When I first opened up the doors to my business, I didn't know how much advertising I should do. Instead of going after printed advertisement space and taking out radio spots, I decided to let my company speak for itself. I tried to encourage other people to spread the word, but for some reasons, I just couldn't get off of the ground. I started thinking about what might work, and I realized that printed advertisements might be the way to go. Unfortunately, my first flyers weren't super professional. I decided to work with a graphic design company, who helped me to print professionally. That's when things started taking off. Read my website for more helpful tips regarding successful advertising.
As 3-D printers become more user-friendly, they are also becoming easier to find. Many printing services, including UPS, now offer a 3-D printer or two for customer use; shop workers still need to operate the machine, but the fact remains that now customers have access to what had once been a highly technical and rare process. However, customers still face the choice between going to the corner printing shop or contacting a private designer who specializes in 3-D printing. Speed and customization are often deciding factors between the two.
Lots of Experience
Printing services that have a 3-D printer will likely have a steady stream of customers, meaning that the workers who operate the printer will be well-versed in how it runs and how to troubleshoot it. They'll have seen several different designs each week, so they'll have a good idea of what might work better than others when transferred from design to actual printed item. A specialized designer may have lots of experience using the machine, too, but the types of projects that the designer might have seen could be less varied.
Get in Line
The fact that printing services will likely have a steady stream of customers also means that there could be a waiting period. 3-D printing takes a while, anywhere from a few hours to a few days. There may be limits on the size of the project you can print, in which case a private designer may be a better choice, if you have something big. But if you have something smaller and are OK waiting a bit, a printing service could work out just fine.
More Locations, More Appointments
Given that a printing service is likely to be a chain with several locations, and a private designer will have only one, you're going to have more options for appointment times if you stick with a printing service. Again, wait times will be subject to availability of the printer, but between one designer and several print shops, you may have more choices with a print shop.
BYO Design
If you already have a schematic for the printer, a printing service or print shop would be just fine. Hand over the schematic and the files, and let the workers take care of the printing. If you are still in the design stage, though, then a private designer may be better simply because a printing service might not have a 3-D designer on staff. You'd have to call ahead and find out.
Printing service employees will be only too happy to help you out. Give the shop a call to find out about wait times and size requirements for 3-D printing.
Share14 April 2017
