needed. Typically, a computer model is divided into parts and printed on several 3D printers, after which it is glued, sanded, primed and painted in the desired colors, sometimes with the addition of texture. This makes the sculpture almost indistinguishable from those made from natural materials.

Another option is to show the model in full size, without post-processing, which allows viewers to see the 3D printed model at different stages of its creation.

It is difficult to fit into a short article all the variety of opportunities that 3D printing offers to enthusiasts of this technology, but we see that every day there are more and more new interesting stories of its application. It gives impetus to the development of new technologies and brings innovation to seemingly established areas such as the creation of sculptures or gingerbread. As the American inventor Chuck Hull, who patented the first 3D printer, said: “I don’t have a crystal ball that will tell me what should happen in the future, but one thing I know for sure: when smart people work on a specific task, they gradually move forward. forward".

Alexander Kornveits

Founder and CEO of Tsvetnoy Mir