It’s a pinball machine that fits on a shelf – and provides a dose of STEM education, too! PinBox 3000 from Vermont-based Cardboard Teck Instantute is a fully customizable pinball machine made entirely of high-quality, corrugated cardboard.
Each kit comes with 39 precision die-cut parts that use slot-and-tab assembly so there’s no need for extra tools. The two flippers and requisite marble launcher are all powered by rubber bands.
Once constructed, the PinBox 3000 is about 24” x 14” x 12″ in size, and can be customized using a variety of craft supplies. Pinball wizards can determine the placement of various bumps, jumps, ramps, and rails. The Cardboard Teck Instantute provides two interchangeable playboards in each kit – these can be swapped out to provide different gaming experiences as well as encourage STEM-friendly problem solving and design planning.
A variety of expansion bundles complement the base kit, such as Swamp Quest, Glorkian Warrior, and Monster Sweets. These kits include additional designed die-cut elements and sticker sets to give the PinBox 3000 a professionally designed arcade aesthetic. There’s even a multiplayer “battlemode” made possible by connecting two PinBox 3000 kits together.
PinBox 3000 is available from a variety of online resellers and direct from the company’s online store. The base kit checks in at $49.95 USD with expansion packs running $20.00 each.
