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Collage of computer-generated and physical parts to invent a toy

Invent a Toy with Spark!Lab, Instructables, and Tinkercad!

Invent a Toy

December 8, 2020 by Lemelson Center

Invent a new toy with virtual materials—or create your own parts and pieces.

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Welcome to Spark!Lab digital. This is an online invention space where you get to be the inventor. There are no wrong answers. Think like an inventor: how does your design solve a problem?

Using Tinkercad, you can delete, reshape, and duplicate elements—and you can create new parts, too.


The Lemelson Center gratefully acknowledges support from ConocoPhillips for this toy design activity.



 

  1. Supplies

    Free Tinkercad account 

    Your inventive creativity!

    "Invent a Toy" parts from the Tinkercad website

  2. Invention Is a Process

    There are just two things to keep in mind as you invent a toy:

    1. The invention process is not always linear, but inventors engage in these steps in some form or another: 

    Think it: Have a great idea for an invention

    Explore it: Investigate inventions and ideas of the past

    Sketch it: Draw pictures and diagrams to figure out how your invention might work

    Create it: Build a prototype or model of your idea

    Try it: Test your invention

    Tweak it: Keep improving your idea

    Sell it: Market your invention to people who might buy it

    2. We also know everyone is inventive—and we do mean everyone! Today, you become the inventor. You will try new ideas, take risks, and learn how to keep going when things don’t go as planned.

     

  3. Now head over to Instructables to start inventing with Tinkercad!

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