Selling 3D-printed tabletop terrain on Etsy

How it works

Step by step

1. 1Buy two mid-range FDM printers with enclosures (Bambu P1S or A1). Enclosures matter for print quality and reduce PLA fume dispersion.
2. 2Dial in one filament brand and one profile before scaling. Sunlu or Polymaker PLA in matte black is a proven default for wargame terrain.
3. 3License commercial-use STL bundles from established designers on MyMiniFactory Tribes or Patreon (Loot Studios, WarLayer, Cast n Play). Read each license carefully — some cap monthly sales or forbid Etsy.
4. 4Save every license PDF in a dedicated folder. Etsy takedowns are usually license issues, not IP theft.
5. 5Test-print every SKU end-to-end before listing. Note print time, filament weight, and post-processing minutes. That's your cost basis.
6. 6Price with a formula: (filament $) + (electricity $) + (labor $ at $25/hr) x 3. Below 3x margin, don't list it.
7. 7Open an Etsy shop with 30 SKUs at launch, all photographed on the same neutral surface with the same lighting. Consistency reads as a real brand.
8. 8Write listings in wargamer language: base sizes (25mm, 32mm, 40mm), scale (28mm, 32mm heroic), material (PLA), and 'ready to prime — light sanding on supports'.
9. 9Ship in rigid boxes with foam or bubble wrap. Broken spires in transit are the #1 refund reason.
10. 10Reinvest year-one profit into a resin printer (Elegoo Saturn or Anycubic Mono) for premium detailed pieces sold at $50-150. Set it up in a well-ventilated space with proper PPE.

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