6 May 2026 · Workshop project · 3D printing

How I made my own magnetic toy

This article is a short diary of my personal project: a designer figure with magnetic joints that I can take apart and reassemble. It was a combination of quick sculpting on a tablet, precise refinement on the computer, 3D printing modular pieces with slots for neodymium magnets, and hand finishing before paint. I took some of the photos right at my desk at home — that is often a more realistic view than a studio gallery.

3D printed designer figure of a modular magnetic toy in raw filament on a table — The first more finished assembly after sanding, without final paint — a good reference for proportions before painting.

Why magnets at all?

The purpose of the magnets was not only aesthetic: I wanted a figure that does not break when swapping parts and that I can gradually expand (legs, arms, hat, add-ons). With disc-shaped neodymium magnets in precisely measured holes you get a firm yet reversible connection — without screws and without permanently gluing the whole thing shut.

1. Designing on a tablet and in Blender

I shaped the early volume in a digital sculpting app on a tablet (a workflow similar to Nomad Sculpt) — comfortable for the first forms of a "vinyl" figure with a big head and thick legs. Once I had a proportional idea, I transferred the model to Blender, split it into printable sections and added conical holes for the magnets so the poles hold correctly (always mark +/- before gluing).

Digital sculpt of the magnetic designer figure on a tablet in a 3D modeling app — A screenshot from the high-poly digital draft directly on the tablet — handy for iterating over coffee.

3D model of the designer figure, modeling in Blender, grey clay render of the modular parts — A Blender view of the whole before cutting it up for printing: soft "vinyl toy" proportions with separate parts for the head, torso and limbs.

2. Printing and surface preparation

I printed the parts in a light filament — it is easier to see sanding flaws and simpler to follow the assembly sequence. After printing I removed the supports, rounded off the sanded edges and started smoothing the critical surfaces for paint. In the photos it is not hard to notice the familiar circular structure of FDM printing; on the finished piece I reduced it with a combination of sanding and priming.

White 3D print prototype of the magnetic designer figure with a keychain anchor — An early prototype already with a keychain anchor — a functional add-on to test size and weight in the pocket.

Embedding the magnets

The hole should be 0.1–0.2 mm narrower than the diameter of the magnet disc for a tight fit. Before the final glue I held the magnets together like a stack and marked the direction; otherwise you very quickly end up in a situation where the parts repel instead of attract.

Laid-out 3D printed parts of the magnetic figure with embedded neodymium magnets on a table — Disassembled sections: you can see the magnet discs in the pre-prepared slots before final gluing.

Assembly of the magnetic legs of the modular designer figure, parts with open magnet holes — Test fit of the feet — the magnet pockets have to be just deep enough that the joint stays invisible from the side.

3. Photos from the process

The additional photos are purely utilitarian — they show combinations of parts on the home desk, some experimentation with the color blocks on the torso, and finally a bit of playfulness with the finishing layer. I was not going for the "studio look"; the goal was documentation that comes in handy for the next similar order.

Assembly of the magnetic pieces of the designer figure at a desk, a hand warming the parts during gluing

Set of modular parts of the designer figure, magnetic toy on a table, assembly

Home workshop setup: a few candles in the background, you leave the natural light as it is and keep the focus on the magnetic joints.

Set of parts of the magnetic designer figure laid out on a patterned canvas table — The parts gathered before a second sanding attempt — laid out like this, it is easier to see where the FDM lines disturb the silhouette most.

Set of parts of the modular designer figure, magnetic joints, seen from a bird's-eye view — Another angle at the same assembly stage: mass distribution matters if the figure is to stand without heavy imbalance on tiny feet.

4. Final look and paint

The finishing phase was a combination of acrylic paints and a few protective coats; a pastel mint as the base and contrasting pieces (e.g. belt, cap) give the figure a distinct "art toy" character. A small figure can already look more valuable with just two key color layers than an unfinished grey study in filament.

Painted modular designer figure, mint green with a black cap, 3D print artifact

Final details of the painted modular designer figure, mint green surface

Set of parts for the magnetic designer figure, partially assembled on a table — The last shot before wiping off the final dust particles, without photo retouching — this is how the real parts look before they leave the workshop for packaging or as a gift.

Video: sculpting → printing → magnets → assembly

Below is a short YouTube Short of the whole workflow — from the digital model and printing to embedding the magnets and the final assembly.

How does this connect to our services?

Similar principles of modular geometry, wall thickness and hand finishing also apply to bobbleheads and 3D statues from photos; the difference lies in the scale of the project and often in the finishing color language depending on the personality of the photo. If you need your own similar character for promotion, a gift or collecting, you can also ask us for custom art direction as part of a prototype value study.

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