FIGURE 144: An Artec 3D Scanner projecting light onto an object in order to create a 3D scan.
printing kit (one you assemble) that can cost around $1,000. Refer to chapters 4-6 for detailed information on the
different 3D printing technologies.
Keep in mind you are competing with large service bureaus like Shapeways, Sculpteo and others. Offering
great quality and customer service will make your offering more competitive.
HERE ARE A FEW PLACES TO LIST YOUR PRINTING SERVICES SO POTENTIAL CLIENTS CAN FIND YOU:
3D Hubs - application required (https://www.3dhubs.com/)
MakeXYZ (https://www.makexyz.com/)
Facebook Marketplace (https://www.facebook.com/marketplace)
Etsy (http://www.etsy.com)
YOU CAN CREATE 3D FILES AS A SERVICE
You need a 3D file in order to 3D print an object. The two most popular file creation methods involve either
reverse engineering with 3D scanning (if you have a physical reference part) and CAD modeling (hand mod-
FIGURE 145: A trained engineer creating a CAD model by hand using 3D software
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FIGURE 144: An Artec 3D Scanner projecting light onto an object in order to create a 3D scan.
printing kit (one you assemble) that can cost around $1,000. Refer to chapters 4-6 for detailed information on the
different 3D printing technologies.
Keep in mind you are competing with large service bureaus like Shapeways, Sculpteo and others. Offering
great quality and customer service will make your offering more competitive.
HERE ARE A FEW PLACES TO LIST YOUR PRINTING SERVICES SO POTENTIAL CLIENTS CAN FIND YOU:
3D Hubs - application required (https://www.3dhubs.com/)
MakeXYZ (https://www.makexyz.com/)
Facebook Marketplace (https://www.facebook.com/marketplace)
Etsy (http://www.etsy.com)
YOU CAN CREATE 3D FILES AS A SERVICE
You need a 3D file in order to 3D print an object. The two most popular file creation methods involve either
reverse engineering with 3D scanning (if you have a physical reference part) and CAD modeling (hand mod-
eling using a modeling program). These related services are primarily what our company offers and it takes
a lot of experience to excel at creating the best models. The learning curve for this business type is much
longer than offering 3D printing as a service.
3D Scanning creates a digital copy (scan file) of a physical object, which then allows you to make a 3D print.
This is especially important for organic shapes that can’t be hand modeled easily. Figure 14-4 shows a 3D
scanner in action, by projecting light onto the object that will later get translated into a 3D map or 3D scan.
As we mentioned earlier, you can also use photogrammetry to create 3D printable scans.
3D CAD modeling is more labor intensive and requires a skilled modeler or engineer and access to mod-
eling software as shown in Figure 14-5. 3D CAD modeling can be performed by newly skilled workers (for
simple shapes) all the way to engineering experts for highly complex models.
Your basic costs will be a computer and the modeling software. This software is quite expensive for the
professional versions which can cost $7,000 a year, but many programs, like Meshmixer and Sculptris, are
free. There are some powerful programs like Fusion 360 that cost only $600/year (but can be free for some
commercial uses if granted by Autodesk), and ZbrushCore used for organic modeling that cost $150 a year.
As with all software licensing, you want to make sure you are using the software in a way that is appropriate
to your use case. Commercial work needs to be performed under a commercial license, for example.
FIGURE 145: A trained engineer creating a CAD model by hand using 3D software
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3D CAD Modeling is not only the most difficult of the three services mentioned on this list, but also carries
some risks associated with this type of artistic freelancing. For example, make certain you agree with your
client what services are included in your fee, including the number of revisions. Also, try to establish a
working vocabulary with your client, so that everyone agrees with the definitions you are using. And finally,
protect yourself legally in case your design injures a third party. Becoming a skilled CAD modeler or engi-
neer takes years and experience. Make sure you understand the liabilities before starting this service.
As you can see it takes very skilled engineers and professional 3D scanning equipment to produce the best
files. We invested many years of searching for the best engineers and equipment, but you can start small by
taking on easy projects.
WAYS EXISTING BUSINESS CAN LEVERAGE 3D PRINTING
Let’s now explore some possibilities available to current companies that want to incorporate 3D printing to
increase their margins, garner brand loyalty and create production parts needed to run their equipment.
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES:
1. CREATING UNIQUE PERSONALIZED 3D PRINTED GIVEAWAYS FOR CONFERENCE ATTENDEES, AND
LIMITED EDITIONS FOR SPECIAL CLIENTS.
