There’s a lot of hype around 3D printing right now, and it’s not just talk – the feats this technology is pulling off are turning heads.

As each day brings new possibilities, the nimble-minded side hustler is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities.

But before you pour your life savings into a 3D printer, let’s talk numbers.

An entry-level unit will have you parting with anywhere between £250-£800. And if you’re eyeing the big leagues, you’re looking at a price tag that could soar above £5,000. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg – think materials, maintenance, software licenses, and oh, how can we forget, marketing to get your genius out into the world.

Fear not! We’ve rolled up our sleeves and dug deep to bring you 5 unique ways to make bank in this electric sector, all without laying a finger on a printer.

These gigs were hand-picked for their speed, and they’re designed to play nice with your current skillset while nudging you to unleash your creative genius.

For each idea, we’re spilling the beans on the upsides and downsides, the roadmap to get started, and the costs that might sneak up on you. So, let’s rev up those entrepreneurial engines and jump in.

1. The Best 3D Printing Side Hustle: Use Someone Else’s Printer

Just because you don’t have a printer, that doesn’t mean you can’t sell 3D prints. There are companies that will do the manufacturing for you. Then it’s up to you to make the sales.

💡 Ready, Set, Print! 💡

This is a surprisingly affordable option if you already have a 3D file. A company like Surface Scan can swiftly turn your designs into physical prints and deliver them to your doorstep.

Build a digital empire with an e-commerce store showcasing branded, functional products, or get personal by selling custom delights on marketplaces such as Etsy.

Research. Research. Research. There’s no point trying to sell ice to Eskimos. Identify problems and create solutions.

Don’t have a printable file? Talented freelancers on Fiverr are ready to bring your concepts to life for a pocket-friendly price. Alternatively, there are multiple websites offering a plethora of ready-to-use, royalty-free models to purchase.

You could also have an object 3D scanned and converted into a printable file. This is a bit more expensive, but once you have the file, you can use it over and over again. Plus, with a parametric CAD model, you can effortlessly refine your designs based on customer insights.

🌟 The Game Plan 🌟

1. Explore the Market: Immerse yourself in research. Unearth potential products that tickle your fancy. A niche you’re passionate about is ideal, but ensure there’s demand and that it’s 3D-printable.
2. Set Up Shop: Decide your sales platform and conjure up a marketing plan. Get your printable file and collaborate with a 3D printing business to create a prototype.
3. Test the Waters: Consider running a presale or waitlist to gauge interest. This way you’ll be crystal clear on how many units you need from your first proper order.
4. Listen and Evolve: Keep your ears to the ground for feedback. Encourage happy buyers to leave reviews and spread the word. This could be your golden ticket to skyrocketing sales.

💰 The Breakdown 💰

Starting Investment: £50-£180

Pros:

• Low barrier to entry
• Opportunity to build a brand around your product
• Relatively low effort as you’re not doing the printing
• Print on-demand, zero inventory woes
• Juicy profit margins
• Easily scale to produce thousands of parts if the demand is there

Cons:

• Finding a winning product can take time
• Reliant on a third party for production

Got a printer and looking for ideas? Here’s our list of the 35 best things to 3D print!

2. Make Money Selling Digital 3D Models

Designing and selling digital 3D models can be a great way to generate passive income. You may even end up turning it into a full-time job.

Got an aptitude for 3D design software like Blender? That’s your secret sauce! If you’re new, don’t sweat it. The internet is brimming with resources that you can learn from – both paid and free.

Once you’ve mastered the craft, it’s time to start selling.

Pop your generic models on a specialist marketplace, for example, Cults3D. The price you get for each individual sale may not be crazy, but it all adds up in the long run.

Another strategy is to offer bespoke designs as a freelancer on Fiverr or Upwork. As clients bring you their visions, you wave your magic wand to transform them into digital reality.

5-star ratings and positive comments are your ticket to the top of the search results on these platforms.

Eventually, you could take the operation to the next level and build your own 3D design services website.

Keep an eye out for 3D design contests too. Some of them have cash prizes, and even if you don’t win it may help get your name out there.

🌟 How To Start Selling Digital Models 🌟

1. Get Learning: Decide which software you’ll use and begin mastering it. YouTube is your new best friend.
2. Start Selling: Don’t wait for perfection. Start putting your designs out there ASAP, it’s all good practice. Focus on one platform to begin with and expand once you get the hang of it.
3. Build a Brand: Utilize social media to present yourself as a 3D design expert and generate leads. Share valuable content and engage with relevant accounts.
4. Go Independent: Relying on one or two private platforms for your income can be risky. What if they close down or change the algorithm? Now you have an audience, create your own site and funnel them there. 

