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Making 3D printed toys

3D printing is the process of making three-dimensional objects by laying thin layers of material on top of one another. Each layer is so thin that the height is barely detectable by the human eye.

In the late ’70s, the early days of the technology, 3D printing was crude, suitable only for developing prototypes quickly and cheaply. Today, 3D printing is used to create jewelry, furniture, tools, prosthetics, hearing aids, foods and even toys.

What you need to know

How does 3D printing work?

Plastic threads are fed into the printer, melted and then squirted through tiny nozzles. A mechanical assembly uses motors and belts to move the nozzles from side to side, in and out and up and down to create contours. The resolution of a 3D printer is the height of the layers, measured in thousandths of a millimeter, also called microns.

Where can you find scannable 3D models of toys?

There are many sites that let you download free 3D models. Type “Free 3D toy models” into your search bar, and you will find sites with hundreds of scannable toy models. Among the best:

Turbosquid has free models of toy cars, airplanes, trains, toy soldiers, cats and dogs.
CG Trader has teddy bears, Ninja turtles, fingerboards, alphabet blocks and more.
3D Export has “Star Wars” stormtroopers, Skywalker ships and the Millennium Falcon, plus Formula 1 race cars and creepy articulated centipedes.

What you need to have in addition to a 3D printer

3D software

If you can draw an object in two dimensions, you can print it in three with special conversion software. The process by which the software turns your 3D model into hundreds or thousands of thin layers is called slicing. The thinner the layer, the greater the detail of the finished model or toy.

Raw materials

Filaments: In the world of 3D printing, filaments are thermoplastics that melt when heated so they can be shaped and molded, solidifying only when they are cooled.
Resins: Used in stereolithography printing, resins employ lasers and photochemical processes to make products in high resolution with lots of detail and smooth surfaces.

3D printing processes

FDM

FDM stands for fused deposition modeling. It is the most common type of desktop 3D printer because it is easy to use and the thermoplastic filaments it uses as raw materials are the least expensive. The downsides are it has the lowest accuracy and resolution and is prone to clogging.

SLS

SLS is the term for selective laser sintering. This process uses a laser to fuse powdered nylon polymers. SLS printers are preferred by engineers and manufacturers because they produce precise, strong products. SLS printers are ideal for making products with complex geometries.

SLA

SLA is shorthand for stereolithography, the world’s first 3D printing technology. SLA printers use lasers to cure liquid photopolymer resins. SLA printers deliver high resolution and fine details.

What you need to buy to make 3D printed toys

3D printer

Dremel Digilab 3D45 3D Printer

This PCMag award-winning PLA printer prints detailed models and toys. When you follow the intuitive instructions on the 5-inch full-color touch screen, you can make your first print within 15 minutes of unboxing.