The EvD 'Make Your Laser Cut Toy' contest

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EvD is putting on the contest of the year and giving you a chance to kickstart your project with a design pack worthy of the excellence spewing forth from your brain pan!

Have you ever wanted to make your own toy? Or, maybe you already have an idea for one? Now is your chance to make it happen. We're not stopping at just designing it though, oh no. With this contest, you'll be able to get it in your hand, plus have the tools and resources to get your project ready for a crowdfunded product launch or begin making and selling it through Ponoko. Here's how it works...

Details: Simple. Create the coolest laser cut toy ever imagined.

Suggestions:
- Think about aspects that make it both attractive to kid makers and older makers
- Look through other laser cut Kickstarter projects that have been successfully funded
- Look through Ponoko's 2D design guide http://www.ponoko.com/make-and-sell/design-it-yourself
- Check out also WoodMarvels site for inspiration (Over 70 toys!) http://www.woodmarvels.com/category/toys

Rules

Multiple entries may be submitted. (each submission counts as an entry!)
Any medium is allowed, physical or virtual, so long as it communicates the design of an actual lasercut prototype: cut paper, cardboard, styrene, balsa wood, ginger bread, Sketchup, 123D, Rhino, SpaceClaim, SolidWorks, NX, or anything else you can think of... whatevs!
Only entries uploaded to GrabCAD library through this Challenge page will participate in the competition. Tag your files with “lasercuttoy” when uploading it to GrabCAD. Only entries with valid tag will participate!
This Challenge starts on Monday, October 8th, 2012
This Challenge ends on Monday November 12, 2012
All submissions must be made between Monday, October 8th (12am PDT) and Monday, November 12th, 2012 (11:59pm PDT)
Please include a universal CAD format, such as STEP or IGES, in the upload.
The winners will be announced before December 12th, 2012 on this Challenge page.

Prizes

One (1) Grand Prize entry receives:: Lenovo W530 mobile workstation + SpaceClaim Engineer license + entry cut by Ponoko + subscription to Develop3D + Pro membership at cadjunkie.com
Five (5) Runner-ups receive:: Ponoko Making Voucher worth $50
Premium cadjunkie.com membership
GrabCAD T shirt

About the jury?

Judging will be done by EvD and sponsors. Grand prize and runner-up prizes will be announced Monday, November 19th, 2012 on SolidSmack.com and sponsor sites.

About Sponsored by: Lenovo, SpaceClaim, Ponoko and Develop3D

Lenovo is a US$21 billion personal technology company and the world’s second-largest PC vendor with more than 26,000 employees in more than 60 countries serving customers in more than 160 countries. http://lenovo.com

SpaceClaim has become the leader in 3D Direct Modeling solutions for rapid concept design and geometry manipulation, with adoption rates within engineering, product development, and manufacturing companies soaring. http://www.spaceclaim.com

Ponoko is an online service for manufacturing.
http://www.ponoko.com/

DEVELOP3D is a print and digital resource which tracks the essential technologies used throughout the entire product development process. http://develop3d.com

46 comments

Comed 8 months ago

Is there a maximal size, or complexity to the design?

Comed has uploaded 26 CAD models & has left 162 comments.
Josh Mings 8 months ago

Hi Comed, You can get all the information on size and other tips for creating your lasercut design here: http://www.ponoko.com/starter-kits/design-tips-2d

Josh Mings has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 15 comments.
Angelo 8 months ago

oh man, this one excites me! ive always wanted to be a toy designer :D

Angelo has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 52 comments.
Santoo 8 months ago

Can the toy include movable links? I mean movable joints?

Santoo has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 10 comments.
Josh Mings 8 months ago

Hi Santoo, yes, it can include movable links/joints. It simply needs to be a laser-cuttable design, e.g. planar elements to create a 3D design.

Josh Mings has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 15 comments.
Luke Maselkowski 8 months ago

Can't wait to get started! Are we able to include components that aren't part of the laser cutting? Elastic, springs, string... that sort of thing?

Luke Maselkowski has uploaded 5 CAD models & has left 26 comments.
Hardi Meybaum 8 months ago

Wooood, Yes this is cool.

Hardi Meybaum has uploaded 5 CAD models & has left 1288 comments.
Romano Gaspari 8 months ago

thikness of plywood you prefer, please.

