5 Reasons Why You Need A 3D Printer

Owning a 3D printer is no longer out of the realm of possibility. The affordability and increased accessibility of 3D printing technology have made it something that is entirely possible to own, even in your own home. You’ll want to consider what your goals are when it comes to owning a 3D printer because that could directly affect the type of printer you buy.

The more affordable options use plastic filaments to build a design by fusing the filaments layer by layer. These models can range from as low as around $200, while the other options can cost upwards of several thousand dollars. If you aren’t going to need to print highly detailed and intricate designs, you’re probably okay to use the fused filament option.

The other option available to consumers is a version of 3D printing technology that uses UV lasers to shine light into a vat of resin. The designs are printed by the lights being shined on the resin to harden (and print) the design layer by layer. The overall finish is a little more high quality and smoother with this option. But keep in mind the cost for the printer and the materials is much higher.

If you’re wondering why you need to own a 3D printer there might be a lot more you can do with it than you’re thinking about right now. We’ve come a long way with this technology and the things you can print are getting more amazing every day. Here are five reasons why you need a 3D printer in your life.

1. It Could Actually Save You Money

Okay just give this reason a chance to be explained before you scoff at it too much. 3D printers allow you to print a lot of things you might currently be buying at a much higher price tag. If you find yourself often replacing phone cases, for instance, that’s something you can now print with a 3D printer.

Since designs are able to be adjusted to your own specifications you don’t have to worry about ordering the wrong case type and having to return it because it doesn’t fit. This also holds true for printing things like tablet cases. If you have an off-brand or an older style phone or tablet printing your own case takes out a lot of the room for error involved.

You can also print everyday use items like shower rings, paper towel holders, and even uniquely designed pulls for drawers or knobs for your cabinets. Filaments come in a lot of specialty types now, including ones with flecks of wood or concrete in them which means your designs are going to look pretty amazing when they’re done.

The supplies you need to print things are fairly inexpensive and can be used for many different projects so once you have a good stock of filament on hand, you’re really going to see the money-saving benefits start to add up quickly.

2. You Can Make Money Printing 3D Items

The design ideas that are out there for you to find are endless. Many people have started printing their own products to sell on sites like Etsy. You can use sites that offer free designs to try out, or if you’re familiar with CAD you can design your own item right from the start.

People have had success selling everything from jewelry to highly unique fidget spinners. If you can imagine it, there’s a way to print it. There are even designs for bigger things like shelving and tables. All of these things can be used to help create a pretty lucrative side hustle, especially since people tend to still think 3D printing is a fun and exciting thing to be a part of.

3. You Can Use It As A Teaching Tool (For Yourself Or Your Children)

Kids and adults love it when something cool and playful can be combined with learning. 3D printing fits the bill perfectly for both of these things. When it comes to creating your own designs you can learn all kinds of skills from how to design in CAD to troubleshooting skills related to the changes in the designs you’ve created.

These are skills that can be easily transferred to things like coding or programming if that’s something you or your child would be interested in. It gives you a chance to get into the mindset of using the skills you’ll need to write code.

CAD relies heavily on what you tell it to do, so when you see something print and it isn’t quite right, you’re going to be involved in a sort of “debugging” process many coders are familiar with. 3D printing is a great way to combine fun and learning into one really exciting activity.

4. You Can Print Something Faster Than You Can Order It

Sometimes things in your home might need to be replaced quickly. You’ve already read about how there are plenty of designs out there to print things you use around the house. This still holds true for things you might need to order a replacement for.

A broken door handle can be replaced with a printed version in a very short amount of time. You can print cups or plates for an afternoon barbecue with friends that are unique and didn’t require waiting (or paying) for shipping.

You can even print small things that your guests will love like personalized coasters or wine charms. Since sometimes these things would even have to be ordered in quantities larger than your current needs, printing them yourself is a great (and fast) way to impress your guests.

 5. It’s Just Plain Fun

Have you ever wanted to give your friend a gift that is so unique it could only be made specifically for them? That’s an option now if you own a 3D printer. You can print them the bobblehead doll or dragon figurine of their dreams.

Do your kids have an affinity for collecting plastic charms? How much cooler would it be if they could help design and print those charms themselves? No more being limited to store-bought options, and they’ll probably really love that.

3D printing lets you get creative in so many ways it’s hard to name them all. But no matter what you choose to print you’re guaranteed to have some fun along the way. It’s exciting new technology that people love to see in action and in a finished product. It’s good wholesome fun all the way around.

Conclusion:

Owning a 3D printer is something you should seriously consider. Whether you have kids at home that are interested in learning more about computers and design, or you just want to make some really unique gifts there’s a reason to justify having a 3D printer that makes sense for you. Once you find your 3D printing niche enjoy it for all the fun it’s worth. You won’t regret it for a minute.