💰 What To Know 💰

Starting Investment: £0-£60

Pros:

• Easy on the wallet
• Learn a high-income skill
• Work on your own schedule
• Digital products can sell an unlimited number of times

Cons:

• Mastering 3D design requires time and effort
• Can be hard to gain traction on online marketplaces
• Quite a lot of competition (Stand out with high-quality work, unique designs, and exceptional customer service)

3. Become a Prototyping Consultant

Open your own prototyping consultancy and guide small businesses through the prototyping process. This may sound overwhelming, but there’s good money to be made once you have some momentum.

So, how would this work?

Prototyping is the beating heart of any new product venture. It helps refine the design, visualise the concept as a tangible object, and can be used in marketing to showcase to potential customers.

Your job would be to discuss a project and explain why 3D modelling and printing is a perfect solution. Then once you know exactly what they need, you can outsource the actual design and printing to professionals.

This makes you a one-stop shop for the entire prototyping journey – which is why you can charge a handsome fee.

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of your role:

• Initial Consultation: Gather as much information as possible and describe how the process would work.
• Quote: Reach out to your design and 3d printing partners to estimate costs. Then provide the client a price for the entire package (highlight that this includes design and manufacturing, and that further iterations may involve extra expenses).
• Follow-up meetings: Confirm the exact requirements for the prototype. You need to know all the details inside out.
• Design Stage: Have a 3D model created and submit it to the client for approval. They will generally ask for revisions so be sure to speak to the designer about this beforehand.
• Printing: This is where the physical prototype will be produced. Again, they may ask for further modifications at this point.

To begin with, reach out to local businesses, advertise your offer on relevant local Facebook groups and other socials, and create a website optimised for “prototyping services in your area”. This is the best way to start getting clients.

🌟 Getting Started 🌟

1. Strategise: Check what prototyping services are currently available in your area and think about how you can differentiate. Competition will be low in most places, but if not, consider niching down to a specific industry.  
2. Create a Presence: Build your website, start actively looking for opportunities, and form relationships with designers and 3D printing providers.
3. First Few Clients: It’s going to be intimidating early on. Don’t give up, this is a learning game. You’ll soon work out what to say and how to look the part. It’s all about getting those reps in.
4. Fine-Tune: As you gain experience, you’ll identify patterns in your workflow. Put systems in place to make your job easier and help you deliver a better-quality service to your clients. You’re a pro now!

💰 Is This the 3D Printing Side Hustle for Me?💰

Starting Investment: £25-75

Pros:

• High earning potential
• Low competition
• Form long-term relationships with your customers
• Could grow into a full-time business

Cons:

• Definitely the most involved idea on this list
• Steep learning curve
• Must be able to handle pressure

4. Dropship 3D Printing Supplies: A Twist on the Classic Side Hustle

Build an online store selling 3D printing supplies and use dropshipping to fulfil orders.

From ambitious hobbyists to established industry leaders, there’s a vast audience hungry for supplies. We’re talking materials (PLA, TPU, PETG etc), cleaning gear… even the printers themselves.

So, how do you tap into this goldmine? 🤔

Let’s talk about dropshipping, the modern entrepreneur’s secret weapon. Imagine having an online store packed with 3D printing supplies without the need to store a single item. Here’s how it works:

• You showcase products on your website.
• A customer places an order.
• The order details are sent to your supplier.
• Your supplier ships the product directly to the customer.

Simple, efficient, and ingenious!

For sourcing products, AliExpress and Alibaba are your go-to platforms. These sites offer competitive prices, allowing you to add a reasonable markup – usually around 30%. Remember to test product quality by requesting samples.

Want to give your store a personal touch? Have your supplier ship products in branded packaging or add your logo to the products themselves. Take into account that this comes with additional costs.

Building a successful dropshipping business requires two main components: strong relationships with suppliers and savvy marketing. You need to differentiate your store from others through quality, SEO, customer reviews, pricing, branding, or a combination of these elements.

🌟 The Recipe For Success 🌟

1. Make a Plan: Your mission is to find products in high demand. Try reading competitor reviews and identify any problems you may be able to solve – asking your supplier to make a small tweak to a design could lead to a winning product.
2. Choose Suppliers: Don’t rush this, selecting the right supplier is crucial. While pricing is important, you should assess communication and delivery times too.
3. Set Up Your Storefront: Shopify or a similar e-commerce site builder will do the trick. Good product imagery and compelling descriptions are vital to maximising your conversion rate.
4. Marketing: Devise a social media strategy, optimize your site for search engines (SEO), and collect reviews (family and friends can help here). If your budget allows, look into paid advertising.  

