3D Printing

ModiBots toy line takes advantage of 3D print-on-demand service

ModiBots toy line takes advantage of 3D print-on-demand service
ModiBots can be modified with more than 700 parts (Photo: Wayne Losey)
ModiBots can be modified with more than 700 parts (Photo: Wayne Losey)
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ModiBots can be modified with more than 700 parts (Photo: Wayne Losey)
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ModiBots can be modified with more than 700 parts (Photo: Wayne Losey)
A ModiBot dinosaur costs more than the others, because prices are based on the volume of the printed object (Photo: Wayne Losey)
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A ModiBot dinosaur costs more than the others, because prices are based on the volume of the printed object (Photo: Wayne Losey)
Cool weapons and armor can be purchased separately and snapped onto the ModiBot's basic frame (Photo: Wayne Losey)
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Cool weapons and armor can be purchased separately and snapped onto the ModiBot's basic frame (Photo: Wayne Losey)
Different colors and material properties are available, giving the user the freedom to choose how their toy will look (Photo: Wayne Losey)
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Different colors and material properties are available, giving the user the freedom to choose how their toy will look (Photo: Wayne Losey)
The ModiBots are created by veteran toy designer Wayne Losey (Photo: Wayne Losey)
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The ModiBots are created by veteran toy designer Wayne Losey (Photo: Wayne Losey)
Wayne Losey sells his own line of toys and accessories through Shapeways' 3D print-on-demand shop (Photo: Wayne Losey)
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Wayne Losey sells his own line of toys and accessories through Shapeways' 3D print-on-demand shop (Photo: Wayne Losey)
Your ModiBots figure comes in pieces which can be assembled in minutes (Photo: Wayne Losey)
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Your ModiBots figure comes in pieces which can be assembled in minutes (Photo: Wayne Losey)
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The ModiBots, a line of poseable action figures which can be outfitted with all sorts of accessories, sell for around US$15 apiece, which isn't much more than what you'd expect to pay for any other toy at retail. The difference is that these aren't being churned out in massive quantities by a major manufacturer – they're available for purchase online via Shapeways' 3D print-on-demand service. It's an example of how entrepreneurs are taking advantage of 3D printing technology to build new businesses.

ModiBots is the brainchild of toy designer Wayne Losey, who tried to launch a similar line of toys called Stikfas during a 13-year tenure at some of the biggest toy companies in the world. Stikfas, which share much in common with ModiBots, were meant to be more like Legos or other creative mix-and-build toys, but failed to stand out on the shelves next to products based on recognizable movies and TV licenses.

Then along came the advent of 3D printing, and in particular Shapeways, which allows designers to sell their designs online. What became a loss for the major players has now become a growing business for Losey as an individual. It's manageable because he doesn't have to deal with inventory at all – the toys are printed and shipped by Shapeways. He simply uploads his latest creation and it's instantly available for purchase.

The ModiBots come in a variety of form factors, from skeleton-like people to dinosaurs, which can be easily snapped together. The parts have holes which can be plugged with more than 700 parts and accessories, allowing kids of all ages to customize to their heart's content. The downside is that customers have to wait for their order to be printed and shipped to their door – a process which usually takes around 10 days. Losey is no exception to this rule, as he too must wait to see the effects of any design tweaks.

Different colors and material properties are available, giving the user the freedom to choose how their toy will look (Photo: Wayne Losey)
Different colors and material properties are available, giving the user the freedom to choose how their toy will look (Photo: Wayne Losey)

Another issue is the rougher quality of the prints, which can't match the strength and surface quality of injection-molded plastic parts consumers are familiar with. That sort of goes with the territory, as most 3D printers build objects in layers, resulting in small ridges that stair-step along the object's surface and can cause them to be more fragile. However, injection molding is prohibitively expensive to set in motion for individuals, so it is often limited to major manufacturers or more expensive designer toys.

The fact remains that it is virtually impossible to compete with well known brands or those associated with children's programming that crowd retail shelves. However, ModiBots may yet carve a niche for itself among people who want toys that encourage more creativity and imagination. Losey feels cautiously optimistic about his new business, having seen significant growth over the past few months.

One of the figures is assembled in the video below.

Source: Modibots via Wired

ModiBot Mo-series Figure Kit

View gallery - 7 images
2 comments
2 comments
exodous
I loved Stickfas but they were too freaking expensive. The price now, $15, still is a bit expensive. There needs to be more toys like this that can be printed on a home 3D printer like a makerbot so there would be a reason for every family to get one. Think about it, buying a 3D printer for the family and buying files cheap to print the parts. A toy designer would still make money and the consumer would get the product cheaper.
3D-PrinterDesign.com
Thanks, this is actually the first time I hear about Stikfas. The toys industry will get such a huge boost thanks to the 3d printing technology, lets just hope that the competition will force reduce of costs.