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3D pen? — Parallax Forums

3D pen?

GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
edited 2013-02-21 14:37 in General Discussion
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1351910088/3doodler-the-worlds-first-3d-printing-pen

Methinks this one would make a great Xmas present for my niece...

EDIT:
Fully backed within a couple of hours...

All the $50 units are taken(I got one... ), but it's still possible to get a $75 version.
(You get more plastic with the $75 package)

Comments

  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2013-02-19 05:46
    Ok, now that's just really clever! This could be just too much fun to play with.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2013-02-19 05:55
    That is a neat idea. You could also use the pen with a homemade CNC to build a quick and dirty 3D printer.
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2013-02-19 06:02
    Possibly, but...

    The built-in motor can't pull plastic from a large coil/spool.
    Its only designed to work with short pieces ( 1 foot is suggested, but longer will also work)

    So, you'd either need to set up some sort of external motor feed, or do it by hand.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-02-19 08:49
    Basically a hot melt glue gun rebadged as “rapid prototyping”. Genius marketing!
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2013-02-19 10:04
    Well, there's a bit more to it than that, but yes the basic working principle is the same.

    A hot melt glue gun isn't the best tool for precision work, though...

    They've already passed 1400 backers, though, and a total of over $126.000, so there's a few who thinks it's a good idea.

    Just admit it, you wish that you had thought of it yourself... ;-)
  • Mark_TMark_T Posts: 1,981
    edited 2013-02-19 13:06
    erco wrote: »
    Basically a hot melt glue gun rebadged as “rapid prototyping”. Genius marketing!

    ABS extrusion is a lot trickier than squirting out hot glue, given all the trouble people have with homemade 3D printer hot-ends!

    And hot-melt glue would be hopeless at this I think, it doesn't solidify properly.

    My guess is 50% of the backers are thinking "bet that would make a simple hot-end for a reprap".
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,243
    edited 2013-02-19 14:20
    Whoa. That is pretty cool.
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2013-02-19 14:28
    Mark_T wrote: »
    And hot-melt glue would be hopeless at this I think, it doesn't solidify properly.
    I wonder if you had fans or a cold environment it would cool and solidify rapidly enough for sculpturing?
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-02-19 14:35
    Mark_T wrote: »
    And hot-melt glue would be hopeless at this I think, it doesn't solidify properly.

    Certainly not traditional HM glue, but there are numerous alternative materials. Some very smart people have been working on this for a while.
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2013-02-19 14:41
    If the glue was spattered out rapidly it could cool enough to still be adhesive but solidify almost immediately on contact
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2013-02-20 08:10
    Whoa! Didn't see this thread or the kickstarter! How do I delete my repeat thread?

    Let's see, launched Feb 19. Feb 20, funding is $642,000 of $30,000. 7,200 backers, $75 to get one. All the $125 are gone, and the $99 are going. You can watch the funding increase as the page updates every couple minutes. Oops! Up to $646,000 as I type this. 2100% funding in one day! Maybe this is worth mentioning more than once!

    If I had money, I'd buy one. But since I have left over parts from my hot-end build, I might make my own.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2013-02-21 12:05
    $1.2 million in 24 hours. I'm definitely in the wrong racket
  • Tim-MTim-M Posts: 522
    edited 2013-02-21 14:37
    KickStarter and sites like them are an amazing resource... unbelievable how some of these ideas take off at scary rates and short turn-around times!
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