💰 Key Information 💰

Starting Investment: £95-£350

Pros:

• Existing demand for 3D printing supplies
• Don’t pay for products until you’ve sold them
• Sell internationally
• Custom branding options

Cons:

• Slightly higher upfront investment
• High-effort side hustle
• May take a while to gain traction

5. Earn as a 3D Printing Content Creator

Growing an audience as a content creator will turn your passion for 3D printing into an exciting new revenue stream.

The digital world is your canvas, and the choices are aplenty: whether it’s penning down your insights in a blog, captivating audiences on YouTube, hosting an enthralling podcast, or taking social media by storm through TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter.

This won’t be the speediest 3D printing side hustle when it comes to results. You’ll need to amass a sizeable following before you can start monetizing.

Once you do have an army of loyal fans however, there are many ways to start cashing in:

• Sponsorships
• Affiliate Links
• Ad Revenue
• Selling Your Own Products
• Gated Content/Subscriptions

Sure, it would be nice to have a printer to make content, but it’s not a necessity. Dive into trending topics, share the latest news, dish out tips and tricks, or bring industry experts into the spotlight through interviews. Your goal is to entertain, educate, and inspire. Do this and the supporters will come.

🌟 The 3D Influencer Blueprint 🌟

1. Pick Your Poison: YouTube sensation or blogging guru? Evaluate your existing skillset and see what other creators are already doing.  
2. Craft a Content Calendar: Consistency is king. Research the sweet spots for posting on your chosen platform and sketch out content ideas in advance so you never miss a post.  
3. Start Sharing: You don’t need to be a professional video editor to start posting clips on TikTok. Learn as you go, your first few posts are unlikely to get many views anyway. Stick to it, if you create valuable content, people will hunt it down.  
4. Monetize: Don’t wait for offers to come to you. Be your own agent and actively search for opportunities to turn eyeballs into money.
5. Diversify: Focus on one platform to begin with. Once you start to build an audience, try to get them to follow you to other platforms.

💰 Things To Be Aware Of 💰

Starting Investment: £40-£195

Pros:

• Options for all budgets
• Rewarding
• Easy to fit around your existing commitments
• Get paid to talk about your passion

Cons:

• Getting your first 1,000 followers is a grind
• Creative roadblocks are inevitable
• You have to do something unique to get attention

Take Action and Make Money With 3D Printing

Wherever your talents lie, there’s a way to forge them into a profitable 3D printing side hustle.

You can kick off with minimal capital and cultivate a business that tops up your bank account every single month. As a bonus, you’ll become a sales and marketing wiz along the way.

The key is to pick a lane and get started.

3D printing enables you to print parts when you need them so you don’t have to worry about storing them long term. It eliminates the need to look for resources from different parts of the world and is used in marketing by big firms.

Brands such as Coca-Cola, VW, Nokia, Belvita and DVV are great examples illustrating how additive manufacturing benefits the marketing sector with creative out-of-the-box solutions.

Nokia gave their customers the opportunity to 3D print a custom cover for their Lumia and Coca Cola 3D Printed mini bottles for a marketing campaign in Israel.

Plus, keen side hustlers are using 3D printing to make extra income – even without owning a printer!

To know more about 3D printing, its benefits and some success stories of its use in marketing see below:

The Role Of 3D Printing In Marketing

3D Printing is a very innovative approach that can be used in marketing. One of the examples is its use in the food industry. 

Biscuits and chocolates may now be printed in three dimensions. It will be fascinating for food-related enterprises to see what its marketers and printers are capable of if they are given complete freedom. 

Companies may now make any design of biscuit with meticulous attention to detail. Because the technology is still fresh and cutting-edge, many people will be drawn in by the incredible designs and logo printing. As a result, these freebies make excellent free samples at trade events.

Old marketing collateral can be reproduced and showcased. All the past products, promotional materials, and other historical company materials can now be replicated and displayed in waiting rooms, lobbies, and libraries. This technology will make it easier to bring all the company’s history into one location in a cleaner, more concise format.

Some of the most innovative manufacturers are also utilizing 3D printing technology to create prototypes and test products. 

Product development has become more efficient as a result. These 3D printing developments save time and money while also increasing profit margins.

Whether it’s used to grab a potential customer’s attention at a trade fair or employed behind the scenes for rapid product prototyping, 3D printing has a wide range of applications that are only limited by our creativity.

Benefits Of 3D Printing for Your Brand

The benefits of 3D printing for your marketing campaign are numerous, including storage benefits, customization, and simpler prototype development process.

Storage Benefits

Storage can rapidly become an issue for a small firm. You must find a location to keep your merchandise, at an additional cost to the company. Thanks to a digital inventory and on-demand manufacture, additive manufacturing allows you to produce your parts when you need them. 3D printing is becoming a method to rethink the entire supply chain management idea.

