3D Printing Cultural and Creative Stalls Up To 20,000 CNY a Day, Graduate Students' Journey into 3D Printing Farms

PanDen 2024-9-5 22:37 Business

On August 28, 2024, the inaugural "3D Printing Farm Conference" took place, featuring two sessions in the morning and afternoon that drew an impressive audience of nearly a thousand participants. After the event, many farm owners reached out to the organizer, Panda3dp.com, to share their experiences in running a 3D printing farm. Among them were a group of university students whose stories stood out for their ingenuity.

Here is the remarkable journey of several graduate students from Wuhan Polytechnic University who ventured into the world of 3D printing farms, earning up to 20,000 CNY a day by selling creative products at cultural stalls:

During our undergraduate studies, we had only briefly encountered 3D printing in some courses. It wasn't until graduate school that we truly delved into the technology. Our graduate advisor specialized in the application of polylactic acid materials, and our research group focused on FDM printing technology, including the development of granule 3D printers and composite materials, as well as 3D printing and post-processing with recycled PP and PA materials. Our first exposure to a 3D printer came when our advisor assigned us a research project.

△Lab's Granule printer PioCreat G12 at work

Late last year, our advisor encouraged us to participate in an entrepreneurship competition. We began by setting up shop at a student entrepreneurship base, selling 3D-printed cultural products at tourist sites on weekends. At the time, 3D-printed items were relatively rare in the market, and their intrinsic beauty made them sell exceptionally well. Often, we would sell out a week's worth of printed products in just one day. Initially, we had limited production capacity due to a shortage of equipment, with only one industrial-grade printer available at the university. However, after Creality donated two K1 printers to our research group, demand for our products still outstripped supply. Fortunately, we met the "Awenjun" team, who were already modestly successful in the field, and they provided us with substantial support. As our team began to generate significant profits, we invested in more equipment and gradually paved our way into the 3D printing farm business.

△The market stall site

△Fair stalls attract many young customers

△Pre-existing products are relatively homogenous

Our initial funds primarily came from participating in campus and government-sponsored cultural events, which allowed us to sell products through the burgeoning "street stall" economy. These events were often free or had minimal costs, and our bestselling 3D-printed products soon brought us our first substantial profits. Over the past six months, with each round of earnings, we have continually invested in new equipment. Today, thanks to support from businesses and institutions, our research group now operates nearly 30 3D printers. It is fair to say that our small farm started with zero investment—the funds for equipment and materials came entirely from the revenue generated at our stalls. Our record daily income exceeded 20,000 CNY, and even on weekends during major holidays, we made over 10,000 CNY. Our small farm is now self-sustaining, with stable partners such as scenic spots, bookstores, cultural shops, training institutions, and science museums.

The university has supported our development primarily by providing space, while our advisor has guided us in entrepreneurship, helping us connect with valuable resources and secure stable orders. This guidance allowed us to produce market-competitive products. With the increasing number of machines, we moved most of our self-purchased equipment to an innovation building off-campus(LinKong Harbor Food and Health Science and Innovation Center). The leadership at the innovation center, upon hearing of our student-led startup, offered us numerous favorable policies, such as free access to multimedia and conference rooms, exclusive studios and livestreaming spaces, and discounted electricity bills, all of which kept our operating costs extremely low. Additionally, Creality has provided us with tremendous support, continuously sponsoring us with over ten new machines and donating research funds to our school early on, allowing us to rapidly expand. We are deeply grateful to these philanthropic enterprises for their support of student entrepreneurship.

Our farm primarily produces customized crafts, toys, and exhibition pieces, among other products. Some have become bestsellers, while others are original designs. For instance, we designed a model of our university’s motto tower as a gift to alumni and optimized customized 3D-printed models for the Shenfei Group. These original designs have not only enhanced our market competitiveness but also inspired us to continuously explore and innovate.

Though graduation brings its own set of challenges, we believe that the skills and experience we’ve gained will enable us to continue operating our farm. 3D printing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, and the abilities we’ve honed in school will serve us well in future careers, possibly even establishing a successful side business. Even after graduation, we can maintain close contact with our advisor, staying updated on industry trends, market needs, and collaborating on new ventures.

While we couldn't attend the "3D Printing Farm Conference" in person, we watched the livestream online. This inaugural event marked a milestone in the rise of a new industry, and we were astounded by the rapid growth and enormous potential of the 3D printing farm sector. The speeches and discussions highlighted the spirit of collaboration within the industry. Many farm owners and experts joined forces to tackle large orders, a "united we stand" approach that not only improved production efficiency but also bolstered the industry's overall competitiveness. I believe this conference has illuminated the path forward for the 3D printing farm industry. As the number of devices grows, material costs decrease, and market demand expands, 3D printing farms in China will experience vast opportunities for development. Both large and small farms will find their unique paths to success, collectively driving the prosperity and advancement of the 3D printing industry.

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