Safer Toddlers Toy Car

thingiverse

Newton101 designed a really cute toy car that I printed out, but it had very sharp edges that were prone to breaking off easily, and the wheels posed a choking hazard due to their small size - only 23mm in diameter or about 0.9 inches. In the U.S., any object under 1.25 inches (31.75mm) in diameter is considered a choking hazard. I didn't want to give this toy car to my daughter because I knew she would break off the wheels, and if she hit someone or fell on it, the sharp edges could cause injury. So I decided to make some modifications to ensure her safety. First, I widened the body of the car slightly so that I could use 12mm M4 screws to secure the wheels in place. Next, I smoothed out the body and rounded all the corners to eliminate any rough edges or points. For the wheels, I made them larger - 40mm in diameter - and instead of fragile pins, I attached them to the body with four sturdy M4 12mm screws. The fit is very tight, so the wheels will never come loose without a hex wrench. I'd like to thank Newton101 for designing such an awesome toy car. With these modifications, I feel confident giving it to my daughter as a Christmas present. Perhaps in future versions, I'll add back the headlights that got in the way of rounding out the body.