Simplify Your Production Chain

You can simply create replacement parts or other critical aspects for your manufacturing chain using 3D printing without having to dramatically increase your production time. Three-dimensional printers can create precise replicas of the missing or broken part, eliminating the need to order it or shut down your entire supply chain to resolve the issue.

Customization

3D printing makes customizing your product, even those made in huge amounts, extremely accessible, especially for small firms. It has made customized implants and prostheses a regular practice in the medical industry. Instead of trying to adapt a piece of machinery to a different function, the aeronautics industry employs 3D printing to build exact pieces of machinery. You can rapidly and efficiently customize things for your consumers using 3D printing.

Resource Reduction

Three-dimensional printing is a whole new method of producing items. You start with a big amount of a resource and build a product from it in the classic reductive way of production, such as carving a statue out of a block of marble.

Prototype Development

Businesses frequently required prototypes in order to attract investors and potential clients. In some cases, a prototype is required at each stage of development. However, if your production unit is not an in-house business, this might be costly and time-consuming.

Who Can Benefit from 3D Marketing?

Almost any industry can benefit from 3D printing marketing. Surface Scan delivers 3D printing services to artists, the automotive industry, archaeologists, industrialists and more. 3D printing is a very precise process with low margins of error. 

This makes 3D printed products very trusted among professionals like engineers. Knowing that a product is trusted by professionals will also get you the trust of potential clients. In fact, several marketing campaigns use this technique.

For instance, a new 3D printed protective helmet would include the words “Trusted by engineers” so as to strengthen their objective of alluring potential clients.

Examples of Successful Campaigns With 3D Printing

Coca Cola
Coca-Cola uses 3D printing to make small bottles available in Israel. It asked customers to enter a mini-me competition. They used a mobile app to construct miniature 3D copies of themselves that they were to care for like Tamagotchis.

Volkswagen
3D printing was used by Volkswagen to market the Polo. It launched “The Polo Principle,” a marketing that transformed customers into car designers. People could use a website to operate the 3D printer used by the company to produce the initial model of the car.

Nokia
Customers can manufacture unique covers for the Lumia 520 and 820 models using a 3D printing kit offered by Microsoft. Customers could then 3D print whatever they wanted to replace the detachable rear shells of the two cell phones. The kit was created as part of the company’s Community 3D Printing Project.

DVV
The Belgian Insurance Company DVV used 3D printing to make insurance more enjoyable. It launched Key Save, a solution aimed at resolving one of its customers’ most vexing issues.

Customers can 3D scan their keys and store the information on a secure server, according to the insurer. They can get the data and use a 3D printer to produce a new key if they lose the keys.

eBay
Through the eBay Exact, the online auction behemoth also got into 3D printing. Users may purchase customizable items from renowned 3D printing firms like Hot Pop Factory, MakerBot, and Sculpteo through this iOS app. The items range from jewellery to iPhone covers and other technology gadgets.

Read more: 35 Best Things To 3D Print (Life Hacks)

3D printing or additive manufacturing took the world by storm and invaded several fields, in  both business and pleasure.

Here is a complete guide to the merging of 3D printing technology into everyday life. You will find the tools and methods used by this technology to improve your business or for your personal use. 

Feeling extra creative? Learn 5 3D Printing Side Hustles that you can start today without owning a printer.

Designs Ideas

3D printing is becoming mainstream, especially for the creativity involved in the process. There are a host of design ideas to try on a 3D printer. The options are limitless.

Below is a list of the most creative design ideas you can try, even for beginners:

Making prototypes
A prototype is the real-life version of your product. It is a crucial step in the process of producing 3D objects. A 3D printer can help you do that.

Business cards
3D-printed business cards would make any business stand out. They entice the curiosity of clients. It is a great way to make a lasting impression.

Popsicle mold
Popsicles molds are the ultimate summer items. Everyone loves to make popsicles. Designing one can be as fun and creative. What’s more, you can personalize them.

Small guitars and violins
3D-printed guitar and violins are a great starting point for 3D modeling and printing. It can be a little challenging but the end result is worth it.

Topographic maps
3D topographic maps take landscaping to a whole new level. You can make any geographical feature from Mt. Kilimanjaro to the city of Seoul. This project will help you design intricate models.

Pen and pencil holder
Even the most mundane desk items can be re-designed to create extraordinary pieces. You can give the pen holders different shapes and forms. It is up to your imagination.

Fidget spinners
Fidget spinners made quite the buzz when they were first marketed. Creating your own fidget spinner and adding some personal twists to the design is an original idea to try.

Chess pieces
Chess enthusiasts will love this. Designing unique chess pieces for your personal collection is a great idea. You can add little intricacies to the design as a challenge.

