A small hardware startup's snap-fit 3D-printed joint kits sold out within hours of opening pre-orders, driven largely by word of mouth among puppet makers frustrated with the limited articulation of standard felt construction.
The joints snap into a puppet's existing felt body and allow for a wider range of motion at the base of each finger, letting puppeteers produce more expressive gestures without redesigning the puppet's core structure.
The company says it's ramping production and expects the next batch to ship within two months, though it's stopped taking new pre-orders until the current backlog clears.