3D printers are undeniably cool, but their price also puts them out of the reach of most; that’s where 3Doodler steps in, a 3D printing pen hitting Kickstarter today
and promising to make sketches physical. The chubby stylus squirts out
of a stream of thermoplastic from its 270 degree-C nib, which is
instantly cooled by an integrated fan. By laying different streams of
plastic, tugging up streams of it to make 3D structures, and piecing
different layers together, you can create 3D designs on a budget.
In fact, early Kickstarter backers will be able to get the 3Doodler
from $50, though that award tier is already nearly halfway claimed at
time of writing. Next is the $75 bracket, which should stick around a
little longer, with the eventual Kickstarter goal being $30,000.
Unlike traditional printers, which require programming, the 3Doodler
takes a more abstract approach. You can freeform draw sketches, or
alternatively trace out patterns that have been printed, and then peel
the set plastic off; 3Doodler suggests possibilities include jewelry, 3D
models, artwork, and more.
It’s not going to be the way you print your next
coffee cup or car wheel, as we’ve seen promised from regular 3D
printers, but the plug-and-play approach has plenty of appeal
nonetheless. The Kickstarter runs for the next month, with first
deliveries expected in the fall of 2013 assuming it’s funded.