Jewellery pieces
Even jewellery pieces can be made using a 3D printer. With a good finishing touch, the pieces would come out really amazing.

Drone
The use of 3D printing in the aviation industry is not a novel idea. However, there is no need to be an engineer to design a drone. You can learn how to do it yourself. This is one of the most original ideas on the list.

Prosthetic hands 

Easily the most challenging design to create but it is not impossible. The application of 3D printers in medicines extends very far. You can be part of that by designing and making prosthetics.

There are over 150 3D industrial printers. Each comes with its own specificities and mode of operation. Making a prototype usually helps to determine which printer is best to render the final product as expected. The prototype building phase begins with the selection of the materials, technologies, and finishes that you wish to see in your product.

Before that, a 3D model of the product needs to be produced using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. This design gives a visual preview of the object as well as its size and shape. Once the design is ready, the 3D printer can get to work.

With the increasing complexities of mechanical systems, testing each part of certain machines is a strenuous task. 3D-printed prototypes take away part of this burden.

Using a 3D printer to make prototypes has many advantages:

1. 3D printing gives you more leeway to experiment with the product design
2. Different versions of the same design can be produced to showcase how a difference in design can affect the performance or quality of the object.
3. It saves money and time.
4. 3D printing makes better use of resources compared to injection molding.

Looking for some specific designs to play with? Check out our list of 35 cool things you can 3D print right now.

Finishing Touch

Post-processing is an essential part of 3D printing. Finishing techniques have different looks and feel. The finishing touch turns your print into the final product.

Various finishing techniques are available. More often than not, a product will need a combination of different finishes. 

The first post-processing technique used on 3D-printed objects is sanding. Sanding smooths the surface and removes stepping lines. This process can be repeated twice to produce a better finish. Other finishing techniques include dyeing, polishing, and vapor smoothing. Vapor smoothing is an alternative to sanding.

Different materials used require different finishing touches. The ultimate end goal is to produce a product with a smooth surface and good finish. Now, while some models come from CAD software design, many more are replicas of existing models. Hence, there needs to be a 3D scan so as to print the exact copy of the model. The finishing touch will depend on the quality of the scan; every nook and cranny of the model needs to be mapped.

Using 3D Printed Products in Marketing

3D printing can be a real asset for a business. Not only does it speed up the prototyping process but it also serves other purposes in production and marketing. We have seen that 3D printers facilitate the production of prototypes. However, with the incorporation of 3D printers into businesses, other aspects of the business have changed.

There are many ways in which 3D printing can be resourceful for businesses:
3D printers on the production line increase the yield as more products can be manufactured more quickly. 

Furthermore,  3D-printed products are a great marketing tool. The potential for mass customization gives companies a competitive edge. This tool can be marketed to drive in more clients. Only a slight modification in the STL file to suit the client’s needs can go a long way in generating profits. The application of such a feat goes beyond the business world.

Fields such as medicine can benefit from custom-made 3D designs. Implants, prosthetics, and surgical tools made to suit the patient or doctor are now available. Also, companies can boast about the quality of their product since precision is key in 3D printing.

There are no defects and little to no possible malfunctions. Therefore, using 3D-printed products in marketing can prove to be a good call.

The use of 3D printing technology spans several fields as it has a panoply of benefits. More specifically in business, 3D printing seems to be the next must-have for all companies.

Advantages 3D printers bring to businesses:

1. Rapid prototyping
2. Reduced cost of production
3. Faster production
4. Marketing opportunities through mass-customization
5. Less overheads
6. Better quality products
7. Less human labour needed
8. Fewer by-products and waste
9. Fewer risks involved
10. More sustainable products
11. More flexibility in the manufacturing process

Surface Scan can assist in implementing all these benefits into your business. With the development of better modeling software and 3D printing systems, 3D-printed products will continue to grow in value and become industry standards.

Factors like customizability, incentives and planning are what can decide the outcome of your marketing campaign. There are several instances where 3D printing made campaigns go viral for big firms like Coca Cola and Nokia. The 3D printing market is getting increasingly valuable and the technology is suitable and profitable for businesses, both small and large.

Moreover, brands are getting interested in 3D printing because of its cost-effective and speedy approach. Its advanced technologies enable all enterprises to enjoy the affordable prices of 3D printing compared to the more expensive traditional methods.

The Rising Trend of 3D printing

The global 3D printing market was worth USD 13.78 billion in 2020, and it is predicted to increase at a 21.0 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2021 to 2028. In 2020, 2.1 million 3D printers were shipped worldwide, with 15.3 million units predicted to be shipped by 2028.

The market is predicted to increase due to strong R&D in three-dimensional printing (3DP) and rising demand for prototype applications from several industrial verticals, including healthcare, automotive, aerospace and the military.

