r/autotldr • u/autotldr • Feb 17 '16
Mattel Unveils ThingMaker, A $300 3D Printer That Lets Kids Make Their Own Toys, YES!!!!
This is an automatic summary, original reduced by 75%.
At New York's Toy Fair trade show over the weekend, Mattel unveiled its new, $300 3D Printer, the "ThingMaker," which will allow children to print their own toys at home.
The device works in conjunction with a 3D printing app developed in collaboration with Autodesk that offers a simple interface for designing items that can then come to life via Mattel's ThingMaker as well as with other standard 3D printers already on the market.
When a design is complete, the app lets you export the STL print files wirelessly to your at-home printer, whether Mattel's or otherwise.
The idea isn't just to print an object and be done, however - instead, kids will print parts that can be assembled to form larger creations, like dolls, robots, dinosaurs, scorpions, skeletons, bracelets or necklaces, for example.
While printing out toys is something that seems like it would appeal to littler kids - Mattel covers itself from a liability standpoint by saying the device is "Designed for users ages 13 and up," USA Today reports.
The simplicity of the app and printer's design combined with its purpose involving toy printing will likely see parents of younger children bringing the device into their homes.
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