how is open course content for 3d printers a viable business model

by Adele Schowalter 8 min read

What is the business model for 3D printing?

Jun 13, 2019 · The purpose of this paper is to analyze the business models that 3D printer manufacturers apply to commercialize their technologies. The authors investigate these business models and analyze whether there are business model patterns. The paper describes the gestalt of the business model patterns and discusses differences and similarities.,The authors review …

Is it possible to innovate in the architecture sector using 3D printing?

Pro-actively and systematically exploring 3D printing’s role in higher value-added business lines opens the doors to developing the expertise and insight to ensure the technology can be deployed more broadly as cost falls, the technology improves on the speed and reliability front, the range of materials that can be printed increases, and the ...

What are the best 3D printing services for B2B companies?

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 ...

Is 3D printing the future of Supply Chain Management?

A new phase of product development: rapid prototyping using 3D printing technology. 1. The Kupol Project. Gabriel Boutin, a 3D designer, created the Kupol Project using the additive manufacturing technology. It is a bike helmet, 3D printed with the HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, using Sculpteo’s online 3D printing service.

Is 3D printing a viable business?

Using 3D printing can be a great asset, no matter what your sector. Indeed, it can help you on many levels, that is why more and more 3D printing businesses are appearing on the market. 3D printing technology can help you to develop any project.

How does 3D printing benefit businesses?

There you have it—six ways 3D printing offers your company a much-needed competitive advantage. It allows you to produce prototypes faster, reduces the cost of production, requires less input (human resources and equipment), and reduces overhead. Additionally, efficiency and productivity is vastly improved.

How much can a 3D printing business make?

How much profit can a 3D Printing Design Business make? The exact amount of profit you can make is difficult to determine. One research company estimates that 3D artists make an average of $53,000 a year, but that is counting those who do such work for corporations rather than themselves.Jan 26, 2022

How does affordable 3D printing create new opportunities for entrepreneurs?

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are using 3D printing in a variety of ways. It has the ability to save time and costs during the creation of prototypes, make highly-accurate parts that assist in product production, and produce finished products that may be sold directly to end-users.

How is 3D printing used in businesses?

With on-demand production, 3D printing allows companies to satisfy the demand for certain parts, without having to consider the high costs of mass-production. This makes the company more agile. Furthermore, it enables a co-creating process between customers and companies, resulting in a customised product.Nov 29, 2019

What is the impact of 3D printing on business?

Some of the key impacts that 3D printing will have on businesses include: Rapid Prototyping: 3D printing allows for small batches of parts to be created in only a few hours. This has given rise to the art of rapid prototyping, which enables businesses to test a new concept or idea in days instead of weeks.Jul 22, 2020

How do 3D printing 2022 make money?

How to make money with a 3D printerPrint items to sell online. ... Launch a local 3D printing business. ... Sell personalized printed items. ... Offer 3D printer designs. ... Start a blog on 3D printing. ... Create an online course teaching others how to do 3D printing. ... Launch a YouTube channel or TikTok account about 3D printing.More items...•Aug 19, 2021

How do 3D models make money?

How to Make Money as a 3D Artist (9 Fulfilling Ways)Sell Tools and Plugins for 3d Software.Make money with Material Packs.Make money selling Courses on Udemy.Make money with a 3D Printer.Digital Prints and Posters.Make Money 3D Modeling and selling 3D Models.Make Money Online by Starting a 3D Blog and Website.More items...•Jan 6, 2022

How can I make money with my 3D printer?

3:1815:00Make Money 3D Printing in 2021 | Over $100K Per Year - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCome into effect. So let's just jump into this a little bit more the projects. Basically go one ofMoreCome into effect. So let's just jump into this a little bit more the projects. Basically go one of two ways number one is that someone already has the files. And they simply just send you the files.

What are 3D printers used for in business and research?

3D printing is important for industries such as aerospace, where it can create lightweight yet complex parts, offering weight saving, the associated fuel reductions and a better environmental impact as a result. It is also important for the creation of prototypes that can advance industry.

How will 3D printing change the manufacturing industry?

3D printing will make it easier for companies to follow and support the lean manufacturing process. Lean manufacturing focuses heavily on reducing waste to enhance efficiency. One way to reduce waste is to stop overproducing parts and products. With this technology, overproduction will become a thing of the past.

Why are 3D printers so competitive?

Over time, as 3-D printers grow ever more efficient, they may become competitive for making standardized products even when they don’t save on direct costs. That’s because traditional manufacturing often involves a lot of indirect and overhead costs: an extended and risky supply chain, expensive capital equipment, the elaborate assembly of parts, and high inventory or transportation costs. Additive reduces all those. What’s more, the printers themselves are generally less expensive than conventional machines with tool-and-die elements.