In marketing we have seen giant trend-setting firms like Coca Cola use 3D printing to make mini bottles as part of a campaign in Israel. Other firms like Nokia have also followed this trend by allowing customers to create custom covers for their Lumia smartphone. 

After successful campaigns from the big names, other firms are likely to follow the trend.

The 3D scanning market is significantly smaller, but is also growing at an impressive rate.

Factors Needed to Make Your 3D Campaign Go Viral

There are several factors that should be taken into account to make a campaign go viral. These include customisation, incentives and planning your campaign.

Customisation
3D Printing enables you to make custom made prototypes. You can customise a prototype or product to adapt to various demographics and reach a larger audience.

Incentives
Through social media, you can organize giveaways of your products by making your followers interact with a post and have them share it in their stories. In doing so, a chain reaction will begin where their followers will get to know about your product.

With 3D printing, you can customise the prize by adding a personal touch for the winner like an engraved name or initial.

Planning Your Message
While some viral efforts are unintentional, the majority are well-planned. You can’t guarantee that your content will go viral, but you can plan to make sure that your message is clear.

Make a detailed script for your video or a careful plan for your infographic, so that your audience understands what you’re trying to say. Then, if the campaign goes viral as planned, you’ll be able to reach an even larger audience with your message.

Why You Should Get Involved

3D printing has a lot of benefits. It can remove other burdens so that you can focus on your marketing campaign. For instance, with 3D printing you get to print your prototypes only when needed so you do not need to store different parts. This is most helpful if you have a small business and have access to limited storage facilities.

There is also no need to gather parts from different regions to build your prototype. This reduces the use of transport, thus making 3D printing marketing a sustainable choice.

If you choose to combine 3D printing and audiovisual content, you could show your audience that you aim for sustainability, something that is getting more and more deserved airtime.

Is 3D Printing Ideal for Small Businesses?

3D Printing is ideal for small businesses. As mentioned, you get to save on storage space and print replacement parts only when required. This will save you money and minimise expenses which are essential for a small business to survive and outgrow its competition. As a small business, you might only offer a limited range of products and services targeted at a very specific audience. This is where 3D printing comes into play.

3D printing provides a high level of customizability for your products so you would be able to adjust to specific client requests. Highly customised prototypes can also help attract potential investors. Since a 3D printed prototype is first designed on computer software, clients or investors may initially consult the computerised design and ask you to make any changes before printing. Again, 3D printing proves to be cost-effective for small businesses.

3D printing has democratised the production process, allowing even the smallest company to begin producing goods. A 3D printer can be used to create parts for an existing item or to design and manufacture a whole product. You can also avoid the cost of owning a 3D Printer by making use of a firm offering a variety of 3D Printing services. One such firm is Surface Scan.

Who Can Benefit?

Almost any industry can benefit from 3D printing marketing. Surface Scan delivers 3D printing services to artists, the automotive industry, archaeologists, industrialists and more.

3D printing is a very precise process with low margins of error. This makes 3D printed products very trusted among professionals like engineers. Knowing that a product is trusted by professionals will also gain you the trust of potential clients. In fact, several marketing campaigns use this technique.

For example, a new 3D printed protective helmet would include the words “Trusted by engineers” to strengthen their objective of alluring potential clients. Businesses of any size can benefit from 3D printing campaigns. Make big marketing strides in 2022 by making the leap to 3D printing.

Visual marketing uses photos, videography and audio to communicate with an audience. The 3D printing revolution means visual marketing has taken on a more tangible role where you can display prototypes of upcoming projects.

3D printing has experienced sharp growth due to several business advantages including low cost and printing prototypes, as and when required.

In this short article, we have gathered information that will help you get an insight into visual marketing. Keep reading to understand how 3D printing can help grow and maximise your brand and business.

What Is Visual Marketing?

Visual marketing is the use of photos, videos, and other forms of multimedia material to develop your brand and communicate with your target audience. Visual marketing focuses on connecting with your audience through visual media.

It will help you portray certain issues and concepts that would otherwise be difficult to approach with only text as part of a bigger marketing strategy. Visual marketing may produce greater engagement, or conversation, between a brand and its consumers, just like it can on social media, where images create more engaging postings.

In marketing, you don’t just want someone to see your ad; you want them to interact with it, whether it’s by clicking on a link, downloading an offer, or purchasing something. Visuals help to build more impactful advertisements that pique our interest and make us think. They give us something tactile to associate with a business or product, rather than merely a forgettable string of black and white text.

The Evolution Of 3D Printing

Many companies now offer 3D Printing services, Surface Scan being one of them. Back in the 1980s, 3D printing was an idea of Hideo Kodama. His idea was unfortunately not given a patent in Japan.

