Mattel, Inc. introduced the ThingMaker 3D Printer and ThingMaker Design App, a 3-D printing eco-system for families at the North American International Toy Fair in New York City.
The ThingMaker from Mattel first debuted as the original at-home maker device in the 1960s, and has been reimagined for the 21st century. The ThingMaker 3D allows families to design, create, and print their own toys using ThingMaker Design App. Families can browse through easy-to-follow templates or tap into their imaginations and build their own creations from hundreds of parts. When a design is ready for creation, it gets sent to the ThingMaker 3D Printer, which prints parts in batches for easy assembly via ball and socket joints.
Available fall 2016 in the U.S. with pre-orders beginning February 15 on Amazon.com. Mattel will have a variety of filament color options available for the ThingMaker 3D Printer with additional design content including branded options rolling out at a later date. The ThingMaker Design App also works with other printers; it is available now and free to download for iOS and Android devices.