Digital fabricators and the toy industry

[CobraCommando]

For those that don't know a digital fabricator is pretty much a small self contained factory hooked up to a computer that is able to print out 3d objects.

Digital fabricators are getting cheaper and smaller every day. I believe that eventually most households will contain one.

Let us say this comes to pass. Let's say people can create or duplicate toys. How do you think this would impact the toy industry?



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/svartabrandr/320px-IMG_0110.jpg

[Warrant Officer Flint]

Well if for instance a G.I. Joe was cloned, I don't think the joints would be able to move so probably not much for that part.

[CobraCommando]

Why wouldn't the joints move?

Couldn't you print out each piece that makes a GI Joe and then assemble it by hand?

[Warrant Officer Flint]

oh, good point. What about arms though?

[CobraCommando]

If people on the net where actively trading, modifying and improving the digital blueprints these machines use then I'm sure someone would come up with a way to make all the pieces fit together without making the joints any less functional.

Even if we don't get perfect duplicates for a while imagine all the cool accessories people would come up with.

[Warrant Officer Flint]

Yeah, good point again! I mean you could duplicate a hand and torso maybe.

[CobraCommando]

I'm not too sure about the paint jobs....
You would probably be limited to only a few different colours of plastic at first. It would still require hand painting to make something very nice.

It would make the lives of people who do customs way easier though.

[Warrant Officer Flint]

Yeah, like you said, especially for weapons, maybe if something broke you could make another, lol. Now what would be really cool would be to make a picture 3D, lol, think about what pictures you could make in 3D...

[CobraCommando]

Now what would be really cool would be to make a picture 3D, lol, think about what pictures you could make in 3D...

Kinda like the mcfarlane 3d posters?

[M.E.A.T. VIPER]

Some people cant even use a computer yet , I think some will get it(the concept) and some may not be able to figure it out I'm sure .

[CobraCommando]

I think it would be like peer to peer filesharing at first with only the tech savvy people even knowing about it.

As people see what these things can do I think it would catch on. People are working on making it so you can print out circuits with these things. That's where it gets interesting. Imagine losing a remote control and just printing out a new one.

[topnotch97]

it's your own CNC equipment or DIY CNC machinery at home.

[Griffin73]

The first person to come out with a program designed to make action figures would be a genius. You could even have a forum for customs and parts for sale on-line. Wow! Sounds like a business plan is being hatched.

But I don't think the machine would be cost effective unless it was priced under $1000. I wonder what else you could do with a machine like that.

[G.I.Eddie]

i could finally have a drill instructor hat for my Sarge!...

man, it would be really cool thats for sure...

[minstrelboy]

i'm working on this right now. there's a website called emachineshop.com that will build it for you - all you do is download their software program and build your own parts. i'm working on some vehicles currently. the catch is - i'm waiting to see what the price will be. but anybody familiar with CAD and has a bit of imagination can do this. i've read about these 3-d printers, and i want one baaaad. they're still pricey right now (the one pictured at the start was quoted at $2300 in popular science - expensive, but not unreasonable), but will only be cheaper as time goes by. remember how much dvd players were when they first came out?

anyway, as far as how it affects the toy industry - i doubt it will have as much an impact as, say, filesharing on the internet had on the music industry. a lot of toys will still be demanded by kids. the good news for collectors and customizers like ourselves is that we will be able to build or request specialized items more easily and cheaply. but for collectability - i still think MIP will be what people who collect to invest will be going out for. not me, though... i can't leave stuff sitting in their packages. what's the point?

[Paco]

I'vs been keeping my eye on this website for awhile:

http://www.desktopfactory.com/

[flash70]

i'm working on this right now. there's a website called emachineshop.com that will build it for you - all you do is download their software program and build your own parts. i'm working on some vehicles currently. the catch is - i'm waiting to see what the price will be. but anybody familiar with CAD and has a bit of imagination can do this. i've read about these 3-d printers, and i want one baaaad. they're still pricey right now (the one pictured at the start was quoted at $2300 in popular science - expensive, but not unreasonable), but will only be cheaper as time goes by. remember how much dvd players were when they first came out?

anyway, as far as how it affects the toy industry - i doubt it will have as much an impact as, say, filesharing on the internet had on the music industry. a lot of toys will still be demanded by kids. the good news for collectors and customizers like ourselves is that we will be able to build or request specialized items more easily and cheaply. but for collectability - i still think MIP will be what people who collect to invest will be going out for. not me, though... i can't leave stuff sitting in their packages. what's the point?


