The cost of 3D printers has decreased dramatically since about 2010, with machines that used to cost $20,000 now costing less than $1,000 – like the highly-rated Dremel Idea Builder. As the costs of 3D printers have come down they are becoming more appealing financially to use for self-manufacturing of personal products. In addition, 3D printing products at home may reduce the environmental impacts of manufacturing by reducing material use and distribution impacts. Now, there’s even 3D-printing pens that allow you to draw objects in mid-air. Continue reading to see more.
3. Polyes Q1
Polyes Q1 is the first 3D-printing pen designed specifically for children, as it replaces the ABS/PLA plastic (dangerous when heated) used in previous models with photosensitive polymers that harden when exposed to UV light coming from the pen tip. Plus, the pen has an option to make it automatically stop working whenever it’s pointing upward. Also, users can purchase a “blue light resin” polymer that hardens under blue light rather than the much higher-energy UV light, making the pen “as safe as a flashlight.”
2. Lix
Sleek and stylish, the Lix 3D printing pen is USB-powered and crafted from aluminum – measuring 6.45 in (164 mm) long with a diameter of 0.55 in (14 mm). Users feed straight ABS/PLA plastic rods into the top of the pen, near the power port, which then makes its way through to a heated nozzle at the other end – temperatures can reach up to 190°C/374°F). Buttons on the lower part of the pen can be used to control flow.
1. 3Doodler
The 3Doodler was one of the first (if not the first) 3D-printing pens to hit the market, measuring 24 cm (9.4 inches) long and weighing in at 200 grams (7 ounces). Simply put, it works by heating 3 mm ABS/PLA filament to 270° C (518 ° F). Uesrs can trace stencils on paper and then assemble them into complete 3D objects like the Eiffel Tower, or by simply just drawing the structures in the air. WobbleWorks says practical uses include: customizing your smartphone or even creating jewelry to sell online.
