What if every child could create his own toys by drawing them and then printing them in 3D? Wouldn't that be an exciting exercise in creativity? And, be honest, wasn't it also one of your dreams when you were little? Well, from next autumn Thingmaker will be on the market, a 3d printer entirely dedicated to toys and children, which promises to translate this dream into reality.
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And if every child could create his own toys, drawing them and then printing them in 3D? Wouldn't that be an exciting exercise in creativity? And, be honest, wasn't it also one of your dreams when you were little? Well, from next autumn it will be on the market Thingmaker, a 3d printer entirely dedicated to toys and children, which promises to translate this dream into reality.
Thingmaker is a Mattel product, developed in collaboration with Autodesk, was just unveiled at the New York Toy Fair and can now be ordered on Amazon. The cost is dollars 299,99 (almost 270 euros): a figure that, although not affordable for all budgets, makes it much more affordable than the vast majority of 3D printers currently on the market.
Despite the rather ordinary appearance, reminiscent of a colorful microwave oven, Thingmaker is able to wirelessly transpose the drawings made by users on smartphones and tablets and translate them into real objects, using PLA filaments, one of the most used materials in 3d printing.
In order to be printed, the toys must be designed using a special app, available for both IOS and Android. The app offers the possibility to compose figures, objects and jewels using a series of modules and a system of joints and also provides users with preloaded models (such as necklaces, dinosaurs, skeletons and rings ... it is not yet clear whether, between these will also include Mattel's flagship products, such as Barbie). But the coolest part is that each toy can be customized, in order to be unique and unrepeatable.
Addressing an audience of children and teenagers (from 3 years upwards, even if the recommended age for correct use is 13 years), the printer is equipped with a series of safety devices, such as the self-closing door, to prevent the little ones from putting their hands inside it while it is in operation. And the printing process isn't exactly lightning-fast: for a small ring it takes about 30 minutes, while for a larger toy the waiting time is about 6-8 hours.
We do not know if Thingmaker will or will not have the commercial success that Mattel certainly hopes for: certainly, however, this experience could pave the way for a new way of conceiving the toy industry, giving more space to do-it-yourself, imagination and customization.
In a hypothetical future, everyone could independently create their own games, drawing and printing them at home: a solution that, in addition to stimulating children's creativity, would also allow to eliminate the economic and environmental costs associated with the transport and packaging of toys.
And you, what do you think? Do you think the concept is promising or are you convinced that it is just another electronic pastime?
Lisa Vagnozzi
Photo Credits: The Verge
The 3D printer that allows children to create their own toys
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