Unleash Your Inner Child: The Ultimate 3D Printing Adventure!
Imagine a world where 3D printing is not just for tech-savvy adults, but a fun and accessible journey for kids and beginners! That's the vision behind the Toybox 3D Printer, a game-changer in the world of 3D printing.
With a rising interest in 3D printing among families and young enthusiasts, the market is flooded with small, user-friendly printers. However, many affordable models still require users to navigate assembly, calibration, and a slew of technical terms before they can even begin printing. That's where the Toybox stands out - it's a fully assembled, Wi-Fi-connected printer that operates primarily through a curated app, making printing a breeze.
Toybox Labs, founded in the mid-2010s, had a clear mission: to create a 3D printer tailored for kids. Unlike traditional hobbyist printers, Toybox focused on safety, simplicity, and age-appropriate design. No complex kits or endless tuning - just a ready-to-use system that sparks creativity without overwhelming young minds.
The Toybox 3D Printer is an instant charmer. Its open-framed design and compact size invite curiosity. Unlike most entry-level printers with a bed-slinger design, Toybox employs a CoreXY motion system. This means the print bed moves vertically, while the print head handles all X and Y movements. This approach ensures stability and a safe, compact footprint, perfect for kids.
For this review, we received the Toybox Alpha Three Pro Mega 3D Printer Bundle, designed for kids aged 5 and above with adult supervision. Since our original review in 2021, the Alpha Three has undergone significant upgrades. The bundle includes eight filament rolls, a month of Toybox Pro Membership, 5,000 Bolts for premium toy files, an EZ-Peel Bed, and access to over 7,000 free toy designs. The Alpha Three's hardware delivers up to double the print speed and 150% higher print detail, according to the company.
The bundle offers one-touch printing via iOS, Android, or a web browser. Kids can create their own toys from primitive shapes or even a text editor. Our experience with the Android app was incredibly simple and reliable, earning the Toybox another Editors' Choice award for basic budget 3D printing.
The Alpha Three's compact body measures around 9.5 x 7.75 x 7.5 inches and weighs about five pounds, making it perfect for tabletops. Even the 1.75mm PLA filaments come in smaller, kid-friendly spools. Compared to other small printers like the MakerBot Replicator Mini and Polaroid PlaySmart 3D Printer, the Toybox is significantly smaller, with the Bambu Lab A1 Mini being its closest competitor in terms of popularity.
While the Alpha Three's size is manageable, it comes with a trade-off - a small build volume of 2.75 x 3.2 x 3.5 inches. Setting up the Toybox is a breeze. You simply attach a filament roll to the back, place the magnetized rubber print bed on the platform, and you're ready to go.
The LCD screen guides you through the initial setup, prompting you to download the Toybox app and create a free account. Pairing your phone with the printer over Wi-Fi is a seamless process. The app provides clear instructions and feedback, making it easy to navigate.
Loading and unloading filament is a snap. The extruder is designed for easy top-loading, and the nozzle heats up quickly for both loading and unloading. This feature is especially handy when printing multi-part toys or using multiple colors.
The Toybox app, tested on a Pixel 9 Pro XL, offers several icons at the bottom. The Explore icon lets you search for toys or collections in the catalog, with each toy's print time displayed in minutes. Pressing the Print Me button initiates the print job.
One of the app's standout features is its ability to import STL files from other websites like Printables or Maker World. The app automatically slices these files, allowing you to scale them and generate supports for complex parts. This opens up a vast array of printing options.
The Toybox is factory-calibrated, but the app warns that the bed may require levelling. The app provides clear instructions and videos to guide you through the process. Using the bundled angled screwdriver, you can adjust the distance between the bed and the nozzle with half-turns. After a few adjustments, you'll achieve a perfect first layer.
One minor gripe is the location of the adjustment screw, which is awkwardly placed in the rear corner. An access hole in the top would have made adjustments easier.
Removing parts from the bed is a breeze. Instead of prying, as with many hobbyist machines, the Toybox's flexible, magnetically attached build plate allows you to lift your creation straight off the printer. A gentle bend is usually all it takes to release the part.
In terms of filament, the Toybox is a PLA-only printer, which is ideal for kids. The prints are non-toxic, and the toy prints are easy to work with. A pack of seven half-pound rolls costs $60, with individual spools ranging from $11 to $19. While Toybox's spools are more expensive per weight, the convenience of the kid-sized spools and the company's walled garden make it a worthwhile investment.
During our testing, we tried 98 prints, mostly from the Toybox catalog, and every single one was a success on the first try. The print quality was impressive, with minimal Z-banding or virtual artifacts, resulting in smooth, finished sides and walls. After a dozen prints, we forgot that this was a machine built for children, especially when it came to the calibration prints we typically use for higher-end machines.
Using the Toybox brought out the kid in us. We wanted to create increasingly complex prints, building our own kits of multicolored toys. It reminded us of our childhood toys - Fisher-Price Adventure People, Legos, and Star Wars action figures - and inspired us to create toys we remembered wanting as kids.
We started with a multicolored truck that snapped together easily. The sense of satisfaction was palpable. Next, we discovered spaceships in the app and chose a rocket that we would have loved as a child. The feeling was indescribable, and we found ourselves immersed in the process of choosing colors for another rocket ship, a snap-together model.
Through the lens of our inner child, we realized the impact this printer could have. The toys we played with as kids shaped who we became as adults. One toy, in particular, stands out - a robot arm called "Armatron" from Radio Shack. This toy, which we've kept all these years, became a companion for our new Toybox creations during our tests. It's hard to imagine the influence a Toybox could have had on us as kids.
The Toybox 3D Printer is more than just a tool - it's a gateway to creativity and imagination. It's a reminder that sometimes, the simplest and most accessible technologies can have the most profound impact.