What are the advantages of 3D printing?

First, additive allows customization of the base unit. Second, and more important, that unit can be made in a completely new way, with antennae, wiring, and circuits printed directly onto or into its body.

What are some examples of hearing aids?

Among the many examples are hearing aids, orthodontic braces, prostheses, sunglasses, car and motorcycle accessories, and Christmas tree decorations. In the case of hearing aids, a laser scan of a patient’s ear is automatically converted into a production file, and a printer forms the shell.

How fast can a sandblaster deposit?

Used mainly for plastic products, they can deposit material at 12 to 25 times the speed that was possible three years ago, making them competitive with injection-molding processes for many if not most of those products.

Why is it important to have economies of scale?

Because it has the largest market share, the leader’s economies of scale enable it to invest more aggressively than your company can. The only way to compete is to change the game. With additive, your company can cheaply produce variations on the standard product and determine whether customers are interested in them.

What is a 3D model?

Rather than offering customers different versions of a product, this model involves selling a 3-D-printed body with interchangeable modules for insertion. It applies mainly to electronic devices, which can mean everything from cars to fighter jets and drones. So far this approach has been used only for military hardware and some niche automobiles, but it has significant potential—which Facebook, for one, has realized. It bought Nascent Objects, an additive start-up, to create modular versions of its virtual reality headsets and other hardware.

How much does powder jetting cost?

These parts cost on average only $4 versus $40 and are made in minutes, not hours.

What is the first empirical study on the business models of 3D printer manufacturers?

The authors apply an original mixed-methods approach and develop a framework that can function as a starting point for future research. 3D printer manufacturers can use the identified business model patterns as blueprints to reduce the risk of failure or as a starting point for business model innovation.

What is empirical results?

The empirical results complement and extend existing literature on business models. The authors contribute to the discussion on business models in the context of novel technology. The technology seems to influence the gestalt of the business model. The sample is limited to European and North American companies and the analysis is based on secondary data.

Who is Patrick Holzmann?

Patrick Holzmann is Vice Head at the Department of Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship at Alpen-Adria Universitaet Klagenfurt, Austria. He has received his PhD in entrepreneurship and innovation management. His research interest includes business models, technology, entrepreneurship and innovation management.

What is tacit knowledge in 3D printing?

The role of tacit knowledge in the 3D print process is often underestimated. Considerable effort and knowhow is needed to both prepare a part for printing and to process it to attain the appropriate finish and material characteristics after the print is done . Contract 3D printers offer 3D printing and related value added services to third parties. These services are most pronounced in the consumer market. Online marketplaces and printing services such as Shapeways, Sculpteo and i.materialise emerged concurrently with the first private home-based 3D printers. These businesses models have moved 3D printing towards a commodity service by providing access to industrial 3D printing capacity to the masses. On that level the technology is increasingly accessible, affordable, and requires relatively little knowledge to set up. Similar to copy shops as well as photo labs, the margins on offering just printing services are slim and contract 3D printer need to provide value added services differentiating them from their competitors and home-based users.

Who is Matthias Holweg?

Matthias Holweg is Professor of Operations Management at Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, UK. Prior to joining Oxford he was on the faculty of the University of Cambridge and a Sloan Industry Center Fellow at MIT’s Engineering Systems Division.

Is 3D printing a technology?

One might rightfully ask whether there is any substance to the recent hype around this class of manufacturing technology.2 The answer is: Yes. We have reached a critical inflection point for 3D printing, and digital manufacturing more generally: The expiration of key patents (first for fused deposition modelling, and more recently selective laser sintering), has allowed a number of new entrants on the equipment side of the 3D printing sector, substantially increasing the level of competition and associated innovation. On-going reductions in cost for key inputs have further driven down the investment needed to incorporate 3D printing into a firm’s repertoire of activities. These reductions are enabled by lower costs for key equipment elements including fibre optics, lasers, and e-beam systems, as well as computing power and storage.

What are the factors that determine the success of 3D printing?

An in-depth analysis quickly reveals the driving factors of this industry. Those are: 1 reduction in printing errors 2 high accuracy of printed parts 3 efficient use of printing materials 4 The ability to print customized products 5 Simultaneous use of multiple materials for 3D printing 6 Efficient use of production time 7 Competency over the technology

What are the advantages of 3D printing?

The main advantage of 3D printing is that it offers a wide array of applications in various industries. These include healthcare, education, consumer products, industrial products, defense, aerospace, and automotive industry, just to name a few. An in-depth analysis quickly reveals the driving factors of this industry.

What is 3D printing?

3D printing represents the next step in the printing industry. Instead of printing custom banners, pamphlets, and other nicknacks, printing companies today can print anything from a custom part to a full-fledged prosthetic limb. 3D printing market is not insignificant by any means.

