3D printing employs various processes to make a three-dimensional object. In 3D printing, additive processes are used, in which successive layers of material are laid down under computer control. These objects can be of almost any shape or geometry, and are produced from a 3D model or other electronic data source. The meaning of the term has expanded to encompass a wider variety of techniques such as extrusion and sintering based processes. Technical standards generally use the term additive manufacturing for this broader sense.

The toy industry has the potential to be one of the biggest adopters of 3D printing technology as in this day and age there is demand for customization from the consumer and toys tend to be small and made out of plastic, making it easy to 3D print them. McKinsey estimates the total economic impact of 3D printing technology will be $ 230- $ 550 billion per year by 2025, $ 100- $ 300 billion of which will be direct consumer products which includes application areas such as toys. Throughout time, toys have been an avenue for children to use their creativity and imagination. 3D printing as a technology enhances the creativity possible with toys as it involves the child in the formative process of the toy. This will change the way children use and interact with toys with times.

It will also help the children develop invaluable skills and this is leading to a lot of parents supporting this development.

The toy companies have started to take notice. A very important move for the industry is that Mattel, one of the world’ s largest toy manufacturer, has made its entry into the 3D printing for toys space by launching the“ Thing- Maker”. The company unveiled this printer at the New York Toy Fair trade show along with an app it developed in partnership with Autodesk. The basic principle behind this concept is that Mattel wants the kids to learn to design from ground up, which would be a great way for children to get started with 3D print. This printer will allow for the toy to be printed in a number of parts that connect with traditional ball and socket joints. This will allow for a working toy, rather than a simple figurine. Keeping its young consumer in mind, Mattel has ensured that the printer is simple and safe to use. It would be interesting to note that this is something of a second coming for Mattel, which predicted this home production revolution once before. It has actually resurrected the ThingMaker name. The first one was launched in the 1960s and was a mold kit that children could pour molten plastic into. Similarly many other toy companies are exploring various ways to enhance the toy experience by

incorporating 3D printing technology at different stages.

Besides creating avenues for customization and creativity for the consumer, 3D printing is also helping speed up and simplify the manufacturing process of making toys, which in turn lowers the cost. 3D printing is even enabling new research in the toy industry. Disney researchers have used 3D printing to figure out how to make oddly-shaped spinning tops that remain balanced by designing an algorithm that prints the object with strategically placed hollow spaces to keep the weight centered.

Closer to home in India, the combination of 3D printing and toys is giving avenues for the advertising industry to express itself creatively. A recent innovative advertisement for Madhya Pradesh Tourism developed by Ogilvy & Mather India, Hungry Films and a leading 3D printing service bureau – Imaginarium – used 3D scanning and 3D printing to good effect to create toys for the advertisement to showcase the monuments and toy industry of Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh is a state in Central India known for innovative tourism campaigns.

Spielwarenmesse India in cooperation with Inside 3D Printing Mumbai, the largest show on 3D printing technologies in India, will set-up a 3D printing pavilion

at the upcoming Kids India 2016. The pavilion will showcase the opportunities 3D printing provides for the toy industry and experience live case studies. It will also feature a special 2-hour seminar on 16 September 2016 focusing on the advantages of 3D printing for the toy industry.

About the author

Mr. Aditya Chandavarkar is Partner at Inside 3D Printing in Mumbai, a comprehensive knowledge sharing platform for 3D printing and additive manufacturing focused towards both the consumer and industrial verticals. Their focus is to engage with the 3D / AM community on a constant basis and allow 3D printing to be showcased as an enabling tool for various industries. For more details visit www. inside3dprinting. co. in