What is 3D printing?
Today we will analyze why 3D printing technology has suddenly become so popular and what are the driving factors behind it?
3D printing is a technology that creates three-dimensional objects by stacking materials layer by layer. Its core principle is to convert digital models (such as CAD files) into physical objects, which is in sharp contrast to traditional cutting (subtractive manufacturing) or mold forming (such as injection molding).
Next, I will analyze the story of LABUBU, from its sudden explosion to its current price plunge, and the cost of 3D printing is very low, with a single cost of 3-4 yuan, and from the perspective of process, the customization and innovation potential is better than the original plasticity.
What are the factors for the explosion of Labubu?
1: Celebrity effect and global marketing Blackpink member Lisa, Rihanna, Beckham and other celebrities openly carry Labubu, and a single social media post reaches more than 100 million fans, making it a "social hard currency"
2: Sky-high auction price: In June 2025, the world's only mint-colored Labubu was sold for 1.08 million yuan, and the limited edition premium exceeded 450%, creating an illusion of scarcity
3: Localization strategy: Pop Mart opened a theme store in Bangkok, launched a Thai limited edition, and created the "Labubu Adventure Forest" theme park to strengthen regional cultural identity
4: Scalper industry chain intervention: Professional scalpers use order grabbing software (clickers, group control equipment) to monopolize the supply, and the premium rate of some hidden models is 30 times
The trigger for the plunge in Labubu prices: large-scale replenishment
1: Unprecedented replenishment scale: Pop Mart's Labubu 3.0 series omnichannel replenishment of 4 million to 5 million pieces, Tmall alone sold more than 700,000 pieces, and pre-sale was scheduled until September 579.
Purchase restriction rules optimized: each person is limited to 12 pieces, weakening the ability of scalpers to stock up, and lowering the purchase threshold for ordinary consumers
2 Scalpers panic selling
Some scalpers lost tens of thousands of yuan in a single day, and the recycling price dropped sharply from 160 yuan/piece to 105 yuan. A selling wave of "selling a whole box for 700 yuan" appeared in the group 59.
Market sentiment reversed: Netizens joked that "scalpers are crying, and the wait-and-see party won", and those who bought at high prices before called it "blood loss.
So in summary, the price avalanche of Labubu is actually The essence is the reversal of supply and demand and the clearing of bubbles: celebrity marketing and artificial scarcity have spawned short-term frenzy, while large-scale replenishment has torn the disguise of scarcity and exposed the essence of industrial mass production.
Next, we will analyze in depth from the perspective of 3D printing. Labubu, as a phenomenal trendy toy IP under Pop Mart, has collided with 3D printing technology to reveal the deep changes in the trendy toy industry under the wave of technological democratization
The cost of 3D printing of Labubu materials is extremely low
Home 3D printers use polylactic acid (PLA) filaments to print a 13.4 cm high Labubu, which only requires 70-100 grams The cost of materials is about 3-4 yuan, which is more than 100 times higher than the genuine blind box (59-69 yuan) or the premium in the second-hand market (thousands of yuan).
Customization and innovation of 3D printing
More than 600 Labubu derivative models have emerged in the 3D printing community (such as MakerWorld and Cults3D). Players can optimize the joint structure, design "steel teeth" or add accessories, and the gameplay is far beyond the limitations of the genuine version
Cost-Benefit Comparison: 3D Printed Labubu vs. Official Product
Comparison of 3D Printing Technology Application Scenarios
How Do Different 3D Printing Technologies Work?
Various materials require different printing technologies. The mainstream technologies include:
What are the "materials" for 3D printing Several
The range of materials for 3D printing is far beyond the imagination of ordinary people. From plastics to biological tissues, they can be printed. They are mainly divided into the following categories:
Plastics: PLA (polylactic acid, environmentally friendly and degradable), ABS (high strength), resin (high-precision photocuring)
Metals: titanium alloy (aerospace), stainless steel (industrial parts), aluminum alloy (lightweight structure)
Ceramics: used for high-temperature resistant parts or artistic creation
Biomaterials: biological ink (printing human tissue, organ scaffolds)
Composites: carbon fiber reinforced plastic (lightweight sports equipment)
What is the "process technology" principle of 3D printing?
How Do Different 3D Printing Technologies Work?
Various materials require different printing technologies. The mainstream technologies include:
Why choose Worldsoaring as a 3D printing partner
Worldsoaring has become our ideal 3D printing partner with its leading technical strength, mature industry experience and efficient customized services. Its professional capabilities in high-precision printing (such as SLA/DLP photocuring), industrial-grade metal sintering (SLM/SLS) and innovative bioprinting can meet our diverse needs from rapid prototyping to mass production.
At the same time, Worldsoaring's global supply chain layout and strict quality control system ensure the excellent performance of products in terms of precision, strength and surface treatment, which is especially suitable for precision manufacturing in the aerospace, medical and high-end consumer fields. In addition, its flexible collaboration model (such as on-demand production and joint research and development) can effectively optimize our time and cost efficiency.
Choosing Worldsoaring is not only choosing a supplier, but also exploring new possibilities of "design-manufacturing-application" with a 3D printing technology partner at the forefront of the industry.