Then an American engineer, Charles Hull created a prototype for the stereolithography process. This used ultraviolet lights to convert acrylic based materials from liquid to solid. This project came to reality in 1986.

In the 1990s, 3D printing evolved slowly. It was costly and still lacked accessibility. However, there was a boom for 3D printing in the 2000s. In 2008, an English Professor, Dr. Adrian Bowyer, created a 3D printer that cost $650.

With an increasing number of low-priced 3D printers, the technology became more common in homes and businesses. More recently, in 2020, 3D printing was used to manufacture masks, respirators, valves and more. The global market for 3D printing products and services is expected to hit 40 billion dollars by 2024, according to Statista.

How Can 3D Printing Help Visual Marketing?

Companies can now develop visual advertising items, of varying sizes, that are not simply photos on a wall but true 3D representations of a product. These campaigns are frequently supersized, thanks to the introduction of 3D printing technologies to visual marketing. People will get to see a tangible form of your product, making it easier to receive feedback and build customer trust. 

The quality of the materials is not very relevant because marketing models do not need to be durable or have specific mechanical capabilities. First and foremost, materials must be inexpensive and quick to print. A few 3D printer manufacturers, including HP and its full colour 3D printing systems, have effectively created a new area of 3D printing and marketing by catering to these two key demands.

3D printing also comes with several advantages with some discussed below.

Reasons To Choose 3D Printing

There are several reasons why 3D printing can help your visual marketing, including being cost-effective, speedy, consistent and sustainable.

Cost
For small manufacturing, 3D printing is the most low-cost approach for high-quality production. This manufacturing technology can create fast products in a short period at little cost. Compared to 3D printing, traditional prototyping techniques like injection molding and CNC machining require several expensive machines and highly qualified individuals. These methods require trained technicians and machine operators to manufacture prototypes and production. However, 3D printing only requires a few pieces of equipment to build any project that fits within their manufacturing volume.

Speedy
Rapid prototyping is one of the most significant advantages of 3D printing technology. The process refers to the ability to design, build, and test a customized part in a short amount of time. In addition, the design can be changed without compromising the production process’s pace.

Consistency
The parts are printed one after the other in 3D printing. Each subsequent individual item may be monitored. It allows faults to be detected in real time and minimizes the overall number of failed parts and wasted materials while improving the consistency of the parts produced.

Sustainability
With 3D printing, there are fewer elements that need to be outsourced for production. This has a lower environmental impact because fewer items are shipped around the world and an energy-intensive plant is not required to operate and maintain. 3D printing produces significantly less waste for a single product, and the materials used in 3D printing are often recyclable. This factor also relates to marketing because customers tend to buy from companies taking action towards a sustainable world.

The Target Audience

Visual Marketing can be highly effective for people of all ages. Visuals are easy to capture, even for children. This is because visual marketing often contains appealing photos or videos with some catchy or trending music. The choice of videography, music and content will determine which audience you will reach. Now, with 3D printing, visual marketing takes a more tangible approach.

Let’s say that you have designed a new limited-edition toy car that is only going to be available through a pre-order. You could use 3D printing to make a prototype for display at your store. This would eliminate doubts among potential customers who would otherwise be restricted to a short video or a photo. After experiencing a 3D printed prototype, people might feel excited about renewing this experience by pre-ordering your product. This is just one example of how tangible visual marketing can work.

With creativity there are endless ways of using visual marketing alongside 3D printing to interact with an audience to generate leads and sales. Get in touch with Surface Scan to explore your opportunities!

Initially, the team were designing bespoke face masks for patients suffering from sleep apnea. Since the pandemic has started in 2020, they have used this technology to help fight the Covid-19 outbreak.

The team 3D scan the patients face, using a 3D scanning app. This scan is extremely accurate due to the number of data points collected. The data is taken from the 3D scan to print a 3D model.

It is easy for anyone to scan their face using a 3D scanning app. All you need to do is download a 3D scanning app to your mobile phone. When you have downloaded the app you 3D scan your face.

The scan data is used to 3D print the mask. This mask should fit your face perfectly; providing the 3D printer used is of good quality. One of the other benefits is that it’s easy to sanitise. It also has space for a filter, that you can change regularly. Part of the design is the soft edges, so it doesn’t rub on your face.

They are hoping to use this design on respirators, which would also help in the fight against Covid-19. These 3D masks will be a massive help to the NHS for both patients and staff.

The BBC Click has made a short program about customised face masks here.

You can also read more about the Faculty of Engineering, Dyson School of Design Engineering who are responsible for the mask here.

Read more: 5 High-Paying 3D Printing Side Hustles (No Printer Required)

If you think Surface Scan could help you with your 3D printing or 3D scanning needs, please get in touch.

