10 Things I've learned running a print farm

The 3D Printer(s) I recommend:

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00:00 Introduction
00:25 1. Not Passive
00:53 2. Energy
02:02 3. Air Quality
03:27 4. Prepare to Grow
04:14 5. Standardize
06:59 6. Maintenance
08:30 7. Production Planning
09:20 8. Print Job Management
10:34 9. Packaging & Fulfillment
11:28 10. Future Technology

This video is sponsored by Factor

[farmcentralohio]

I'm a farmer, I barely know how to use the internet on my phone and I still rock a laptop for my utube watching but I just want you to know that I really enjoy watching your videos. You have the ability to make it all interesting.

[eczkubc]

Hey, I got a solution for your SD card problem. What you can do is. Use an SD card virtualization. You plug in a "sd card" which is just a data connector and then you can connect it via wifi to your local drive system. Then you do not have the problem anymore. Just move the file to the local folder to which every sd card transmitter is connected and start printing :). The only thing what you need is to power the SD card to wifi connector via USB.

[grump]

I work for a very large semiconductor company and we do maintenance on our tools, scheduled Monthly. Bi Monthly, even Mini PM you have to determine where the maintenance schedule for your equipment. Your schedule may differ. Keeping a well supplied stores of spare parts is Key even if you are buying on an annual basis. Instead of having a tool down for weeks "Waiting Part" have spare and install it then reorder the part for when the next tool needs it. You will find your production increases while your down time drops. Don't wait for the tool to fail before you act. Proactive is better then Reactive. Good Luck

[Kaiser_]

I have a print farm with 18 creality printers. I can't agree more with you about the fact that good maintenance is one of the key. I have been running the business for almost 2 years now and no major issues with the printers. As a low budget guy I can say you don't need high entry 3d printers to start your business.. it's all about commitment, planning and most of all love what you do. And thank you for your tips

[ryanfrank]

I found your channel when I first bought my P1S. Since It was my first 3D printer and to be honest I'm grateful for the issues I've had because it's taught me a lot about the printer...but I've replaced the hot end 3 times in a few months and had to figure out some weird z homing issue and realign the heat bed. However when the thing is printing at top notch it's amazing. I'll likely do more of them when I grow my fleet.

[Specter]

The future technology is a big one. Seeing all the posts in the groups of people buying 10 printers that are quickly outdated is rough. Currently switched over to a P1S but have the intentions on building some voron tridents for size and upgradability. It all depends on if you want to tinker and would spend the time on upgrades and proper maintenance. The people that think that they can buy these machines and just click and print are in for a rude awakening.

[jarrodlangford]

I was looking for someone to print my prototype. Got multiple quotes. Ended up being more than the cost of my ender 5+. Instead, learned 3D printing, now I have decided to start a farm myself. The margins are really good if you have capabilities to print multiple materials and understand the marketing aspect behind it. I recently bought a couple bambu printers so your journey was inspirational man.

I can see myself going from 2 printers to 5, then more in the future as well. Here's to dreaming big!

[WoodcraftBySuman]

So fascinating. I didn't have 3D printers to test the air quality on my video and went off some research publications. Glad to see 40 of them are not having a huge impact in a contained room. That's encouraging.

[cozmossis]

I appreciate your videos. I’ve been printing for 4 plus years but I am working on starting a print farm. These videos are a great reference. I have a mix of printers but I’d like to standardize. Prusas and Bamboo seem to be gold standard but may be out side my budget to start. Videos like this are swaying me one way though. Thanks!

[HeliRy]

I’m constantly mind blown at the progress of tech. When 3D printing first became a thing, home machines were astronomical on pricing. Reminds me of when I saw my first flat screen TV in 1994. It was a whopping 32”, the largest screen size TV one could buy without going to a projector, and it cost…. $25, 000!!!! Today you can get a bargain brand 72” flat screen for under a grand lol.
3D printers, CNCs and laser printers/engravers are progressing so fast and becoming so accessible, it’s bananas.

[eaqrp]

I love the pace of your videos. They are informative, to the point, and they help to take decisions. 😊

[SausageLoose]

Repetier is a great option for mk3s. You can fit all of your printers on 3 raspberry pis. We used this setup for years before moving on from prusa. We did air quality tests as well and found the same results.

[spoolheads]

Thanks for the video. I'm a 6 Bambu Lab printers right now and needing more and everything you said was true!

[shaynesabala]

I have no desire to get into this but I was curious so I watched the video. I have to say, this is a well thought out and put together video. Good luck to you.

[andrewbrown]

Wow, that is some farm you've put together~! Happy to see that it's working out so well for you. I've got a Prusa MK3S and love it~! Just have to find more things to keep it busy making things for a woodworking shop. BTW, what is that you're using as a filament spool hanger? Looks like something that would work out well for my setup. Thanks Travis~!

[collectd]

This is an excellent video. The best advice I can give in planning for future technology is to go with open source machines where a companies business model doesnt include you buying new printers everytime an upgrade comes out. Klipper has made it easy to take old tech and make it better. My ender 3 v2 print farm is just as good as any print farm with new machines today. New hotends, motor, firmware, etc can be swapped easily on an open source machine to bring it up to todays standards without having to completely replace the printer.

[ForrestFab]

Great video man, a bit of your insight into filament and the preferences/ applications that factor in on when and where to use what would be great! Have been loving your insight into printing!
I’ll be investing in one to assist jig and prototyping for my fabrication workshop :)

[BresStephane]

Thanks for the video 👍
I feel the post processing of the parts are always a small task that must eat so much time on the long run

[mauisam]

Kudos to a very well produced video. Yes, I agree as I sell on eBay and shipping is my bane! Shipping supplies take up so much room and because I have different size products I have to have many different size shipping supplies. I have to say also when I finally broke down and got a Rollo shipping label printer it made a massive difference in my shipping time.

[kmpman]

Great video and great channel, thanks for posting these videos :) very interesting