3D Printed Toys

3D printing is an additive manufacturing technique that uses plastic layering to create three-dimensional objects. 3D printing was mostly reserved for prototyping but has now expanded to mass manufacturing and consumer-level prints.

With the availability of 3D printers, anyone with a bit of creativity can print custom designs, and the toy industry is seeing this shift in personalized toys and unique prints.

Benefits of 3D Printing in Toy Manufacturing

Title: Toy manufacturing

3D printing toys brings many advantages that would otherwise be unavailable with traditional toy manufacturing. 3D-printed toys have transformed the toy industry. 

Unmatched Customizability for Toys

Toys make great personalized gifts. 3D printing allows you to personalize toys by adding details, names, and impressions and differentiating products from the mass production

3D-printed toys are economical for producing small batches of toys, single toys, and figures for niche markets and fandoms. Their most prominent use is creating limited-edition toy sets with a few hundred production numbers. 

Complex Design

3D-printed toys allow you to print layer by layer, adding the benefit of printing moving parts in a single piece. Usually, this requires highly intricate mold design, which increases tooling costs and often, conventional toy production techniques like injection molding fail to produce single-piece rotational toys. 

Educational Toys and Puzzles

3D printed education toys have the benefit of making toys learning tools. Educational toys encourage kids to explore designs, engineering, and problem-solving skills. 

3D-printed educational toys like modular blocks, anatomy models, and DIY puzzles can introduce new teaching methods and areas like biology and reasoning logic. 

Educational toys

Popular Types of 3D Printed Toys

3D-printed toys have unlocked many new categories that appeal to kids, hobbyists, and designers alike. One reason is the amount of detail possible with 3D printing, like embossing text, multi-colored sections, and adding modules and attachments later on to the toy.  

3D Printed Fidget Toys

Fidget toys have endless design potential, functionality, and a simple printing setup. 3D-printed fidget spinners have a center bearing and a plastic body printed in different shapes, like stars, gears, and animals. 

3D printing plastic fidget spinners require little material and can be easily customized by adjusting the texture settings on a 3D printer. 

Title: Fidget Spinner

3D Printed Cat Toys

Cats engage with toys that intrigue their hunting instincts. Many creative 3D printed cat toys can keep cats busy all day. 

• Balls: The simplest toy that can be made functional with 3d printing is a small ball. You can even roughen the surface on one side in the print settings to make the ball roll unpredictable. 
• Treat Dispenser: You can 3D-print small puzzles that release treats when the cat interacts with the dispenser.

3D printing cat toys are cheap to replace if they are damaged and safer because you can choose from different 3D printing plastics and modify the design to remove sharp edges and tweak the features according to the size of your pet. 

Title: Cat toy

3D Printed Dragon Toys

Dragons are popular in mythical stories, popular shows, and some cultures. 3D-printed dragon toys are stunningly beautiful with moving tails and functional heads. 

You can print full-scale models of dragons in sections, create segmented bodies, and make your design modular with removable wings and tails. 

Title: 3D printed dragon

3D Printed Toy Guns

Toy guns are popular with kids, especially Nerf guns. Professional cosplayers and craft replicas also use 3D-printed toy guns without getting into molds and injection molding. 

• Cosplay guns: 3D-printed cosplay guns are popular 3D-printed objects. Star Wars blasters and Halo guns can easily be printed with many detailed 3D-printed models already available. 
• Water guns: Water 3D-printed guns can have a simple pump action with printed barrels that can be assembled for summer. 

Best 3D Printed Toys: Designs and Ideas

Articulated Snake

An articulated snake can mimic the actual movement of a snake’s body with no assembly and joints. It’s flexible, printed in one piece, and a great desk toy. You can customize the snake segments with different colors, forked tongues, and scales. 

Design Considerations:

• Print using TPU or carefully design PLA joints
• Print large snake in detachable sections
• Find models on Thingiverse

Foam Nerf Pistols

Nerf guns are functional toys that shoot harmless Nerf darts. Nerf guns are a clever idea because they can be customized easily, and you can add different attachments to the original idea. 

You can add complexity by using a rotating cylinder that holds darts and rubber bands for firing.

Design Considerations:

• Use PLA plastic, PETG, and bright colors for visibility
• Use TPU to replace rubber grips
• Use designs compatible with standard Nerf darts

Title: Nerf gun

Chess Set

The most straightforward game set to print is a chess board with custom pieces. You can even print unique pieces with personalized elements to make the toy set more interesting. Custom 3D-printed chess sets are also great collector’s items. 

