Any companys use 3D printers?

[Sauropelta]

Question above. Seems much easier and the next step in toy making.

[Takama]

Schleich Digitally Sculpts some of there models.    It even made it in a "How its made Episode".


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5KRawOXy4U

[CityRaptor]

Hasbro also pretty obviously did it with their JW line.

[stargatedalek]

Papo does it for some of their models, or at least uses it in the sculpting process. They even have an octopus where they forgot to clean the print before casting it and you can see the step lines.

I doubt 3D printing will ever outright replace sculpting by hand, especially since with the rise in 3D printers we're also seeing a rise in quality of 3D scanners. How ironic that physical model production is going digital just as 3D model design is going analogue!

What I do expect to see is less reliance on hand-built armatures, 3D printed armatures can be made quickly and posed easily, and are significantly cheaper than filling in the "internal" space with clay.