How much money do you earn on Makerworld?

MakerWorld
24

I have a few thoughts, for what it’s worth. I don’t think many larger designers would want to fully disclose how much they get in return from the platform. You could guestimate well enough, but there’s a lot of factors that play into it too, I feel. Things like exclusive models, models that use the BOM, and/or models in the creator program.

The reason I feel that most larger designers don’t want to fully disclose such information is that people often view this as free gifts/money/whatever, without fully realizing the amount of work that goes into this stuff. I’ve seen before, threads like this. Someone might have enough points for 20 gift cards, and the village will come out with their hands out asking for a share.

The reality is, the rate at which I earn is a bit below that which I earn through my day job, to the extent that if it wasn’t something I love to do, it wouldn’t entirely be worth my time. I make larger and more complex projects, which at times can take a lot of work and effort.

I think to get to those levels where you have any sort of consistency too, you need to keep that design momentum going. It’s work, it’s focus, it’s dedication.

So, I wont fully disclose. I will say though that I get enough back that all present and future designs are funded as it relates to supplies needed. Unfortunately I’m still short on time. Haha. I’ve taken on a couple of big projects because of it, like the cat wheel or the chess table. It’s gone a long ways to help with smaller more practical prints too though. I’m much less scared of prototyping and wasting a little filament during the process. Or well, less stressed about it. A lot of what I’ve gotten back has been reinvested into new projects/ideas/designs/pushing the limits.

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25

Like I said.

26

And there is something else to consider about those point “windfalls” - they don’t just happen in a vacuum. There are significant costs in there too that are not reflected in point totals.

Software licenses, 3rd party parts and pieces/hardware, filament used refining models, electricity to run computers and printers, their time, etc.

I’m small potatoes (and probably doing it wrong because my points haven’t been huge) but my expenses are well more than my income. I’d bet the people with way more points may be spending quite a bit more on supplies than me with their fancy-schmancy 2/3/4/or more printers in a line, filament boxes that might as well be wallpaper, etc. :grin: And they probably spend much more time at it than I do.

It all works out. We each control our own destinies here. Somebody with lots of downloads and such can be a teacher too if you study their models to see what makes them so appealing.

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