Romano Gaspari has uploaded 2 CAD models & has left 129 comments.
Saulo Rodrigues de Quevedo 8 months ago

Hello ..

I imagine the use of new tires for tractors and trucks and heavy weight load. May be several (6-16) buffers to simulate a tube or even water (which is used in rubber tires) with shoes steel or cast iron (these; type mat tanks). Will be great and the final cost of this type of tire can be much less than the cost of rubber tires for this application. It is a suggestion.

Saulo Quevedo

InovaStar Projects and Technology Solutions.

Saulo Rodrigues de Quevedo has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 2 comments.
Nick Hampton 8 months ago

Does the toy hafto be wood?Can perspex be used?

Nick Hampton has uploaded 17 CAD models & has left 21 comments.
Dr Beljan 7 months ago

What are the maximum allowable size for a wood?

I have never been able to find this information.

Dr Beljan has uploaded 54 CAD models & has left 137 comments.
Philippe Voinov 7 months ago

Does assembly complexity/time matter? What about cost? Can the design be extremely complicated (1000's of pieces) or should it be simple yet cool?

Philippe Voinov has uploaded 5 CAD models & has left 11 comments.
Josh Mings 7 months ago

For questions on size of wood you can see the material catalog here: http://www.ponoko.com/make-and-sell/materials/ponoko-united-states?kind=Wood&mode=materials

The largest size possible is 31.1 inches by 15.1 inches (790mm x 384mm). 2D Design templates are avaialable here: http://www.ponoko.com/make-and-sell/downloads#templates

Josh Mings has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 15 comments.
Josh Mings 7 months ago

You can use any of the available laser cut materials on Ponoko, including acrylic.

Josh Mings has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 15 comments.
Josh Mings 7 months ago

Philippe, I would lean toward "simple yet cool". There are the "Suggestions" above to consider. The idea is that this could be an actual product. You want it to appeal to a wide variety of kiddos/parents. I recently bought this desktop ballista - it was a fun and functional toy with some history and stories behind it. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/694850905/the-desktop-ballista-shoot-toothpicks-into-the-anc

Josh Mings has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 15 comments.
edgarinventor 7 months ago

Suppose someone not in the USA gets the 1st prize. What about the Shipping?

edgarinventor has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 3 comments.
Paulo Bubolz 7 months ago

I have the same question about shipping..

Paulo Bubolz has uploaded 11 CAD models & has left 50 comments.
Paulo Bubolz 7 months ago

I really need to post the IGS File?
If I do this my designs can be copied by anyone without my permission...

Paulo Bubolz has uploaded 11 CAD models & has left 50 comments.
Josh Mings 7 months ago

We'll work with the winner to line-up shipping if they are not in the USA. Typically, this hasn't been a problem.

Josh Mings has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 15 comments.
Josh Mings 7 months ago

Paulo, you can always submit your entry as a private entry or just upload screenshots, renderings or other images of the design. Best to let everyone see the images at the very least! Thanks!

Josh Mings has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 15 comments.
masynmachien 7 months ago

Hi, can the lasercut parts be combined with common hardware and materials, or does it need to be made entirely by lasercutting?

masynmachien has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 2 comments.
andres cacho 7 months ago

can i propose to print some parts of the toy?

andres cacho has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 2 comments.
teigan 7 months ago

what qualifies as a toy? there are chairs and lamps in the contest that not only are not toys, they would not appeal to kids at all. are we broadening the contest guidelines? because if so there should be an official statement, to let everyone know that nontoys are just as eligible as toys.

teigan has uploaded 14 CAD models & has left 162 comments.
Josh Mings 7 months ago

Hi Teigan, it definitely needs to have the appeal to younger children. As said in the suggestions above, " Think about aspects that make it both attractive to kid makers and older makers." In this case, there may be some that would not qualify. The judges will be part of deciding that, along with what lines up with the manufacturing guidelines for laser cut parts. I hope this answers you question! Good luck!!

Josh Mings has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 15 comments.
Eduardo Santos 6 months ago

I'm not able to see my project on the entries. How do I know that it is being considered for the challenge?

