Two years ago, when Stacey McLeod started her cookie baking business, she had no idea it would lead to an entirely new field: tailor-made cookie cutter production.
Now, with the help of her Ultimaker 2, she's able to work in full production mode, narrowing her focus and expanding to online sales of her creations.
3D Printing Helps Cutter Designer Break the Mold
As a manager, mom, and cookie-fanatic, Stacey is breaking the mold in the cookie cutter world.
It's not uncommon to find designers creating cutters for their own use, but it's rare to find a designer who is also producing them for sale.
We caught up with Stacey to find out how 3D printing has enabled her to expand her business from cookies to cutters.
Stacey's cookie cutters
From Corporate to Cookies
Born in Toronto, Stacey earned a bachelor's degree in business from university and had a successful career in management.
She eventually settled into suburban life in Mississauga, Canada.After her children were born, she focused on being a mom.Two years ago, she decided to start her own business making cookies.
The cookies are very popular in her local community.It started as a side business where she only took as many orders as she could manage around her other jobs and activities.Every cookie was a special order.
Special Cookies Require Special Cutters
But her special cookies required very special cookie cutters. Stacey would spend hours searching online and driving between stores in search of specific cookie cutters.She found herself ordering cutters from the US more and more.This came with the hassle of exchange rates, duties, shipping, and taxes, and the cutters still weren't what she wanted.
What she really wanted was to be able to perfectly create the cutters she envisioned. Designing cutters and 3D printing them allows her to realize this.She started 3D printing cookie cutters in December 2015 and hasn't looked back since.
In addition to making her own cutters, she quickly found herself doing the same for other cookie makers."They have an idea, and I design and print it. I am inspired and awed by the limitlessness.I can make anything."
Pineapple Cookie design A 3D printed pineapple-shaped cookie cutter
3D Printing to the Rescue
Stacey's super-techie husband first introduced her to 3D printing.He showed her YouTube videos of time-lapse prints and was soon designing pieces and printing them at the local library.When they realized they could use 3D printing to make custom cookie cutters, they knew they had to purchase their own 3D printer.
Stacey received her Ultimaker 2 as a Christmas gift in 2015, and she hasn't stopped printing since.
Of course, her very first print was a cookie cutter.She admits, "My first cutter was small, too thin, and it quickly broke, but I was absolutely thrilled to have created something on my own."
Now her printed cutters are sturdy, sharp, and durable,but she still has that very first cutter.
Her initial prints were from Thingiverse and other pre-designed files.She then graduated to designing her own cutters using the website CookieCaster.com.
Stacey's husband walked her through designing the first cookie cutter in Autodesk Fusion.She has been easily improving and advancing her designs through trial and error using her Ultimaker.
The Entrepreneurial Life
Like most people running a business, Stacey finds her biggest challenge is time.Twenty-four hours a day just doesn’t seem to be enough to do everything she needs to do.
"I'm a work-from-home mom.My kids are young and busy.I also volunteer at their schools, and I work part-time as a lifeguard.I'm trying to do it all while building a business."
With her Ultimaker, she can start a print, check the completion time, and then go about her day until it's time to start the next print. "I never have to worry about leaving it unattended; my prints just finish themselves.
It runs 24/7, and I'm not always around, so I need to be confident that I'm coming back to a perfect cutter and not a filament nest."
Stacey at her workplace, printing cookie cutters
The Latest Progress
Stacey says her printer is able to "print perfectly."She designs anywhere from 20 to 40 cutters each week and prints each one in 3 to 4 sizes.
The rate of successful prints she gets from her Ultimaker exceeds 95%.She isn't ashamed to admit, "My Ultimaker is a very busy machine!It's had to take trips to the cottage with us in order to keep printing without missing a day.I listen for the builder plate to lower at night so I can start a new print overnight." Stacey may sleep, but her Ultimaker does not.
"I hear the build plate lower at night, so I can start a new print overnight. "Stacey may sleep, but her Ultimaker does not."
A Bright Future
After a crazy summer, Stacey is narrowing the focus of her business. 3D printing and Ultimaker will continue to play a major role.She will no longer create custom design cutters for others.Her new business model includes selling pre-designed cutters that are printed on her Ultimaker.She will design and produce 8 to 10 cutters per month, instead of producing loads of cookies and custom cutters.
As she sees it, "It makes much more sense to design a cutter once and sell it a hundred times over.I'll keep making cookies forever because I love it so much."
You can follow Stacey's Etsy store.
Stacey's wall of 3D printed cookie cutters
Stacey will also be busy spreading her love of cookies, cookie cutters, and 3D printing.
This fall, she will be teaching cookie decorating courses at the community center.Since there is a 3D printer available, her classes will be able to design their own cutters on the library computers, print them, and then use them in class.
"Cookie cutters are a very accessible way to introduce people to 3D printing; they're totally relatable and practical."
Stacey's story is just another way in which 3D printing can give you the ability to physically make something that would otherwise be just an idea.
The result is a wide variety of creative and ingenious ideas coming to life.Stacey says that it has changed the way she thinks and solves problems.
In her own words, "You're able to do so much more simply because you can."
Original link: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/22436-breaking-the-mold-3d-printed-cookie-cutters