It seems like not that long ago that 3D printing was something futuristic and cutting edge, but in a sign that the technology is now old school bog standard kids toy maker Mattel, Inc. has entered the space with a printer that allows kids to print their own toys.

Called the ThingMaker 3D printer, Mattel is pitching the product as being “designed to virtually hand over the keys to the toy factory.”

The 3D printer ships with the ThingMaker Design app to allow children (and potentially fascinated adults) to design their own toys and includes a range of easy-to-follow templates, or the ability for users to build their own creations from hundreds of parts.

When the “masterpiece” is ready for creation, the app sends the design straight to the ThingMaker 3D Printer, which can either print a whole toy or can print parts in batches that are said to be easy to assemble via ball and socket joints.

The company says that children are able to print a range of things such as dolls, robots, and dinosaurs, or even wearable (non-smart) accessories like bracelets and necklaces.

“In today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever for families to transcend the digital world and make their ideas real,” Matter Senior Director Aslan Appleman said in a statement. “ThingMaker pushes the boundaries of imaginative play, giving families countless ways to customize their toys and let their creativity run wild.”

Memories

Long gone are the days where blocks cut the mustard in children’s play, and while Lego is still popular, the second decade of the 21st century is all about technology and using it in new ways.

If you don’t have a child or know someone with one, kids these days (even little ones) are more than likely to want to play with an App on an iPad or smartphone than they are often with more traditional toys. But that doesn’t take away the fact that creation, driven by imagination, hasn’t changed even if the technology to do so has. That’s presumably the market Mattel is aiming for, and as much as it may challenge the memories many of us have of our own childhoods, hence the march of progress changes everything with time.

The ThingMaker 3D printer will be available on October 15 in the United States for $299.99, with pre-orders now available from today on Amazon.

Details and pricing on accessories are not yet available, but Mattel says they will announce a variety of filament color options along with additional design content including branded options at a later date.

Image credit: Mattel