For today’s entry into this year’s Gifts for the Gifted series (every Friday in November and December) I am recommending the 3Doodler. This 3D printing pen has come a long way since I first received the Kickstarter version around a year ago.
If you know a child who loves to create, then this could be a fabulous gift. At $99 you can currently get a great deal – the pen plus 50 strands of plastic. Although $99 may sound like a lot, it is significantly cheaper than a 3D Printer. Also, a computer is not required in order to start making your designs.
The 3Doodler works somewhat like a glue gun. You stick the plastic in one end, and it heats up. As you squeeze the button, the melted plastic comes out and you can direct it into the shape you like. The plastic cools relatively quickly, but I wouldn’t recommend touching it with bare fingers for about 30 seconds.
Because of the heat involved, the 3Doodler is not suitable for young children. I had students as young as 9 using it in my classroom last year with supervision, but would not suggest it for anyone younger. My daughter, who was 11 when we received it, used it with dexterity, but we both accidentally touched the hot part a couple of times. Using it also requires some perseverance and self-control that come with maturity, as it takes some practice to develop the techniques that will allow you to form the designs you imagine.
Since its Kickstarter campaign, 3Doodler has added a few more accessories, which include a stand, a pedal option that allows you to control the pen with your feet, and a set of different nozzles. It is also available in many more retail stores. In addition to purchasing it online, you can find it at Michael’s and Best Buy plus 10 other stores in the United States.
I would suggest that beginners start with some of the stencils provided on the 3Doodler site. The community offers many ideas, but don’t get too caught up in making what is already posted. Be creative!
For more ideas for creative gifts for children, you may want to visit my Pinterest Board or check out my previous posts from this year: Osmo, Circuit Stickers, and Shell Game.
How many projects will a pack of plastic typically make? I know every project will be different, but if you were to give an estimate, about how many of the, say, wolf masks http://www.the3doodler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/snowwolf.pdf, would a given plastic pack make? Nothing worse than getting a gift that doesn’t have enough supplies to make it fun!
Also, which type of plastic did you use more often?
Thanks!
Thanks for reading, and for your great questions!
This is a total guesstimate, but I would think that making the wolf would take about 3-5 plastic strands, which is half a pack of 10. We have only used the ABS plastic, and do not have experience with the PLA, but you can see a comparison here: http://the3doodler.com/2014/11/14/abs-vs-pla-whatwillyouchoose/