3Doodler Review: A $99 3D Printing Pen

I’ve spent quite a bit of time trying to explain WobbleWorks 3Doodler to people over the last year or so. My descriptions generally alternate between the company’s slightly misleading “3D printing pen” and “a kind of hot glue gun that melts plastic, so you can write in thin air.” Makes sense, right? The company didn’t have much trouble getting the message across, though: It raised a staggering $2.3 million on Kickstarter after initially targeting just $30,000. And really, it may be precisely the rarity of the product that made it such a huge hit with the crowdfunding community in the first place.

In a world of smartphones, tablets, and even similar 3D printers, the 3Doodler offers something unique, allowing users to create strange new works of art, and it does so at a seemingly reasonable price of $99. It looks like the pen may have the “tech gift for the early adopter who has everything” title wrapped up pretty well (although only backers will get it in time for the holidays, the rest of us will have to wait for a late release). 2014 arrival) But crowdfunding videos aside, how well does it really work? Is this really a smart way to spend a Benjamin? More importantly, is it really fun?

advantage

• Innovative
• Affordable
• easy setup

Cons

• hard to master
• tethered connection
• can get old fast

Hardware

As the saying goes, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. And sometimes there’s a manual 3D printer trapped inside. Overall, not much has changed in the shell of 3Doodler since its creators first brought a prototype to our offices in February. The oblong device is covered by a hard black plastic shell. It’s lightweight and easy to hold between your thumb, index, and middle fingers, like a thick pencil. At the top, you will see two rubber arrow buttons. These will help you control the speeds at which the plastic comes out of the pen. Above this is a small LED that lets you know when the 3Doodler is heating up (solid red) and when it has reached the right temperature for printing ABS (blue) and PLA (green) plastics. Plus, you’ll also find a big fan, a must for a portable product designed to heat things up to 464 degrees Fahrenheit.

Flip the pen over and you’ll see a pectoral fin-like growth, which is where you’ll plug in the power cord when you’re ready to go. Being a first-generation product, it’s not that surprising that the company had to keep the device tethered. Without a doubt, the inclusion of an internal battery would significantly increase the weight and size of the device. To the left of the power port is a heavy power switch. There are three settings here: Off, PLA, and ABS, which let the 3Doodler know how hot it needs to be to print the type of plastic you’ve loaded. On the left is a three-pin control port. By using this and the external mount below, it is possible to mount the 3Doodler to a CNC machine, to help the device really develop its 3D printer potential.

At one end of the device is a metal spike. Needless to say (at least it should) things get hot. Very very hot. Like plastic that melts in the heat. So you’ll want to avoid touching that part when the device is in use. Just in case, though (and to help you earn that 12+ designation), the shipping version of the product features a rubber cap that slips over the tip, protecting your delicate artist fingers from most of the burning metal. However, even with the cover on, it will still be a bit exposed, so definitely be careful, especially when using the 3Doodler with children. At the back, meanwhile, there is a small hole to insert the plastic strips.

Starting

The first step of 3Doodler? Plug in the pen, naturally. The included cord is about six feet long, so you’ll need to find a flat surface next to an outlet or invest in an extension cord. Next, it’s time to liven up this party by turning on the power switch. As mentioned above, the pen works with ABS or PLA type plastics, both of which are common options for most commercial 3D printers. When you buy a 3Doodler, you’ll need to specify which one you want. Mine came with three packs of ABS, which is better for sucking in air – a big part of the device’s appeal, obviously. PLA, on the other hand, is better at sticking to surfaces and is a bit more eco-friendly as it is derived from cornstarch (this also means it gives off a less unpleasant smell when melted). Additional plastic packets will set you back ten dollars each.

Warming up the device to ABS levels (around 450 degrees) takes just under a minute, 55 seconds, to be precise. Leave the 3Doodler idle long enough and it will automatically start to cool down again, but you can turn the temperature back up by turning it off and on again. Once the light turns blue or green (depending on which material you prefer), take one of the plastic rods and insert it into the magazine slot on the back, pushing it in until you can’t push any further. Then press one of the extrude arrows to start the process. I counted about five seconds before I started seeing a stream of plastic from the nozzle, but once it starts, you’re ready for the races.

He drew

I suspect I’m not surprising anyone here when I tell you that drawing a 3D object is not easy. My first attempts were shaky at best. I tried to draw a rabbit, only to produce something that looked more like a melted pile of Dali-esque surrealism, or that scrawled Picasso drawing of Don Quixote left on a car dashboard in mid-July. However, drawing on a flat surface is pretty simple, and tracing seems like a good place to start with the new tool. Lay a thin sheet of paper over a well-defined image and go to town. I’ve also tried drawing the new Engadget logo freehand, and I’m reasonably pleased with the result: a basic outline filled with plastic scribbles.

The problem starts when you try to draw in the air. Basically, you’re creating the support structure as you draw, designing something to support the plastic as it hardens and dries. It’s kind of a race against gravity that’s bound to result in a lot of frantic doodles, hence the melting effect mentioned above. There are two extrusion settings, as mentioned above, but I spent most of my time on the bottom setting. I’ll have to draw a few more bunnies before I feel comfortable shifting into second gear. I also had some issues with bits of plastic left hanging when you stopped the extrusion. Do this too many times and you’ll have a bit of a mess on your hands.

Above: Look, a bunny!

Fortunately, the 3Doodler itself doesn’t get too hot, although the fan blows a fair amount of warm air onto your hands, which, on a cold December day, isn’t entirely unpleasant. However, things got a bit noisy. It’s not deafening by any means, but if your computer’s fan started making noises like this, you’d probably find an all-night repair shop. And then there is the smell. It’s not overwhelming, but WobbleWorks should probably avoid sinking its fortune in the perfume business.

When the piece of plastic is used up, the extrusion will slow down and then stop. Just throw another piece in the back and it’s ready to go back after a few seconds. I was a bit surprised at how quickly I burned through the plastic. You’ll want to order a couple of bags as you get started. The 3Doodler won’t magically extrude drawing skills if you don’t have any artistic skills, so you’ll likely be going through things at a fairly rapid pace. When you’re done with one color, you can pull it out the back if there’s still some sticking out. However, if it’s all inside the pen, you’ll have to wait until it’s fully extruded.

To wrap

As for how much fun the 3Doodler really is, well, that’s completely up to you. I put the pen down a couple of times out of frustration at my inability to make 3D objects look the way I wanted, a combination of my inexperience with the device and the fact that I’m not even good at drawing. the old way. Artistic types will probably find some really fascinating applications for the product. However, I don’t see 3Doodler becoming a tool for commercial purposes like prototyping – the results are too uneven.

If you have $100 to spare or need a gift for a notoriously hard-to-buy friend or relative, the 3Doodler is certainly worth checking out. It’s pretty well set up, as far as first-generation crowdfunding products go. Hopefully the company will remove the wire in future releases, and maybe there’s something that can be done about the runoff threads. As for making it more user-friendly, well, that’s just going to take time, practice, and a lot of plastic bags.