When you see a colorful toy crane machine in an arcade or store, you might wonder about its construction. The answer to whether it's mostly made of plastic or metal is: it's a combination of both, but modern machines primarily use plastic for the exterior and key structural components.

The outer cabinet, decorative panels, and the prize compartment are almost exclusively made from durable, molded ABS plastic. This makes the machines lighter, cheaper to produce, and allows for vibrant graphics and themes. The iconic claw mechanism itself, however, is typically metal—often steel or aluminum—to provide the necessary strength and precision for grabbing prizes.

Critical internal parts like the main frame, support beams, and the moving gantry that carries the claw along the X and Y axes are usually constructed from metal for stability. The electrical systems, motors, and wiring are housed within this metal-plastic hybrid structure.

So, while the visual bulk of the machine is plastic, its "skeleton" and working mechanisms rely on metal. This plastic-over-metal design offers a good balance of cost-effectiveness, safety, and the structural integrity needed for repeated public use.