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From zero to €6k/month with two printers — what actually sold and what didn't

JO
James OkaforEngineerClient
Northline Robotics
4,879 views
#business#fdm#small-batch#pricing

I see a lot of "can you make money 3D printing" threads, so here is a real breakdown after 14 months with a P1S and an X1C.

What sold

  • Replacement parts for discontinued appliances (knobs, hinges, clips) — 55% of revenue, highest margin
  • Small-batch enclosures for local electronics shops — 30%
  • Custom jigs and fixtures for a woodworking shop — 15%

What didn't

  • Articulated dragons, planters, anything on Etsy with 4,000 competitors
  • Miniatures (resin was more hassle than income)

The unglamorous lesson: B2B functional parts beat consumer decor every time. Happy to answer questions on pricing and quoting.

Replies (3)

JO
James OkaforEngineer
Northline Robotics

Fixed per-part with a minimum order of €40. I calculate (material × 3) + (print hours × €2.5) + 15 min labour, then round up. Customers hate hourly estimates that change.

CÖ
Can ÖztürkEngineer
Öztürk Makina

Great write-up. The jigs and fixtures angle is underrated — we buy printed soft jaws and locating fixtures for our lathes all the time because machining them from aluminium takes 10× longer.

B
beast0825Member

Who handles the 3D design for these products? Since they are components for home appliances, I imagine many of them feature complex, curved surfaces.

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