Eduardo Santos has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1 comments.
teigan 6 months ago

too many projects are including parts which can't be laser cut like round wooden dowels or even steel axles. isn't that cheating?

teigan has uploaded 14 CAD models & has left 162 comments.
Alar Jõgi 6 months ago

Tryed to submit an antry 2 times. Still not seen in entry list. Is my design accepted or not ? - Catamaran sailboat : luxury edition

Alar Jõgi has uploaded 14 CAD models & has left 22 comments.
Kaspar Kiis 6 months ago

We will not miss off any of the entries. Please check back in 12 hours and send me an e-mail to kaspar@grabcad.com if it is still not in the list: http://grabcad.com/challenges/the-evd-make-your-laser-cut-toy-contest/entries Sorry about the inconveniences.

Kaspar Kiis has uploaded 3 CAD models & has left 1122 comments.
Josh Mings 6 months ago

Teigan, not to worry, we will all be looking at the entries and keeping in mind what qualifies as a toy and something that can be laser cut.

Josh Mings has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 15 comments.
Josh Mings 6 months ago

Thanks everyone for participating in the competition! We'll be going through all the entries and announcing the winner Monday, November 19th.

Josh Mings has uploaded 0 CAD models & has left 15 comments.
Paulo Bubolz 6 months ago

Thank you Josh and the sponsors for the opportunity!

Paulo Bubolz has uploaded 11 CAD models & has left 50 comments.
bogy 6 months ago

When we might expect the results?

bogy has uploaded 12 CAD models & has left 3 comments.
Nick Hampton 6 months ago

Winners are now up on Solid smack-Congrats to the winner!

Nick Hampton has uploaded 17 CAD models & has left 21 comments.
DOUGWAR 6 months ago

It's not fair, 80% of winners doesn't work in real world, and the big winner model is very close to marvels model, and the ferrywheels is subtract of scrollsaw magazine.

Very sad

DOUGWAR has uploaded 15 CAD models & has left 8 comments.
reza 6 months ago

I agree .Very sad .

reza has uploaded 90 CAD models & has left 1092 comments.
Mohammad Shubbak 6 months ago

Congratulations to all the winners :-)

Mohammad Shubbak has uploaded 88 CAD models & has left 685 comments.
Bob Spikman 6 months ago

@Dougwar - probably its just those which are the most inspiring to the jury/company, and fair to show those who have put a lot of effort in the competition.

Bob Spikman has uploaded 4 CAD models & has left 9 comments.
Tom Fred 6 months ago

Congratulations to winners,But
there were wonderful designs like:

Taj mahal By KFZ-Schule
Wooden space shuttle By Mohammad Shubbak
Wooden train By Mohammad Shubbak
Fusca convertible - puzzle 3d By Paulo Bubolz
Tyrannosaurus rex - puzzle 3d By Paulo Bubolz
Ferris wheel for kids By Ravinder Saggam
Bird By reza allahyari

Did not win, unfortunately I'm not quite satisfied with the results.
hard luck for you Engineers.

Tom Fred has uploaded 10 CAD models & has left 162 comments.
Jon Calvert 6 months ago

wow, i definitely didn't tag mine with lasercuttoy :(

Jon Calvert has uploaded 4 CAD models & has left 3 comments.
Joe Webster 6 months ago

Congrats to all the winners! Very nice work.

Joe Webster has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 66 comments.
Simonr 6 months ago

Well done to the winners - the Castle was a good choice. Not as cool from an engineeringnerd point of view as the hand or lion, but probably has the most play value in it. There were some really cool designs altogether.

Simonr has uploaded 18 CAD models & has left 143 comments.
Branko Stokuca 6 months ago

Congrats to winners. Great models whatsoever.

Branko Stokuca has uploaded 104 CAD models & has left 741 comments.
DOUGWAR 6 months ago

The great winner Andrea garuti, no description on your profile, on entry in grabcad then won!! Hahaha, and another's wins teach me how turning pin and axis on laser cut.

DOUGWAR has uploaded 15 CAD models & has left 8 comments.
Andrea Garuti 6 months ago

Many thanks!
I think a lot of other works are better than mine from the point of view of the 3D design, but cad drawing ,woodworking, and make toys for my children are three of my best passions. This challenge was "lasercut" around me and I'm very happy that my work was chosen as the winner.

Andrea Garuti has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1 comments.
Hardi Meybaum 6 months ago

Congrats to all the winners. Can't wait to actually manufacture some of these projects.

Hardi Meybaum has uploaded 5 CAD models & has left 1288 comments.
DOUGWAR about 1 month ago

http://www.finescrollsaw.com/ferris-wheel.htm

DOUGWAR has uploaded 15 CAD models & has left 8 comments.