Post by Cyan on May 14, 2013 10:56:48 GMT -5
Does anyone have a 3-D printer or access to one? I'm curious if 3-D printers are a good solution for making custom heads or parts? You can get a low end one for about $1500 and the prices go way up from there.
I'm not familiar with how they work, but I was thinking that in theory that you might be able to scan a larger Jakks head, shrink it, and print it out smaller for use on a custom mattel. Wonder if the quality is there to even do this? Could you even do it with a matched skin tone, allowing you to only have to paint the hair and eyes? Could also be a great way to make custom belts.
According to a Wall Street Journal article, Mattel is already using them . . .
"Before adopting 3-D printing in 1992, Mattel workers sculpted prototypes of toys from wax and clay before building the production models out of plastic. Today, Mattel engineers use any of 30 3-D printers to create toy parts of virtually every type of toy that it manufactures, including popular brands such as Max Steel, Hot Wheels and Monster High.
But the toymaker draws the line at selling consumers software files that would enable them to print out their own toys on low-cost 3-D printers. A company spokesman said the company could not guarantee toys that consumers printed out would be safe for children, a “topic that the entire toy industry will have to face and embrace” as 3-D printer use broadens at home."
Would love to hear your thoughts or from someone who has used one.
I'm not familiar with how they work, but I was thinking that in theory that you might be able to scan a larger Jakks head, shrink it, and print it out smaller for use on a custom mattel. Wonder if the quality is there to even do this? Could you even do it with a matched skin tone, allowing you to only have to paint the hair and eyes? Could also be a great way to make custom belts.
According to a Wall Street Journal article, Mattel is already using them . . .
"Before adopting 3-D printing in 1992, Mattel workers sculpted prototypes of toys from wax and clay before building the production models out of plastic. Today, Mattel engineers use any of 30 3-D printers to create toy parts of virtually every type of toy that it manufactures, including popular brands such as Max Steel, Hot Wheels and Monster High.
But the toymaker draws the line at selling consumers software files that would enable them to print out their own toys on low-cost 3-D printers. A company spokesman said the company could not guarantee toys that consumers printed out would be safe for children, a “topic that the entire toy industry will have to face and embrace” as 3-D printer use broadens at home."
Would love to hear your thoughts or from someone who has used one.
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