Well said!!!

You know if about 50 joe fans got together and donated $100.00 a piece we can get 3d printer with software and a computer and start creating....

[topnotch97]

anyone in here who has an engineering degree with extensive CAD skills and 3-d solid modeling would be able to help. which is why my eyes are peeled when this thread started.

the first time i was able to touch a rapid prototyping machine was back in san jose state. we had one in our labs, and it was primarily used to design medical devices and components. quite nifty, with frequent trips to tap plastics to buy the raw materials. :D

[minstrelboy]

We have one at Pittsburgh Technical Institute - albeit an enormous primitive beast that cost around $50K a few years back. But like I said, in the next couple of years, these things could be optional when you purchase a home computer, and well under a thousand dollars. Just takes time.

However, one thing that may be a problem is product licensing and patents. Hasbro had that disclaimer out a few months back about supporting customizing, but that without permission to use names or images (and I'm wondering about the basic figure design as well), that there could be legal reciprocations. So, while I plan on making a 1:18 scale M984A1 HEMTT Wrecker with armor mods, I'm thinking about contacting Osh Kosh Trucks to see if they'll take me to court over it. Usually, most places are okay with this kind of thing - as long as it's for personal use, and not to sell and profit from.

[minstrelboy]

I'vs been keeping my eye on this website for awhile:

http://www.desktopfactory.com/

Yeah - I saw that in Popular Science too. It's twice as much as the other one. But they're both pretty sick. I want one bad...

[Tracker]

I know Hp is planning on one too.

It would be great for making diorama props.

i'm into miniature gaming also. I know the we really can't wait for these to hit the market.

[flashjack]

When one of these comes within my budget I'll definitely get it. I'll use it for weapons, vehicles and other hard edged stuff.

For organic forms though I still refer sculpting by hand. Unless you're an excellent 3D artist organic forms tend to look weird and/or clunky.

[minstrelboy]

When one of these comes within my budget I'll definitely get it. I'll use it for weapons, vehicles and other hard edged stuff.

For organic forms though I still refer sculpting by hand. Unless you're an excellent 3D artist organic forms tend to look weird and/or clunky.

yeah - i agree. unless they come out with a scanner that you can just make duplicates of stuff you already have. I've seen a lot of toy manufacturers have that, to get the most realistic facial features of real people the toys are modeled after. Pricey, though.

I've been working on a total redesign of cobra's HISS. Just sketches right now (I may post later), but I always wanted a more 'realistic' version of a HISS, something resembling an actual vehicle in use by the military, and I think I found one in the USMC's LVTP-7 (otherwise known as the AAV7-A1). I streamlined it a bit, shortened the length, and added a larger turret and a missile launcher. There wouldn't be a large canopy like the original, just a hatch for the driver. It would require a crew of 5-6, and hold a troop compliment of 10. There's also be some .50 cals, Vulcan miniguns and/or MK-19 grenade launchers.

[minstrelboy]

here's that drawing of my HISS redesign. Remember, this is only the initial drafting of it. I'm gonna work more on it this weekend and come ot with something a little more finalized.

http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn195/dtkordish/?action=view&current=scan.jpg

[daremo]

These sites are worth checking out too:

Printapart.com (http://www.printapart.com/)

Fab At Home (http://fabathome.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page)

[flashjack]

yeah - i agree. unless they come out with a scanner that you can just make duplicates of stuff you already have. I've seen a lot of toy manufacturers have that, to get the most realistic facial features of real people the toys are modeled after. Pricey, though.


One thing I keep reading about 3D scanners, it's not as easy as just scanning the object and voila you get a perfect 3D model. There's alot of cleanup on the wireframe involved.

[flashjack]

http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn195/dtkordish/?action=view&current=scan.jpg

Nice! Looks like Coba got hold of some army surplus!