Ingocraft Launches Kickstarter Campaign to Fund 3D Printed Construction Sets Featuring ‘Tools, Not Toys’

The makers are getting younger and younger, thanks to Ingocraft, with the introduction of the first 3D printed construction set that contains fun, interactive parts and tools geared toward the tykes in our modern and ultra high-tech world. While some members of the older generations may be resistant to or feel stumped by new technology — and especially 3D printing — young children are naturally inclined to jump right into the fluid, creative learning of 3D design and 3D printing.

3D printing just has a huge ‘wow’ factor, and kids are very receptive, as they haven’t yet learned to be intimidated by high-tech tools or software. Ingocraft allows them to learn both in building physical and conceptual structures, and is a good building block to STEM education.

Sarasota, Florida-based Ingocraft has just launched their Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for Ingocraft kits, which arrive to the child in the form of a ready-to-use construction set made of 3D printed parts ready to be put together. The kids are supplied with a 3D design app so they can create their own designs, add to the Ingocraft set they already have, and either 3D print them at home or send them to a 3D printing source. It makes sense that the creators, Marianne and Andreas, are from Switzerland, as their touch is apparent in the Ingocraft kits which have a colorful, streamlined European design.

The Ingocraft creators were inspired to come up with their own toolbox idea after frustration grew with the generic toyboxes for kids that came chock full of fake tools unable to actually help a child complete a basic project.

While the Ingocraft kit is composed of ‘tools, not toys,’ the enjoyment factor appears to be enormous for kids who enjoy nothing more than emulating their adult counterparts and taking on ‘projects.’ The components snap and screw together, allowing easy model construction. The 3D modeling app encourages kids to employ spatial design, as it allows them to play games and take on challenges, or freely design and share their own models.

“A lot of people equate desktop 3D printing with the first desktop computers. I think if we take this analogy, and realize it was computer games that made desktop computing accessible and fun for kids, we may find that Ingocraft is very similar, and is taking a shot at helping raise the next generation of 3D printers,” Mike Benjamin, designer at Ingocraft, told 3DPrint.com.

Not only did they create something more appropriate and educational, they built it in a superb way to introduce 3D design and 3D printing to the makers of the future.

“The app and the 3D printability came from a realization that modern making is more than just nuts and bolts — it is 3D modeling and 3D printing these days,” said Benjamin.

Ingocraft presents a great way for kids to use their imagination in building structures both with the Ingocraft kit and in 3D design, with the opportunity to share with others and build on their designs as well. They also offer expansion kits that can be sent throughout the year to help kids in expanding their Ingocraft collections.

Share your thoughts with us about the Ingocraft concept in the Ingocraft Launches Kickstarter Campaign forum at 3DPrint.com. Be sure to check out Ingocraft’s video explaining their concept: