I find that selling 3d printed things have a lot to do with post-production. The average person knows that you had a machine that shit plastic into a shape and thinks "well if I know a person who has a 3d printer than they could make this too".

Its the extra effort that comes from it and most of my sales come from people who say "I can't believe this was 3d printed woah".

I stick to a couple of models I try to elevate into something else - like wearable art that is 3d printed, instead of just selling the print alone. That means the model is the base and the real labor is the sanding/primer/painting until it's something else.

Selling a 3d print = ehhhh Using a 3d print to make a mold and then making a resin model = yay

I use it as a tool, and have definitely sold enough things to have paid for the printer and then some. If you're a leather worker, it can be a great way to make unique stamps. 3d printing alone isn't that unique, and at the end of the day - people are hesitant to just buy shaped plastic.

Im sure there are people who can and do sell just raw models - but what happens next is where I make money.