You're considering a career in 3D printing. What are the benefits of consulting versus self-employment?

1. Access to diverse projects: Consulting offers exposure to a variety of projects and industries, providing opportunities to apply expertise in different contexts and expand professional networks. 2. Stability and support: Consulting firms often provide resources, infrastructure, and support systems, such as training, mentorship, and administrative assistance, to help consultants succeed in their roles and navigate challenges effectively.

Consulting will give you access to diverse projects across the world. It will help you select new fabrication methods and materials. You will get to meet experts from different sectors. However, you can be a self-employed consultant based on your work profile.

It's quite satisfying to work as a professional in the 3D industry and run your own company. You have complete control over your work schedule, the technology you use, the tools you utilize, and most importantly, the time you spend using them. However, all of it comes with a price. There's a lot more to being a self-employed 3D printer than just 3D printing. To ensure that the task is completed on time, you must plan for the logistics of your time as well as the time of the printers and supplies, and you must maximize the use of your resources. Being authentic in your work is fulfilling, but while quoting tasks, exercise extreme caution. It also greatly relies on whether you offer the design in addition to printing.

In all honesty , The barriers to entry for any serious additive manufacturing self employment are huge. There are so many great 3D production companies around nowadays that you're better off getting a job at one of them then trying to go solo. (Even if only to gain experience) The actual applications that could support an FDM/SLA "home" farm are few and far between. If design and application development float your boat and you have an "in" with particular industry, maybe partnering with a print bureau would be an option if you could maintain being the middleman. If this isn't your true passion, walk away! Both you and the industry will be better off for it.

You should consider your level of experience before devoting yourself to consulting, in my opinion. Helping clients as a novice or amateur is challenging if you still doubt your ability to complete certain tasks. I would then begin as an independent to be able to try and fail and learn from it. You will learn from that mistake and avoid becoming a pundit once more. There are many different technologies in this vast world, so you must choose which one you like best and wish to focus on. Consulting for FDM printing is not the same as consulting for resin printing. Based on my experience, it's best to attempt on your own initially.

One of the things I recommend is having a basic understanding of models or 3D modeling based on my experience as an independent professional in the field of 3D printing. Why am I saying this? We frequently encounter models that are not ready for 3D printing, and while it is preferable to lose that customer, with the right tools, we can reorganize the model to make it suitable for printing. Additionally, it would be very beneficial for us to know at least two different techniques for 3D printing in order to provide our services and the best possible solution for the client.

Durch kontinuierliches Lernen, den Aufbau eines überzeugenden Portfolios, Networking, effektives Marketing und eine kluge Ressourcenverwaltung können Sie Ihre Chancen auf Erfolg erheblich steigern. Die Einbeziehung von Feedback und Unterstützung von Mentoren und Kollegen kann ebenfalls entscheidend sein, um Ihre Fähigkeiten zu verbessern und Ihr Geschäft zu entwickeln. Es ist wichtig, diese Ratschläge in Ihre langfristige Strategie einzubeziehen und sie kontinuierlich zu verfeinern, während Sie Ihr Wissen und Ihre Erfahrung im Bereich des 3D-Drucks ausbauen.