Two big 3d printing pen projects are finishing their campaigns on Kickstarter. The 3Doodler 2.0 is building on the success of its initial 2013 offering and its campaign will end on January 25. Polyes Q1 is a new cool ink pen that will be funded on February 4, 2015. Both pens have run successful funding rounds and bring new capability to the maker market.
Both pens take plastic and extrude it into thin air to create three dimensional sculptures or structures. Polyes uses photosensitive polymers and exposes them to ultraviolet light to create the hard plastic while the 3Doodler uses a more traditional 3d printing model of heating filament and then extruding it through a nozzle.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1351910088/3doodler-20-the-worlds-first-3d-printing-pen-reinv
The 3Doodler 2.0 is smaller, lighter and stronger than the first generation. The body has been redesigned to use less power, give better airflow to allow for smoother drawing, and offers fine adjustment of temperature for the expert users.
Continuous flow capability is added so construction can take place without keeping a button depressed. Several accessories are also added, including a portable power pack and a pedal for foot operation of the pen.
3Doodler also allows backers to give a classroom kit of a dozen pens and large amounts of plastic filament to any school, university, library or non-profit makerspace. A large community has grown around the first generation pen where users share their projects and tips for creating the best possible work.
Polyes Q1 prides itself on taking high temperature parts out of the 3d pen equation. They believe this brings a safer experience to users.
After doing research on hand tools and ergonomics a diameter of 1.2 inches is being used for the barrel. 3d artists should have the greatest degree of control with this barrel size when drawing with one hand.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1241980839/polyes-q1-the-safest-cool-ink-3d-pen
The barrel itself comes in eight different colors and the ink solutions can also be mixed to create a rainbow of different plastic hues. Inks can also be created to glow in the dark, scented material, temperature changing inks and transparent inks.
A tilt sensor and safety switch are included so that children cannot shine the blue LED lights into their faces. Plans are already in place to produce new generations of the Polyes as the product is released out into the wild. Polyes units are also expected to ship in April and May of 2015.