I
f 3D printers seem too expensive, or too technically complex, WobbleWorks' 3Doodler
3D printing pen looks like a budget- and user-friendly alternative. It also looks
like a ton of fun.
The idea behind the 3Doodler is that it takes the core functionality of a 3D printer,
essentially an extruder and a heat source, and jams it into a pen-shaped handheld
device. Loaded with either ABS or PLA plastic, common feedstock for traditional 3D
printers, the 3Doodler "prints" plastic objects by letting you draw them in freehand
in three-dimensional space.
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| 3Doodler In Action !!! |
Among the various use cases for the 3Doodler, the Kickstarter page suggests you can
use it to customize existing plastic objects, to make ad hoc repairs, and also with
stencils to make more-precise drawings. A free-hand pen probably won't allow for
engineer-class precision like you can get with a traditional 3D printer, but WobbleWorks
envisions a vast community of users that swap downloadable stencils for use with
the 3Doodler.
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| Awesome Creativity with 3Doodler !!! |
The pen is quite a chubster at 24mm wide and 180mm long. It
weighs less than 200g and uses a universal power supply. Each pen
comes with 1kg of ABS plastic, which is enough for up to 1,240m of
doodling. Sadly, the product is not suitable for kids -- only
big kids -- as the metal nip can reach temperatures of up to
270C.
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| Awesome Creativity with 3Doodler !!! |
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| Awesome Creativity with 3Doodler !!! |
It uses ABS plastic, the device creates drawings in the air or on surfaces, requiring no software or computers.It works by extruding heated plastic, which quickly cools and solidifies into a strong stable structure. Objects can be created as flat forms and peeled off a piece of paper as freestyle three-dimensional shapes, or in separate parts, ready to be joined together using the pen.