Just another great example of how 3d scanning and 3D printing is changing the work we live in for the better!

A family-run 3D print and scanning company have found themselves having to adapt to the new challenges faced by the UK manufacturing and engineering industry. However, This has not stopped Surface Scan attracting new business and thriving throughout the current global pandemic.

Angela and Daniel Carson set up Surface Scan at the start of 2020 and have hit the ground running. They have collaborated with a number of design engineers and manufacturers nationwide on both single prototypes and batch production projects.

Surface Scan is the one-stop shop for engineers as they provide a “start-to- finish” service from 3D print, scanning to reverse engineering. Surface scan take care of all processes from designing, testing, design analysis, optimisation, redesigning and manufacturing. They can create 2D and 3D drawings of various products, equipment, parts and components.

By combining Daniel and Angela’s decade of experience and the use of the latest equipment and “SLS” technology each job is delivered to the highest possible standard. Surface scan are fast becoming a market leader with their innovative work process and Can-do mind set when taking on jobs of any size.

With the UK manufacturing industry now back in full swing and the reputation that Surface Scan have earned over the last 6 months the work has increased rapidly.

Managing Director, Daniel Carson commented

“This year has been a whirlwind of activity for us at Surface Scan. Since the outbreak of Covid 19 we have a spike in demand for innovative 3D scanning solutions. Clients are getting more creative in their designs. We are helping their ideas become reality.”

Based in Kent but operating nationwide Surface scan can take care of all of your 3D print and scanning requirements.

If you require more information on how Surface Scan Ltd can provide a cost effective solution on 3D print & scanning or how they can reduce your design time with their bespoke reverse engineering service please contact them either via email or phone.

Check out our 3D scan UK page.

The smartphone that you carry around in your pocket every day could help you 3D scan your model. Better still; you can use a free app! So the answer is yes you can 3d scan with your phone!!!

What is a 3D Scan?

There are two types of 3D scan: structured light 3D scanning and photogrammetry 3D scanning. Most 3D scanning apps use the photogrammetry method.

The photogrammetry method is when you take lots of lots of photos of an object or person at various angles. These photos are ‘stitched’ together to create a 3d Model.

Easy right? Well, it sounds effortless, but there is a complex photogrammetry algorithm that makes it all work at the click of a button. Luckily someone has already worked that out for us!

How do I use my phone as a 3d scanner?

Well as the saying goes… there’s an app for that! Of course, you do need a phone with a pretty good camera. The best Apps for 3D scanning at the moment are Trino and Qlone.

Most of the app’s you download are free or cheap. You can download from the Playstore or the App Store.

Once your app’s installed, you’re ready to start your 3D scan!

How do I 3D scan the object with my phone?

Place your object in a central location; you will need to be able to walk around the item while holding your phone. You will need to do this comfortably, creating a smooth and even motion.

If your 3d scanning a person you will need to ask them to stand very still. If you’re scanning just their face, scan them from ear to ear.

If it is a full-body scan, you’ll need to be able to walk around them comfortably.

You will then need to slowly walk around the object or person in a 360-degree circle. It is best to keep the camera the same distance away from the item or person at all times.

Once you have done several rotations, your scan data is complete. Your app should do the rest.

Are there limitations of using my phone as a 3d scanner?

Yes, for sure. Using a free phone app will never be as good as using a machine that costs thousands of pounds. But you can create a scan that’s good enough.

There are a few things you can do to get the best results.

1. Keep the phone at an even distance from the object.
2. Make sure you have an even natural light. No bright lights or shadows.
3. Don’t try to scan a shiny object. A reflective surface will confuse the scanner and affect the final scan results
4. Don’t try and scan a large item. Start small, maybe a can of coke or a little ornament.
5. Don’t try and scan a plain object. The scanner finds it easy to pick up shapes and colours. A very plain model would not give the scanner enough data to create a model
6. Make sure the background is a different colour to the object. It makes it much easier for the scanner to detect the edge of the item if the colours are different.

Will the 3D scan be good enough quality?

If you’ve followed the tips above, you will give yourself a good chance of creating a usable 3D scan.

If you want to get creative and have fun, maybe creating an avatar for your game then yes it will be good enough.

If you put in a bit more practice, you could create a 3D model and get it 3D printed. We can help you with that.

You can even upload it to Sketchfab for other people to print.

But of course, no matter how much patience you have and how much you practice, you probably won’t get the same results a professional.

If you would like more information on our professional 3D scanning service please get in touch. We would love to hear from you.

If you would like to know more about the latest apps that you can use for scanning on your mobile phone check out this article released on the 5th of August 2020: Top 13 3D scanner apps for Android and iOS. It’s written by the experts at 3dnatives.com: https://bit.ly/3i9EkOg

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