Not enough space or money for a 3D printer? A 3D pen is the next best thing! There are a variety of brands out there, but few are as educationally inclined as the 3Doodler. The 3Doodler line features a range of products, fit for beginners to pros, including the PRO, Start, and Create pens, as well as tons of educational resources on their site to get teachers and students printing right away. No matter your subject area, 3D printing can instantly add an engineering, design, and artistic element to your teaching.
Using the 3Doodler or other products like it, students are better able to engage in creativity, problem solving, and tactile learning, where they’ll be able to break complex problems down into smaller parts in order to envision and create a larger system—all without complicated design software.
Today, I experimented with their intermediate product, which is also their most popular, the 3Doodler Create. In the box, I found one 3Doodler Create pen, a power adapter, an unblocking tool, a nozzle removal tool, a mini screwdriver, a quick start and user guide, and 50 plastic strands to help get me started. This particular pen prints with three types of materials (PLA, ABS, FLEXY), in 65+ colors, and in a variety of finishes, such as matte, glossy, clear, glow, and sparkle. It is designed for students aged 14 and up, due to the hot metal tip where the plastic is released and has two different speeds, auto temp control, and a retraction function, providing for a fast yet controlled print.
Notably, the 3Doodler is completely portable with a nozzle that can be replaced for doodling in different shapes and sizes. To print, it was seriously as easy as 1, 2, 3. I plugged the pen in and switched it to high. It took about a minute to heat up, and I knew it was ready when the light switched from red to blue. I pushed a light blue PLA plastic into the back of the pen until I felt it grab. Then, I was ready to print! One notable difference between this pen and other 3D pens I’ve experimented with is that I didn’t need to continuously hold the button down while printing, which, if you ask me, is definitely a plus!
The 3Doodler requires just one press to start the print and one more to make it stop. This took some getting used to, but it was really fun once I got the hang of it! One of my coworkers mastered doodling in the air and created a very cool bridge and, ultimately, I found it very easy to clean up (a definite plus for classroom use!), and see it as a great asset to makerspaces or for classroom use due to its versatility.
The 3Doodler will give your students the freedom to create and find their own doodle style! To purchase one for your makerspace, classroom, or home, click below to visit the Eduporium store. We also recommend 3Doodler’s various kits, filaments, and accessories (pad, pedal, nozzle set, etc.) which can be found on our store, too. And, look out next Wednesday for the newest edition of the Eduporium Experiment as well! In the meantime, don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more and you might as well like us on Facebook, too!