Ever go to a conference and get bombarded with conference “swag”? How many pens, mugs and generic
FIGURE 146: Custom 3D printed shoes created by using the client’s unique foot geometry
FIGURE 147: An inserted white plastic mold made with 3D printing used in an injection molding machine
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mint boxes can one have! Unique 3D printed items are more exclusive, have a better perceived value and
can be customized to that particular conference versus something that is generic and available everywhere.
Company brands can customize certain versions of popular products and offer these limited editions to
entice customers to have more brand loyalty. Variations can include: creating a special version based on
the date of the event, changing a flagship feature of the model or having the customer’s name embedded
directly on the design. With 3D printing, changing a feature of the design is relatively easy and fast. Making
limited edition parts can happen in days or weeks, instead of months.
3D Printing is ideal for these one-offs and it really makes customers feel special. The reduced cost to
produce these small runs can make this option affordable, whereby using a traditional manufacturing
method would be too costly and the turnaround time would be too long.
Businesses can also use 3D printing for “Made to Measure” items such as jewelry and shoes using the
customer’s sizing information as seen in Figure 14-6. This will dramatically change the way we shop for
everyday items. Ironically, this advanced technology allows for customization like that of the original manu-
facturing days of master craft people; making products one by one by hand. Think of the local shoe cobbler
but much more efficient.
FIGURE 146: Custom 3D printed shoes created by using the client’s unique foot geometry
FIGURE 147: An inserted white plastic mold made with 3D printing used in an injection molding machine
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FIGURE 148: The concept of a gear part as a CAD file, then as a 3D printed replacement part.
FIGURE 149: Reverse engineered and scaled down version of a jet turbine fan.
2. CREATING 3D PRINTED MOLDS INSTEAD OF COSTLY MANUFACTURING MOLDS
After our company creates the CAD model for a client’s design, they then take the files to a manufacturer
for a quote if they want injection molding. Part of the cost of injection molding is creating molds to cast the
desired design. We will discuss this process in detail in the next chapter, but for now it’s an understatement
to say that these molds can be expensive. A high quality stainless steel mold can cost $10,000 and up.
The good news is that if you want to produce under 1,000 units, 3D printing may be more cost effective
because you don’t need a mold. If you do need to go the traditional manufacturing route, you might be able
to use 3D printed molds, jigs and fixtures and that can save you a lot of money! Figure 14-7 shows a 3D
printed mold used to manufacture a product.
3. CREATING REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR SPECIALIZED MACHINERY
Custom parts for machinery, especially the ones that are no longer produced, seem to always break down.
Before the advent of 3D printing, you would either have to hire an artisan to create a one-off replacement
part by hand (for a great deal of money), or make an enormous number of replacement units using tradi-
tional fabrication methods, or live without that part, or worse live without the equipment. But that’s where
3D printing can really save the day! If you have the original part, a skilled engineer can reverse engineer
the physical part into a digital file that can then be 3D printed. Now you can make one or many replace-
ment parts as needed. Figure 14-8 shows the concept of a machined part that was reverse engineered and
replaced with a 3D printed copy.
4. CREATING PHYSICAL PROPS TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS.
This is a powerful concept for both internal company meetings and for showing clients what your product
can do. If a picture is worth 1,000 words then a physical model is worth even more! With 3D printing the
client can see and feel how the product really works.
One of our clients, a producer of hydroelectric equipment, uses a great “show and tell” prop in their sales meet-
ings. It’s not easy bringing a 750 lbs. turbine to meetings, so they wanted us to create something a bit smaller.
Through a 3D scanning and reverse engineering process we created a scaled down version that illustrates the
physical features. Figure 14-9 shows an example of a jet turbine scaled down for demonstration purposes.
5. OFFICE FUN MOTIVATING THE TEAM
If you are in charge of creating motivation at the office then why not try 3D printed items? A 3D printed award
or trophy can really motivate the recipient and give them a sense of pride. You can change the trophy label
to include their name, date, occasions, and more. All you need is access to someone that can create the
CAD model and someone who will 3D print each version.
GENERAL ADVICE
Some of these examples can apply to both the existing business and the new entrepreneur. Our suggestion
is to continue to understand the industry’s advancements in materials and trends. We also suggest taking
inventory of your financial, time and creative constraints when deciding how to use 3D printing for your busi-
ness venture.
Read the next chapter to gain an understanding of how a prototype becomes a sellable product and learn
about more possible manufacturing methods, in addition to 3D printing.
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