FIGURE 141: A graph showing the consecutive steps of the 3D Design Prototyping Process
3D printing is offering entrepreneurs many opportunities to streamline their daily operations and save
money. 3D printing also allows for the creation of new parts and models where your imagination is the only
3D printed items are more than just plastic trinkets. They have real utility and are being used by companies,
communities and organizations around the world to change or enhance their organizations. In this next
chapter you will learn how you can use 3D printing for your current or new business!
WE WILL EXPLORE TWO DIFFERENT SCENARIOS IN THIS SECTION:
A new company or individual that wants to center their services or products around 3D printing
The existing business that would like to leverage 3D printing to enhance their current sales,
marketing and revenue goals
Let’s first explore some possibilities available to a new organization that wants to develop a product that can
be 3D printed. This type of production method can have many advantages over traditional manufacturing:
lower initial capital investment in stock and tooling, an ability to produce small runs quickly and capitalize on
trends, and the chance to iterate new designs quickly and relatively inexpensively. We will deep dive into the
various production methods in chapter 15. The important takeaway here is that 3D printing allows for more
Your new organization has an idea that will change the world, but you must first follow the process of proto-
typing and market research. An idea is just the start, to ensure a better outcome, you will want to consider
the product design process throughout the prototyping period as shown in Figure 14-1.
One you have your CAD model, 3D printing really shows its value by allowing you to create samples quickly
and edit them just as quickly. You won’t need to wait for weeks for the sample to arrive from overseas. Just
load your 3D file into the computer and start the print!
AS YOU DEFINE THE PROBLEM AND COLLECT INFORMATION, YOU WILL WANT TO CONSIDER THE
Do you have any competitors, and if so, how are they making the product or service?
How much are your competitors charging for the product or service?
Is your product or service geographically dependent? Does your customer need to be in your
area to make the purchase?
What costs are involved? Do you need to purchase materials? A 3D printer?
Will you or your staff need special training to run the equipment and what is the learning curve?
What skills do you bring to the business and what skills will you have to hire?
How much time and financial resources are you prepared to risk?
Will you run 3D printers or outsource the production to a 3rd party?
What 3D printing material is right for your use case? Will it be exposed to heat, light, moisture, etc.?
The above questions are not the complete list of everything you have to consider, but rather a guide to help
you narrow down your options. Finally, before you embark on a product or service, we recommend that
you familiarize yourself with the ecosystem that makes this revolutionary technology possible. Be sure to
research the companies, materials, resources and organizations we listed in Chapter 2 to maximize your
success using 3D printing
CREATING PROTOTYPES TO TEST A DESIGN, SHOW POTENTIAL
CUSTOMERS, ATTRACT INVESTORS
Prototyping is probably our favorite use of 3D printing and is the main focus of our company. Having a
physical prototype to test your invention is critical. There are many advantages to creating that first model:
getting mechanical feedback, showing the prototype to focus groups, and getting important market feed-
back. Prototyping can also be used to make small volumes to test the market before you invest in large
production runs. Small edits to the CAD files can be done quickly and multiple versions can be tested at one
time saving time and money.
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