Toybox is a 3D printer that allows you and your kids to print toys. It’s an easy-to-use printer with a user-friendly interface that has a wide variety of toys to choose from. Toybox Labs was created by Ben Baltes and Jenn Chin from Oakland, California. Both founders raised more than $155,000 on Indiegogo, which has helped them to turn their 3D printer prototype into a mass-produced product. Reportedly the Toybox is a Creatbot Super Mini that was altered and made more kid-friendly.
To make Toybox do its magic, you simply have to download the app on AppStore or Google Play, depending on whether you have iOS or Android, and connect your phone and Toybox’s 3D printer to WiFi. Models can also be selected and printed from any computer connected to internet as well from Toybox’s official website.
Although there are many other ways to 3D print toys for your kids, such as Toy Maker or Moose Toys, on Toybox’s website, parents and kids can browse a great selection of toys, as well as importing, creating a Block Buddy, or drawing their own. The catalog of toys they offer has different types of swords, cars, animals, character, buildings, creatures, and more. I wanted to test all they offered out so I made my own Block Buddy, a feature developed by Toybox to create your own character, and I was able to select different types of hairstyles, eye shapes, nose shapes, outfits, colors, and more.
I also created my own design. On the Draw option, I tried the text feature out but you can also draw anything you want and add a background to it. There are a few shapes to choose from and to play around with that helps you create the design you are looking for.
Once you’ve finished creating your Block Buddy, drawing or importing a design, you will see the time it will take to print each piece. You can select which piece to print first, and the website or app will ask you to connect with the 3D printer via Wi-Fi.
Toybox’s 3D printer is kid-friendly. It’s easy to teach your kids on how it works and how to use it without worrying about their safety. It’s also an alternate and affordable way of creating toys without leaving creativity behind. Kids can design and modify their creations at any time, and use their imagination fully. The 3D printer is environmentally friendly and produces little to no waste. At only nine inches tall and 6 lbs, the 3D printer doesn’t require too much space, which means it can be easily stored or can fit on your home desk perfectly.
Joel tested the Toybox and you can see that video below. An earlier review from last year by 3D Maker Noob is below that.
The website also includes a Shop section where you can acquire the 3D printer and the “Printer Food”, which is the name Toybox uses to call their filament as to make it more fun for kids. There are fifteen colors to choose from. The shop also includes bed surfaces for the 3D printer, stickers, a pin, and a gift card.
Toybox’s 3D printer costs $349 plus $9.95 shipping, resulting in a total price of $358.95. The 3D printer made it to Shark Tank on March 10, a show where entrepreneurs make their business presentations to a panel of five investors (or “Sharks) who choose whether to invest in their company as business partners. As a final negotiation, one of the Sharks offered to invest $150k for 13% equity and 2% in advisory shares. This is not the first time the idea of 3D printing toys made it to Shark Tank. In 2015, You Kick Ass (now called Hero Builders) presented their 3D printed action figures to the Sharks.
Sources: [2 Paragraphs, Know Techie, All Shark Tank Products, Forbes]
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