How much is 3D printing worth?

At the time of this writing, the 3D printing industry is worth over 14 billion dollars worldwide. Conservative forecasts predict that this industry will grow to 17.5 billion dollars in 2020 and by 2021 it will grow an additional 4 billion dollars.

Does technology progress fast?

Technology progresses fast. Very fast, in fact. This means that spare parts are produced only while the device or the car is produced. After the product gets discontinued, the spare part production also stops.

Is 3D printing profitable?

So, as you can see, 3D printing has become very popular, and the market is blossoming, which means that there are many lucrative opportunities for entrepreneurs who want to start a 3D printing business. If you are willing to set foot in this industry, here are six profitable 3D printing business ideas. 1.

What is 3D printing business?

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.

What are the benefits of 3D printing?

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.

Why is 3D printing so popular?

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.

What is the purpose of a 3D printer?

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.

Is 3D printing out of style?

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.

Can you make a car with 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.

Is 3D printing still around?

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.

Why is 3D printing important?

For fashion, products often need to be custom made; that is why 3D printing is a great new tool for fashion designers. 3D printing can allow for manufacturing glasses adapted to the morphology but also the style of any person.

Who created the Kupol project?

Gabriel Boutin, a 3D designer, created the Kupol Project using the additive manufacturing technology. It is a bike helmet, 3D printed with the HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, using Sculpteo’s online 3D printing service. This 3D technology helped this innovative designer to develop a relevant and resistant project.

Who is Claire Chabaud?

Claire Chabaud, one of our former colleagues from Sculpteo decided to start her own business, Endeer from this idea. By combining 3D scanning and 3D printing, they are able to create custom-made armatures for women’s bras, and then insert them in their great underwear collection.

What is a simusolar?

Simusolar is a company created in 2014, developing and implementing small-scale sustainable solutions to bring solar energy to the rural population of Tanzania. Using our online 3D printing service, they developed solar-charged LED lights for fishermen from Lake Victoria, to replace their petrol lights when they fish at night. You can find more details about this project in this blog post.

How does additive manufacturing help?

Additive manufacturing can help you to improve your existing products, by making them lighter or even to develop a design that might be too difficult to create with a traditional manufacturing method. For example, you could add lattices to your product, or strengthen your 3D print using jigsaw structures.

What is Feetz shoes?

Feetz is an American startup run by Lucy Beard, specialized in custom-made shoes, comfortable to wear and with a beautiful style. They can be adapted to any feet! Feetz is using 3D printing technology to protect the environment. Indeed, 3D printing also means no material waste! When using this technology to manufacture your products, you only use the amount of material that you need to print your objects, and these 3D printed shoes prove that.

Who is the founder of Netlooks?

We are at a crossroads of technology and craftsmanship”, explains Pierre Andrieu, founder of Netlooks, a custom-made eyewear company and one of our clients.

Where is Crop and Clip 3D printing located?

We have been able to secure a standard and well – positioned office facility in a busy business district in Los Angeles – California.

What is a creative director?

Creative Director: Serves as project manager of the organization; works directly with employees. Responsible for designing and approving concepts for 3D printing of materials for client. Develops strategic plan by studying technological and financial opportunities; presenting assumptions; recommending objectives.

Is 3D printing a business?

The printing industry is indeed a very large industry with many subsets and 3D printing and rapid prototyping is one of the active lines of business in the printing industry. Generally, establishments in the 3D Printing & Prototyping Services industry offer 3D printing and rapid prototyping services.

What is the role of financial analyst?

Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions. Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.

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Recent Advances

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Let’s start by examining the breakthroughs propelling additive manufacturing’s spread. Technological advances have led to dramatic gains in efficiency and expanded applications in a wide range of areas. The new machines put out products much faster and at lower cost, and the items that emerge from them req…
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Emerging Business Models

  • In light of these developments, where should a mass manufacturer start? The most important decision is the business model. So far six have emerged. The first three exploit additive’s superiority in product variation relative to traditional manufacturing; the fourth and fifth maximize its benefits in making complex products; and the sixth takes advantage of efficiencies the techn…
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Strategic Moves

  • These six business models are not mutually exclusive—a company might find value in both greater variation and greater complexity. GE’s fuel nozzles for jet engines combine mass complexity with mass segmentation. The nozzles are complex combinations of many parts, and each kind of jet engine needs a different shape of nozzle. So GE uses additive to make dozens o…
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The Coming of Pan-Industrial Manufacturing

  • Coupled with a powerful software platform, additive manufacturing enables companies to diversify much more widely. For example, in 2015 GE built a remarkable factory in Pune, India. Previously every GE plant had been dedicated to serving a single division, such as aviation, health care, or power generation. But because Pune relies on 3-D printers, it can make parts for multipl…
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