Bringing The Mandalorian's Gadgets to Life
What happens when you get a team of engineers and technologists together to see if they can recreate devices only found in comics, television shows, and in superhero films?
Edited by Terry Persun
Film and TV
Aug 4, 2026
In Chapter Six of The Hacklorian series, Hacksmith Industries focuses on designing and fabricating Mando’s grappling hook winch, based on the Disney+ show, The Mandalorian. As many engineers know, the crew at Hacksmith Industries has been designing and building all types of functioning prototypes of devices originally created in comics, movies, and video games, such as Captain America’s shield, Thor’s Hammer, Star Wars light saber, the entire Mandalorian suit and other projects. Their whole idea is to “make it real” and they’ve done an inspiring job at doing just that.
Like any designs of something truly innovative there are failures and successes. The greatest thing about The Hacklorian series as well as their other videos is that the team doesn’t give up. You get to experience not only the failures but an explanation as to what their fix is. Every company that they partner with has to sign up for a similar commitment.
When the Hacksmith team decided to prototype the world’s fastest grappling hook winch, made famous on The Mandalorian series, they partnered with Protolabs. Using direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), Protolabs was able to 3D print the metal revolving spool which controls the rope connected to the grappling hook. The winch had to easily lift as much as 200 lbs, which would be a testament to the durability and strength of metal 3D-printed parts.
DMLS is an industrial metal 3D printing process that builds fully functional metal prototypes as well as production parts depending on the application. This technology is typically used when a company requires production-grade parts or functional parts for end-use. Because DMLS uses 3D printing technologies the machines are able to create complex geometries, and often reduce the number of metal components in an assembly.
Protolabs services its customers with multiple 3D printing technologies for a wide variety of applications across all industries. When accuracy and repeatability are needed, Protolabs can select the right system for the required outcome. In addition, the company is able to provide design suggestions to help improve part manufacturability, enhance cosmetic appearance, and reduce overall production time. For the Hacksmith Industries application, Protolabs was able to provide fast turnarounds within the rigid specifications the application required.
Through their YouTube channel, Hacksmith Industries aims to inspire the next generation to consider STEM fields. Protolabs was excited to play a role in that mission.
*Images courtesy of Disney, sourced from MovieStillsdb.
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