You're considering freelancing in the 3D printing industry. What advantages await you?

For creatives, flexibility is key to long-term satisfaction in their field. Choosing projects allows you to stretch your skills, stay engaged, and find meaning in what you do. While this freedom can sometimes lead to frustration and late nights, with good time management and clear communication, the rewards are well worth it.

There is flexibility in creativity, project choice, and implementation. It is not the flexibility that the AI is mentioning, because of three reasons: 1. A 3D printer is not a laptop that you can take anywhere you like and become a “digital nomad”. 2. A 3D printer cannot yet be run remotely with minimal supervision, unlike a web server. 3.A 3D printing business is not like an app that the customers can use without any human input, you would need somebody to get involved. One might think that these points are null and void because of “on-demand” 3D printing services. I would disagree, as they do not automate the process as much as generating leads for prints.

Freelancing in the 3D printing industry offers numerous advantages, particularly in terms of flexibility and market demand. With industries like aerospace, healthcare, and automotive increasingly relying on 3D printing, the demand for skilled professionals is soaring. By working as a freelancer, you have the freedom to choose the projects you are passionate about and cater to a variety of clients across different sectors. This also allows you to set competitive rates, potentially increasing your earnings. As you gain experience and a strong portfolio, your reputation can lead to more opportunities and direct client engagement, further enhancing your income potential.

-The 3D printing industry is still a young growing industry. It did not turn out to be a huge industry as first thought in the early 2010s because of the slower than expected technology development. -Yet, all analysis suggests that the demand for this service is only going to grow in the future with the development of this technology as well as different industries start to consider it the standard in their industries. -You need to offer more than a 3D printer in somebody house to compete in this industry, because of the large unprofitable competition in that industry segment. You could offer full product development, volume pricing through a 3d printing farm, or high-quality prints that involve extensive post-processing.

-To get a solid customer base you can acquire them either through out-bound marketing or through in-bound marketing. Out-bound marketing involves cold calling, industries conferences, connections referrals, etc. In-bound marketing involves social media ads, brand name, market placement, land-page website, etc. -To fill the incoming demand, you might need to relay on a network of suppliers. No matter how big you get, you would never have all capabilities in house. You will need to rely on trusted suppliers who can meet quality standards, deliver on time, and increase supply when you can't meet demand. -After you get a critical mass of demand, your network would start self-feeding and grow on a positive upward cycle.

The 3D printing industry is an ever-evolving industry, where there are always new developments and skills to learn. While the use of this technology is also ever-expanding, ensuring you are always in the cutting-edge of technological development. Working with on-demand websites will help you stay on top of market demands and trends, ensuring that your skills stay sharp through diverse projects You'll see the greatest skill advancement when working on full project/product development, whether it's your own or someone else's. You will test the technology's limits and assess its fit within the broader development context, enabling you to fully utilize 3D printing throughout the product development cycle.

-Once you set up your 3D printing business and gained experience in product development you will be able to use that same service and experience for your entrepreneurial endeavors. You will get a competitive edge, as both are a significant cost of product development. - By working on diverse projects, you'll gain firsthand insights into market demands and trends, providing you with invaluable market research. You will get a taste of what makes a product fail or succeeds in the market. By owning this business, you will be able to have more iterations than the competition because of cost. -You could take expand your company capabilities beyond 3D printing to include a variety of techniques. Thus, being able to expand to new industries.