Title: chess set

Dragon

Dragons are great decoration pieces that also double as slithering toys. 

Design Considerations:

• You can print the entire dragon in one go by careful slicing and support placement.
• You can curl the dragon design around everyday objects like cups and stands. 

Fidget Toy

Fidget toy has a simple design and is the 3D printing staple for endless variety. 

Design Considerations:

• Use the scale feature to make a compact fidget spinner
• Add sounds to fidgeting using hanging features
• Add custom logos and designs to the center. 

Best Materials For 3D Printing Toys

Material choice for 3D printing is essential to toy durability, texture, feel, and function. Materials depend on the 3D printer, and most people use FDM printers. These are the best 3D printing materials. 

PLA

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable plastic with excellent strength for everyday parts and prints. It is ideal for stationary parts and is easy to print without additional steps like bed heating. 

For people aiming to produce many toys, it also has low warping, which decreases the chances of faulty toys. PLA is safe for kids and does not produce fumes during printing.

The best pla for 3D printing is Prusament PLA, and If you are looking for extra strength, use PLA+. 

PETG

Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol is stronger and more durable than PLA. It also has better heat resistance and a slightly glossy finish, making it appealing to aesthetic toys. 

PETG is safe for toys and does not produce any toxic fumes. PETF is excellent for printing durable chess sets and puzzles. 

TPU

Thermoplastic Polyurethane is a flexible, rubber-like material with good elasticity and can replace rubber grips on toys like toy guns. TPU has a high impact resistance, meaning it can survive abrasions and falls from kids. 

You can use TPU to print slithering snakes or dragons to add slight flexibility. TPU is safe for kids and will not break under rough play. The only concern with TPU is the higher price and poor structural strength.

Title: TPU flexible printed tires

ABS

ABS is one of the most durable printable plastics. It is tough, has high-impact resistance, and can survive high temperatures, making it great for outdoor toys. 

LEGO sets are made from ABS plastic, and you can use ABS to produce toys for your pets and toys that require good strength. 

ABS emits fumes during printing and requires a heat bed to avoid warping. 

3D Printed Toys Safety Considerations

When printing toys, many safety checks need to be in place. Food and material safety concerns are the most essential safety considerations followed by 3D printing services.

Toxicity

Some plastics, like ABS, emit harmful fumes during printing, and other plastics can leach chemicals when chewed by toddlers and pets. The solution to toxic leaching and fumes is to use PLA for toy prints and only print ABS in ventilated rooms. 

Food Compatibile Plastics

Toys, specifically food dispensers for animals and bird feeders, come into contact with food sources. For these specific applications, you need to use food-safe plastic or a food-safe barrier layer over the plastic. The layer can also prevent any microbe buildup in printing line layers. 

Sharp Edges

Poorly finished toy surfaces can have layer lines and abrupt endings, which can cut fingers and mouths if accidentally chewed. You can use acetone or a heat gun to improve the surface smoothness of the toys. 

Choking Hazard

Toys like chess pieces and detachable components can be swallowed and become a choking hazard for kids. This is why using a good 3D printing service that integrates health-safety design into your toys is crucial. 

Your toy manufacturer and design should follow the U.S. CPSC guidelines and avoid loose bits. 

High-Quality 3D-Printing Service

Prolean Tech provides 3D printing services for rapid prototyping and manufacturing. Our 3D printing workshops are compatible with capable of handling multiple orders for quick design iterations and changes.

Reach out today for a free consultation and design review.

FAQ

1. What are 3D printed toys, and how are they made?

3D printed toys are made using layered printing in 3 dimensions. The primary production method uses 3D printing, differentiating it from traditional injection molding. 

2. What are the benefits of 3D printing toys compared to traditional toys?

3D printing toys allows for quicker sampling and prototyping. You can change your design instantly and add customizable pieces. Another benefit is the level of personalization using text and logos. 

3. Is it safe to give 3D printed toys to children?

3D printed toys are safe for children. The risk comes from ABS fumes emitted during 3D printing, but ABS is safe for children. 

4. How can I create my own 3D printed toy?

You can create your 3D-printed toy using the following steps. 

• Design your toy in CAD software

• Convert your 3D design format into an STL format

• Use slicing software to orient the print

• Start printing

6. How does rapid prototyping help in toy production?

Rapid prototyping helps designers and toy manufacturers quickly print toy designs for testing and functionality.