I print FDM. I’ve paid for the printers and make a little money each month. Not enough to live on but enough to finance the hobby.

My mom hooked me up with a teacher who wanted a watercolor insert for altoid tins. The lady was enthusiastic and would pay me every year to make them for all her classes. The design she pointed me to was a BSD license but I remade it anyway. I’d make like 100 prints at $5 each. Made like $500 X 4 years.

I haven’t heard from her for two years. I don’t know if she still teaching or found another printer.

I make some photographay related devices and give them away on printables/thingverse. For the most popular designs I mention that they are for sale on etsy. I know there are a lot of people interested in the things but without a 3d printer. I’m also not shy on mentioning my designs on social media if they are a solution to that person’s photographic problem. On etsy I don’t mention thingiverse/printables except for one disability related item. The etsy sales are about $120 a month.

Sure. That’s OK with me.

Prusa Mk3S+ with something like 1600 hours and a new orange pi octoprint server.

Next year I may get a MK4 or a X1 Carbon

Eryone has been doing this since at least last year.