3D Printing: From Hobbyist to Entrepreneur
Different brands are available in the international market, such as Creality and Hellbot from China and Pruza from the Czech Republic. The price of these brands can range from 400 to 1500 USD.
Highlights
3D printing is good for making small batches of products or prototypes quickly compared to traditional manufacturing methods.
Two types of printers, different strengths: Choose between machines that make highly detailed small parts or those better for bigger, everyday items.
Start small and scale up: You don't need a lot of machines to begin. You can start with one machine and buy more as your business grows.
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has become extremely popular among designers and architects in the last ten years. In this article, we tell the story of Nicolas, a young Argentine engineer who developed his 3D printing products and services business from scratch and today has more than 20 machines working 24 hours a day. We talk about his background in 3D printing, his passion, expertise, and unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of creativity.
The early days of the business
It all started in 2017 when Nicolas was introduced to 3D printing and built his own printer by buying parts online. He made his fair share of mistakes, just like any beginner would. However, those mistakes became valuable lessons. After developing a solid understanding of the technology, the first small projects soon followed. Custom keychains, car accessories, and architectural model projects were the first deals to emerge.
Then, a couple of months later, in mid-2017, the popularity of fidget spinners blew up all over the world, and Argentina was no exception. Due to import delays and a resounding demand for this product, Argentina had several months where these toys were practically unavailable. And that is where Nicolas saw his first important business opportunity. Taking advantage of his design skills and the versatility of this technology, in a matter of days, he bought 5 machines to print fidget spinners full-time. He knew that this profitable business would not last forever since bringing these toys from China was far cheaper, but he understood the key business lesson: Be at the right time in the right place.
For several months, he manufactured toys like crazy as demand continued to rise, and neither the local market nor imports were able to meet it. Then the business slowed down, but the goal was achieved. Nicolas had bought new equipment and made profits to reinvest in his business. Since then, his 3D printing business has not stopped.
In the following years, he developed a design and prototype printing service, and went out to offer it to several industrial companies, thus building its portfolio of B2B customers. For a manufacturing company that mass-produces parts, building a prototype before launching a production run is of great value to develop its product engineering and avoid unwanted defects. 3D printing is ideal for this task as it allows them to easily produce a small series of parts, which is very difficult with traditional manufacturing methods such as plastic injection molding or CNC machining, where fine-tuning is required. The business was booming.
The power of synergy
But it was in 2023 that the real breakthrough came: Nicolas' experience with his printers was catalyzed by the addition of a business partner, who was proficient in e-commerce retailing. Together they developed several appealing and high-turnover products through online sales, such as lamps, pots, ornaments, and customized mates (the vessel where the traditional South American homonymous infusion is drunk). Through the use of social media advertising, demand for these products skyrocketed.
Nicolas doubled the number of printers he had installed in a matter of months, reaching 20 printers in his shop, and also subcontracted other entrepreneurs to print when he couldn't keep up with his equipment.
Inside Nicolas’ workshop
Nicolas has two types of printers in his workshop. Liquid resin printers, where parts are made by exposing a photosensitive resin to ultraviolet light, and also fused material deposition printers, which are the most traditional and well-known.
The former is used for small parts that require a high level of precision and detail. It is a more specialized and expensive service. The cost of such a printer is around 500 USD.
Fused deposition printers are the most popular and make up most of Nicolas's shop's printers. They use plastic filament provided on a spool that is melted and deposited to form a printed piece in successive stages. Different brands are available in the international market, such as Creality and Hellbot from China and Pruza from the Czech Republic. The price of these brands can range from 400 to 1500 USD, depending on the size and quality of the equipment.
Weighing the Options: Pros and Cons of 3D Printing
If Nicolas learned anything from his venture, it is that 3D printing is a niche manufacturing method. For mass production of parts, there are much more efficient, faster, and cheaper methods, such as plastic injection molding or CNC machining. However, 3D printing is flexible to adapt to changes and design parts, and in a matter of days, it is possible to develop a new product and manufacture hundreds of parts, which requires significantly longer times in the traditional industry, in addition to a much higher initial investment.
However, traditional methods are preferred for large productions, although they must be produced in volume (thousands of pieces) and require a much higher initial investment. 3D printing allows on-demand production with no additional cost for changing the type of part you decide to manufacture, changing material, color, or customizing the product, although the value per part produced and the time it takes for each part are higher.
Just as technology has weaknesses, flexibility is a crucial advantage that forces the entrepreneur to stay on the crest of the wave to grow his business. Knowing the market, developing new ideas, and responding to changes in demand are the key skills to build a successful business.
Lessons learned: Insights from this success story.
When he started, Nicolas did not imagine leaving his job as an engineer to pursue this venture full-time. However, the technical and commercial skills he developed allowed him to develop a successful business that outperformed his full-time job. He argues that the key is in the 3D printing technology itself, such as the scalability of having started with a single machine and investing in more equipment as his business grew. Also worth noting is the importance of keeping an eye open to identify what the market is asking for, stay ahead of traditional manufacturers, and focus on his core business.
Just like 3D printing, a business is built the same way. One layer at a time, iterating and redefining your goals. Embrace failures as stepping stones toward success, and most importantly, never lose sight of the joy and inspiration that come from the creative journey.
