Japanese Firm Works On a Toy 3D Printer

Source: www.3dprinting.com

Remember the Printeer? The world’s first 3D printer for children? After a very successful Kickstarter campaign where it raised $117,210 with an initial goal of ‘just’ $50,000, it got canceled. Mission Street Manufacturing, the company behind the printer, sadlywrote to its backers: “after working on Printeer for over 16 months, we have determined that this project is not viable in its current form. We have therefore decided to suspend all development and manufacturing of Printeer. The whole Printeer team is quite upset to have arrived at this unhappy conclusion.” So was this it for children 3D printers? No, as a Japanese firm called Bonsai Lab announces the launch of BS Toy.

Many 3D printing enthousiasts are waiting on a functional 3D printer for kids, as kids are the future’s makers. The problem with most existing 3D printers is that they are not safe enough for children’s hands. The size of the machines might scare children off as well. The BS Toy, however, seems to be an exception to the rule. But before everyone – including your editors at 3dprinting.com – starts hyping up the printer, Bonsai Lab smartly refuses to use the c-word. No, instead of saying this is a children 3D printer, they call it a 3D printer for “educational or home use”.

Nevertheless, this printer has got all properties of a children’s model. It is a tiny 8-in (20 cm) cube with a weight of 4.4 lb (2 kg). In order to print with filaments like ABS and PLA, you need a printer nozzle of 180 degrees (356°F) or higher. The BS Toy’s temperature can’t get higher than 80 degrees (176°F). It uses special filament, designed by Printmakr. 80 degrees is still pretty hot, but it’s a lot colder – and safer – than 180 degrees.

The printer will be in stores by the end of the year. Visitors of last week’s Nuremberg Toy Fair got to see the prototype of the printer. Gizmag was there and they asked the company about the machine’s pricing. According to them, the price was estimated at $500 to $600 dollars. Last year, the company launched their BSo1+ in Japan, and with its 10 x 10 x 10 in (25 x 25 x 25 cm), this is also a relatively small 3D printer. The BSo1+ and the BS Toy both work with Windows 7+ and Mac OS X.

Image Source: Bonsai Labs