3 D Printing Business

5 3 D Printing Business Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 6th, 2024

3D printing is a process that assembles objects layer by layer and starting a business in this industry can be a very creative venture.

You will need investment in the right equipment and materials, and the acquisition of 3D modeling and design skills. You will also need to regularly calibrate and maintain your 3D printers to deliver consistent results.

Plan how you'll handle shipping and logistics, and leverage technology to find new applications of 3D printing in all industries.

In this list, you'll find real-world 3D Printing Business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a 3D Printing Business that makes money.

1. Ultimate 3D Printing Store ($3.96M/year)

Roy Kirchner, founder of Ultimate 3D Printing Store, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing a failed product partnership. Inspired by the potential of 3D printing to revolutionize manufacturing, Kirchner took a leap of faith and started his own 3D printing company. With an initial investment of $65,000, the business has now grown to average monthly gross sales of $330,000 and represents products from as many as 30 international manufacturers.

How much money it makes: $3.96M/year
How much did it cost to start: $65K
How many people on the team: 4

How I Started A $330K/Month Ecommerce Specialized In 3D Printing

Founder Roy Kirchner shares how he started an eCommerce business specializing in 3D printing with an initial investment of $65,000, which now averages monthly gross sales of $330,000 and has partnered with international manufacturers and local businesses while offering technical support and education.

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2. 3D Universe, LLC ($3.6M/year)

Jeremy Simon, one of the founders of 3D Universe, discovered the potential of 3D printing when he bought his first printer in 2012. His involvement in the e-NABLE volunteer community, which uses 3D printing to create prosthetic devices, inspired him to start 3D Universe in 2013. With a strong focus on ecommerce, the company now generates $300,000 per month in revenues and has distributed over 8,000 assembly materials kits for e-NABLE devices.

How much money it makes: $3.6M/year
How many people on the team: 4

Starting a 3D Printer Store Online And Growing to $300k/month

3D Universe grew their ecommerce business to generate $300,000 per month in revenues, with a growth of around 300% over the last three years, through selling 3D printers and supplies and working with the e-NABLE volunteer community, as well as developing their own e-NABLE Web Central platform and assembly materials kits.

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3. Robo 3D ($1.8M/year)

Braydon Moreno and his business partner came up with the idea for Robo 3D when they saw the potential of 3D printing in creating a customized and cost-effective prosthetic leg. They launched a Kickstarter campaign that raised a staggering $650,000 in just 35 days. Today, Robo 3D has sold their 3D printers to over 4,505 cities across 101 countries and continues to inspire creativity and innovation with their technology.

How much money it makes: $1.8M/year
How many people on the team: 30

Raising 13x Their Original Kickstarter Goal With a Viral 3D Printer

Robo 3D, a company that designs 3D printers for consumers, launched their first product on Kickstarter which raised $650,000 in just 35 days, and now has sold their products in over 4,505 cities across 101 countries worldwide.

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4. ActivArmor ($504K/year)

Diana Hall, a chemical engineer and former software worker, came up with the idea for ActivArmor when she witnessed children in poverty wearing traditional fiberglass casts that were unhygienic, uncomfortable, and limited their activities. Using her knowledge of materials science and 3D printing, she created a prototype cast for a young boy and received positive feedback from doctors. This experience, combined with her personal history of seeing children adapt to medical devices, inspired her to start ActivArmor and improve the quality of life for patients in need of immobilization.

How much money it makes: $504K/year
How much did it cost to start: $750K
How many people on the team: 3

How A Nonprofit For Children In Poverty Turned Into A $500k/Year Biomedical Startup

ActivArmor is a medical device startup that produces 3D printed casts and splints out of waterproof plastic, partnering with doctors, hospitals, and individuals globally to improve healing outcomes and patient comfort.

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5. caddesignhelp.com ($96K/year)

CADdesignhelp.com was started by Scott Tarcy, a mechanical engineer who wanted more control over his schedule and life. After reading "The 4-Hour Workweek" and "The $100 Startup," Scott decided to turn his skills in CAD and product design into a business. He started by networking and providing CAD design services, eventually expanding into selling his own products online. Today, the business averages $9,000 a month in revenue with over 200 clients per year.

How much money it makes: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 0

How I Left My Job To Start A $9K/Month CAD Design Business

A 3D CAD designer and product inventor who started as a side hustle and averaged $9,000 a month in revenue, shares his insights on the ups and downs of owning a service-based business alongside an eCommerce store, as well as lessons learned in customer acquisition and in generating multiple streams of passive income.

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