Toybox, founded in 2016, aims to bring the wonders of 3D printing to children, offering a gateway to creativity through their flagship product, the Toybox 3D printer. Designed with young users in mind, this printer combines a simple, intuitive interface with powerful functionality, allowing children to transform their imaginations into physical objects. The printer is backed by a comprehensive online catalog filled with a variety of toys, games, and educational tools, making it a versatile tool for both entertainment and learning. In an interview with 3Druck.com, Toybox co-founder Ben Baltes offers valuable insights into the evolving role of 3D printing in education.
The Toybox 3D printer emphasises ease of use, featuring a user-friendly design that requires no prior knowledge of 3D printing. Its software-driven approach allows for seamless operation across various platforms, including iOS, Android, and web browsers. Users can access the Toybox Creator Space, which provides easy-to-use apps for designing custom creations or importing existing 3D models.
Beyond its technical capabilities, Toybox has fostered a community of young creators, with over 10 million toys printed to date. This makes it an accessible introduction to the world of 3D printing, allowing children to explore design, engineering, and creativity in a fun and engaging way. With a focus on safety and simplicity, Toybox continues to empower the next generation of inventors.
Interview with Ben Baltes
In an interview with 3Druck.com, co-founder Ben Baltes emphasises the transformative impact of 3D printing on young creatives, highlighting how it enables hands-on learning and empowers children to create their own projects. He also discusses the importance of advancements in user experience and software, which have made 3D printing more accessible, particularly for non-technical users, paving the way for broader adoption in both educational settings and everyday life.
In your opinion, what is the significance of the introduction of 3D printing technology to young creative people?
Toybox co-founder Ben Baltes
The introduction of 3D printing technology to young creatives is transformative, as it opens up new avenues for exploration, creativity, and innovation. It allows children to move beyond traditional play and engage in hands-on, interactive learning where they can produce their own toys and projects. Perhaps most importantly, it can be incredibly empowering for kids who have no purchasing power to create their own items at home.
How do you think 3D printing technology can enhance the learning experience and engage students at school, but also at home?
3D printing fosters design thinking and encourages a hands-on approach to problem solving. It’s incredibly important for kids to develop these skills and confidence at a young age as these skills are incredibly applicable to other parts of life.
3D printing technology has continued to evolve over the past few years. What innovations or technological breakthroughs do you think have been most important in making the technology easier to adopt?
The 3D printing industry has rapidly evolved over the last few years, making the technology easier to adopt. Initially, reliability and repeatability were critical to gaining traction, even though they may now be taken for granted. The integration of diverse materials and increased speed have also played significant roles. However, the most important aspect for mass market adoption, particularly for us, has been the improvements in user experience, especially from a software perspective, which ties the entire experience together. This focus on user experience has been one of the key factors in establishing us as a market leader.
What impact do you think 3D printing technology will have on society as a whole in the coming years?
In the coming years, we’re focused on making 3D printing more appealing to non-technical and non-hobbyist users. Advancements in hardware—such as multimaterial, multicolour, fast, and fully automated printing—combined with an exceptional user experience, intuitive interfaces, and beloved content that can be printed at the push of a button, will continue to make 3D printing accessible to a true consumer. This shift will encourage people to default to printing useful items at home rather than turning to stores or e-commerce websites.
