3Doodler: World's first 3D printing pen hits Kickstarter

A toy company called WoobleWorks has set up a Kickstarter campaign this week for its 3D printing pen, 3Doodler. The gadget is a world first and will allow users to draw creations, which are then sculpted into 3D objects at the same time (see some cool examples below).

We imagine most people will begin drawing 2D objects they see on the page, so let’s just say a picture of a cat, that’ll then be printed as a flat image of the same cat. However, as it’s 3D, you can create a 2D image and then build upon it. The Next Web uses the example of drawing a 2D square and then simply lifting the pen off the page to imagine and then create a cube, which takes sketching your ideas with your finger in the air to a whole new and exciting level.

The pen uses ABS Plastic (the same material used by most 3D printers) to create the 3D models. As you draw with the 3Doodler it pumps out heated plastic, which then quickly cools to leave the stable structures you can see from the creations above.

There’s no software or computers needed, just a plug socket and although the pen may look a bit like something you’d find in a tool box right now, it’s been designed to be easy-to-hold and we imagine it might get a bit of a makeover once funding is secured too.

The cool thing about 3Doodler is that it’s not been created with a specific demographic in mind, making it accessible for everyone from top designers to kids, we love this quote from the Kickstarter page blurb:

“If you can scribble, trace or wave a finger in the air you can use a 3Doodler”

A pledge of $50 or more will get you a final version of the 3Doodler, but don’t worry if you don’t have pennies to spare, WobbleWorks has already exceeded its goal despite having more than a month left to hit it…

Check out the 3Doodler on Kickstarter.