If you’ve ever come across 3D printed products online and wondered, “Why does this cost more than mass-produced stuff?”, you're not alone. At first glance, 3D printing looks quick and easy – a machine spits out a custom sign, a keyring, or a desk organiser in minutes, right? Not exactly.
In this blog, we’re giving you a peek behind the scenes of what actually goes into making high-quality 3D printed items, and why they’re priced the way they are. Whether you're a small business owner looking to buy custom 3D printed signage, or just curious about the process, this guide is here to break it all down.
What Is 3D Printing?
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process where objects are created layer by layer using melted plastic filament. At Milkie Co, we specialise in 3D printed signage, price signs, custom keyrings, desk organisers, and more – all designed and printed right here in Australia.
Each item starts as a digital file that we slice into thin layers. The printer then builds the object from the bottom up using thermoplastic filament. It’s precise, time-consuming, and requires careful monitoring from start to finish.
3D Printing Takes Time – Sometimes a Lot of It
One of the biggest surprises for people new to 3D printing is just how long it takes to create even a small item. A basic print might take 30 to 60 minutes, but larger or more detailed items can take anywhere from 4 hours to over 24 hours.
We’ve had prints run overnight for 18 hours, only to fail in the last few minutes – leaving a tangled mess of melted plastic and a finished product we can’t use. When that happens, all the filament, time, and electricity is wasted. There’s no salvaging a print that shifts, lifts, or detaches from the print bed. It has to be started again from scratch.
Why We Print in Plates
To keep things efficient, we often print in plates – which just means we batch items together in one print session. For example, our 3D printed price signs are printed in sets of 6 on one plate. A full plate like this takes over 4 hours to print.
Printing in batches reduces the number of times we need to flush out the filament between colour changes. It also helps us keep the pricing affordable while still offering custom colour combinations and high-quality prints.
The Hidden Waste in 3D Printing
Every time we switch colours or types of filament, we have to purge the printer to avoid colour contamination. This means running new filament through the nozzle until the old colour is completely flushed out. That purge filament becomes waste – and it adds up quickly.
There’s also support material, test prints, failed prints, and calibration pieces that never get seen by customers. We do our best to reuse what we can, but some waste is unavoidable. It’s just part of what makes 3D printing such a hands-on process.
The Work Doesn’t End When the Print Finishes
Once the printer stops, we’re not done. We still need to:
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Remove the items from the print bed carefully
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Trim off any support structures
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Sand or clean up rough edges
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Paint or assemble pieces if needed
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Inspect each piece for flaws before it goes out
We also maintain our printers regularly. That means cleaning, replacing worn parts, tuning the machines, and keeping everything running smoothly. If one machine is off by just a fraction, an entire batch can fail.
What You’re Really Paying For
When you buy from a small 3D printing business like Milkie Co, you’re supporting much more than the cost of filament. You’re paying for:
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Hours of design, prep, and printing
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Machine maintenance and setup
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Time spent troubleshooting and perfecting settings
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Filament waste and failed prints
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Hand-finished detailing and quality control
Every product is made to order with care, creativity, and patience. Our custom 3D printed signs, desk organisers, lanyard holders, and other unique gifts are made with love, not mass-produced in a factory.
Why Choose Milkie Co for Custom 3D Printing in Australia?
We’re passionate about creating beautiful, useful, and fun 3D printed products that are built to last. Whether you’re a market stallholder needing signage, a teacher looking for desk accessories, or a small biz after personalised branding tools, we’re here to help.
We offer:
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Custom 3D printed price signs in your brand colours
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Classroom-friendly desk buddies
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Personalised keyrings and lanyard holders
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Friendly support from a local Aussie biz
Final Thoughts
3D printing is an amazing blend of creativity, engineering, and problem-solving. But it’s not quick, and it’s definitely not effortless. Behind every 3D printed piece is time, skill, and often a few failed attempts that never see the light of day.
So the next time you shop handmade 3D printed items, remember – it’s not just plastic. It’s hours of work, trial and error, and a whole lot of passion.
Looking for custom 3D printed products in Australia?
Explore our latest arrivals here, or follow us on Instagram @milkieco to see what’s printing today!
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