Selling 3D printed products can be an excellent way to generate extra income, with certain types of prints proving particularly popular with buyers.
Models of iconic landmarks tend to sell well among those interested in art, history, geography and architecture. Additionally, parts that are no longer readily available may make excellent sellers.
What Types of Prints Do Best?
While it might be tempting to use a 3D printer for creating cute figurines and toys, the highest demand prints are usually functional items such as shelves, wall mounts and clips. Making these items is relatively simple and doesn’t require much knowledge or expertise – ideal for beginners looking to start making money on the side! They’re often used to organize home or offices alike and provide another avenue for making additional income on the side.
Jewelry has long been one of the most popular 3D printed items. Crafted from filament or resin plastic, earrings and pendants have proven popular with sellers as lightweight pieces with beautiful designs can sell quickly at around $40 each pair.
3D printing can also be used to create architectural models. 3D models are much simpler and quicker to assemble by 3D printer than their handcrafted counterparts and can speed up workflows significantly. Furthermore, these models can be printed in various materials like plastics, ceramics and metals for use during construction as well as serving as teaching aids for students.
3D printers can also be used to print custom trophies for sports teams or office competitions, with each trophy bearing an image specific to that event.
3D printed items may also include vases, which come in an assortment of sizes and colors; they can even be personalized to add something stylish to a home. Furthermore, personalized key rings may also be produced – these may feature someone’s name, photo or any other design they may desire printed onto it.
3D printers are increasingly being used to create lamps. These have become incredibly popular as they can be made out of various materials ranging from glass, resin and plastic; depending on which material it is composed from, lamps may offer various light effects which can even be controlled remotely with smartphone apps.
Toys
As more people opt for 3D printing, one of the more popular products to sell are toys. This can range from action figures and dolls to other forms of playthings; and can be an excellent way to earn extra cash – particularly if the toy has some niche appeal.
Print and sell replacement parts for electronics, vehicles and other products that frequently break down. Replacing old parts with new ones saves both time and money for their owners – creating a highly lucrative industry that can be done relatively quickly without incurring too much overhead costs.
According to this hackaday article, printing prototypes using 3D technology is also useful in developing products for testing purposes and can be an integral step in the design process of many goods, such as cars or aircraft. By taking advantage of this technique, it may be possible to make cars lighter while increasing fuel efficiency; or it could help manufacturers create parts more resistant to heat.
People who enjoy cosplay and gaming can make money selling 3D printed props from their favorite shows or games, such as Harley Quinn’s revolver from Suicide Squad or an F1 R/C car from F1. This can also serve as an impressive, memorable present that someone else will truly appreciate!
Bookmarks are an inexpensive and straightforward item that can be printed and sold. Not only are bookmarks an elegant way of personalizing books and other paper goods, they’re incredibly popular items to sell – especially if multiple colors can be offered at once!
3D printed items that can be sold include keychains that can be customized with any name or business logo imaginable, making for a very lucrative business endeavor. They’re in high demand and easy to create – so now could be the time!
Architectural Models
Architectural models serve a multitude of functions for architects, design firms and other businesses alike. Architectural models help visualize an upcoming project more clearly while streamlining design more efficiently. Architectural models may be constructed out of cardboard, wood or foam and even include entourage elements like scale people and trees for an accurate representation.
Many are starting to recognize the advantages of 3D printing for architectural modeling. It enables teams to quickly collaborate on idea generation and refinement, as well as providing more convincing presentations for clients or investors.
Architectural models printed using 3D printing technology come in all forms and varieties to meet customer requirements, from rough study models to final presentations. Some models may even serve to communicate design intentions for new construction projects while others show existing buildings’ relationships between each other. Material choice has an effect on how your model turns out, so when selecting a 3D printer make sure this factor is considered.
3D printed signage has become an increasingly popular choice due to their customizable designs that meet each individual customer’s specifications and can be created more quickly than traditional signs, saving both time and money in production costs.
Decor is another ideal item to 3D print and sell, since they can often be easily produced. Some people sell cityscape models like Midtown Manhattan for around $100; other examples of decorative products may include unique pen/flash drive holders like this one.
There are also plenty of other 3D printable products suitable for sale on platforms like Etsy or Amazon that you can 3D print quickly and sell, such as vases and wall art. Join in on this growing trend to make some extra cash!
Functional Items
If you own a 3D printer, there are numerous products you can print and sell using it. Perhaps starting with custom printed earrings which are lightweight yet durable and non-allergenic materials would make an excellent product to start selling off. Or try creating and selling personalized soap dishes, featuring someone’s name or other words printed directly into them; these have proven very popular among customers.
Money clips are another practical item you can print. Not only will this let your printer shine, but they’re also stylish accessories! When creating one of these, make sure that it uses sturdy material such as nylon and thoroughly tests its design before use. A money clip can help people show off their finances discreetly or add a unique accent to their appearance.
Consider printing out a set of metric nuts and bolts, which are highly useful and can be made quickly with TinkerCAD. Once sold they will make your printer pay for itself.
3D printers have long been utilized to produce miniature car models that can be sold for significant sums of money to automotive enthusiasts and collectors. You may also find these models listed for sale on Etsy or other online marketplaces.
Photography turntables are another ideal product to produce with a 3D printer for product photography, adding movement to videos clips, propping objects up for better lighting or propping them up at events. Plus they’re very cost-effective to make and can be printed in various sizes!
Note that it is crucial that when making and selling 3D prints of items that you own the rights to, no legal issues arise from doing so without permission from their original creators. Furthermore, avoid printing any type of logo or character protected by trademark laws as this could lead to costly legal battles that are unworthy of consideration.