Can you imagine!

[catlover51]

I was just looking at funny pictures and articles and this popped up. If it is real or will be one day. Awesome!

http://www.origo3dprinting.com/what-is-origo/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/childsown/

[zuse]

3D printers exist. And they can be sent information from across the world to print something. So who knows when it will be actually practical to produce as a children's toy (the refill packs will be annoying, haha).

Here's a homemade one:
http://hw.libsyn.com/p/c/2/e/c2e617378740940c/3dprint-070111.mp4?sid=eccc023c765425dfd46fe7f9b9e35c31&l_sid=18801&l_eid=&l_mid=2376116

[Mysstica]

Yeah, I read or saw something about this recently. (Maybe it was on cracked.com??) Very very cool, although it's definately hard to wrap your mind around!!!

[invaderhorizongreen]

i can see something like this as a bootleggers dream come true !

[Stefanie]

We use 3D printing in the toy industry all the time. In fact, a very high percentage of the toys and dolls you see on the shelves at this very moment, were spawned on a 3D printer. The 2D design with dimensions, photos, etc. goes to a model maker, who uses 3D technology to model the toy. After tweaks and approvals, the prototype is 'printed', and sent to China for manufacture. (Or the prototype is created on-site in China, and photos are sent to the toy designer for approval.)  Sometimes a real sculptor is involved, sometimes not. It's a high-tech world in the toy industry!