Many people wonder if they can use their own small toys in toy crane machines rather than relying on the pre-loaded prizes. The short answer is generally no - most commercial crane machines require specific types of toys provided by the arcade or machine operator. There are several important reasons for this restriction. First, crane machines are calibrated for specific weight and size parameters to maintain proper game difficulty and functionality. Using random toys could disrupt the machine's balance and claw strength settings. Second, commercial establishments have liability and safety considerations - they need to ensure all prizes meet safety standards and don't contain hazardous materials. Additionally, arcades typically have contracts with toy suppliers and want to maintain consistent branding and quality across their prize offerings. Some independent machine owners might allow custom toys for private events or special arrangements, but this is uncommon in public settings. If you're passionate about using specific toys, your best approach would be to speak directly with the location manager about their policies, though most will decline for operational and legal reasons. For home crane machine owners, however, you have complete freedom to use whatever toys fit properly within your machine's specifications.