Mattel Unveils Thingmaker 3D Printer at Toy Fair 2016
Updated August 15, 2016, originally posted on February 15, 2016
Mattel revealed its new 3D printer at the 2016 Toy Fair in New York City. The new printer has been given the name Thingmaker. This is the same name as a 1960s toy that let kids create "Creepy Crawlers" out of a liquid substance called plastigoop using mold sets. The toys became rubberized when heated. The new Thingmaker device is an actual 3D printer. Thingmaker is certainly a great name for a 3D printer.
Mattel says its Thingmaker 3D Printer can be used to create dolls, robots, dinosaurs, necklaces, bracelets and more. It comes with a Thingmaker Design App for iOS and Android that provides example templates. The app also lets users drag different components together to build a toy or jewelry. Designs can then be exported and printed from the app.
3D printing sounds like something that could be potentially dangerous for kids to use due to the heat involved. Some of the safety features include a heated print head that retracts for safety so kids can't touch it. It also has a door that automatically locks when printing begins.
The Thingmaker 3D Printer will cost $299.99. The device now has a release date scheduled for October 15, 2016.
USA Today is reporting that standard filaments sold by third parties will work with Thingmaker. Mattel will likely also sell its own filaments but has not yet announced the colors it will offer or pricing.