At the 2016 New York Toy Fair trade show this past weekend, toymaker Mattel announced a new 3D printer which will give children the ability to make their own toys, using Mattel's design templates as well as their own imagination.

The new 3D printer announced by Mattel is called 'ThingMaker.' It is a modern remake of Mattel's original 1960s ThingMaker which enabled users to make simple toys by pouring liquid plastic into toy molds and then baking them in the oven. The new ThingMaker is essentially a 2016 iteration of the original toy-making device, with 3D printing giving it a contemporary twist.

The new ThingMaker introduced by Mattel is now available for preorder from online retail giant Amazon; priced at $300. Mattel will expand the availability of the device from other retailers in fall this year.

In its announcement of the new ThingMaker 3D printer, Mattel said that the device will work in tandem with a companion 3D printing app dubbed ThingMakerDesign. The app - to be available for iOS and Android mobile platforms
- has been developed by Mattel in collaboration with the software firm Autodesk.

Asserting that the new ThingMaker 3D printer will allow children to explore their creativity in toy-making, Mattel said that, with the help of the device, children will be able to design their own accessories, characters, and toy animals, as well as necklaces and bracelets.