I’ve been wanting to get a 3Doodler for 3D Fab for a while.
It would be awesome to be able to learn how to ‘freehand 3D print’!
It would benefit us by being able to ‘repair’ and ‘enhance’ print jobs that are printed on our 3D printers.
It would be a fun way to spend time learning how to create new 3 dimensional objects while waiting for our print jobs to finish printing.
Finally, if we get one that uses 1.75 mm filament, it would be a great way to use the smaller sections of filament that slip off the spools (thus less “waste” - since members would still be paying for the filament used in the 3D doodler type pen).
Honestly, I was hoping to get the Original 3Doodler - because it seems like a solid deal (no complaints about it being a ‘scam’ - as many of the others are complained about…). The only and BIG downside “as is”, is that it currently only accepts 3 mm filament (which would mean not being able to use the smaller sections left over from the spools, plus having to purchase a separate supply…). However, I did see a “tweet” (x.com) with a photo showing someone modifying it to use 1.75 mm (with no instructions, of course…).
Below are some of the options I came across.
What do y’all think?
Does anyone already own any of these? If so, please let us know your experiences!
The Original:
3Doodler - $99
Good: - It’s the original. - Neat nozzle bundle available.
Good: - Local (Fort Worth) - Accepts 1.75 mm filament!
Questionable “Feature”:
"Heating Ring and Nozzle are an integrated cartridge" (I’m not sure
this is a good ‘feature’ or not. Seems it would make it proprietory,
thus more difficult for us to maintain…???)
Chinese Knock Offs - All accept 1.75 mm filament:
YaYa3D Arts & Crafts Drawing 3D Printing Pen 2014 Generation v1.5 3D Prototype Modeling - Average from Around $80 to $145 (the higher cost has more reviews…)
iMarku “3d Stereoscopic Printing Pens” - 2nd Gen - Average Around $140 (NOTE: Clicking on iMarku in Amazon shows only the originals - no “2nd Gen” at all…)
I have a 3Doodler. We also have a bunch at the Perot. They are pretty fun, but can be finicky. Mine actually quit working the last time I used it. Seems like it blew a fuse or something - no power. I haven’t had time to mess with it and see what’s wrong. We’ve done several workshops with kids using them at the Perot - so a good torture test! If you press too hard onto the ground when outlining it will clog the tip. I think the filament actually “strips” inside. Usually just pushing the filament into the unit while extruding will restart it, but if you push or pull too hard it will mess up the internal gearing. I’ve got 6 or 7 at work sitting in my “in basket” that need to be taken apart and fixed if possible.
I’ve used it to weld 3D prints together. This works really well. I run the heated tip along the weld line without extruding to fuse the pieces and generate a trough, then come back and fill the joint with extruded filament. You can then sand the joint smooth. It can be frustrating to use if you’re doing a large piece because the unit will stop fairly frequently to reheat. They must suck a lot of power because we usually can only put 2 to 3 on one circuit. More than that and they take forever to heat up.
Pretty fun and useful for $100. I’m waiting on the CreoPop. Hopefully it will prove to be good.
Would The Perot possibly consider donating any units that y’all can’t get working again - to let some of our hardware hackers get a look at one (or how ever many y’all might end up tossing anyway… smiles)? From all I’ve read, I would still prefer to get a 3Doodler - I’m just hesitant because it doesn’t currently accept 3 mm filament… BUT, if we could rig one up to use 1.75 mm - that would be most awesome!
If not, that’s fine… Either way ~ Thanks again for the info & insight!
Lisa,
That was my thought as well. Let me talk with them and I’ll see what I can do. If we end up just throwing them away, I’m definitely snagging them for parts at least! Maybe a few can be cobbled together. Either way, if they want to get rid of them, DMS will get first dibs.
I have un-pinned this topic; but, am still very much interested in obtaining some 3Doodler ‘hand-me-downs’, if any can be made available. Have you had a chance to get an update?
Lisa,
Yes, still working on it… In fact, I have a meeting in a few minutes and will bring this up. I actually took one of the broken ones apart yesterday to see what’s up. It looks like there is a small gear motor that is stripped or something. It’s just not engaging the drive to pull the filament in. They are actually very simple inside! I think it wouldn’t take much “mechanically” to get this one working. I know they will think it’s too much (time and effort) to fix them, so it’s just a matter of what to do with them. They are weird about assets… I’ve been trying to get them to let me sell one of our 3D printers (a Bukabot) and use the funds for other toys. Apparently there are tax issues since we are a non-profit or something…!
I saw the new 3Doodler Kickstarter yesterday. I was an original backer, so they sent me the info, and yes, I backed the new one for me too!
Thanks for the update, I had read about that issue in the comments section on the kickstarter for the new one… I imagine whether y’all keep them or donate them to the 'Space that they will be able to be fixed (one way or another… )
Lisa,
I think I might be able to “dispose” of a couple 3Doodlers. They were acceptable to the idea of letting DMS mess with a few of the broken ones. If we an salvage any, I’ll split them with you, how’s that?
I need to get through Social Science next week, and maybe I can swing some by. I’m building a makey makey laser harp and it’s taking more of my time than I thought!..
Pat, I love the makey makey but it is finicky sometimes. I can definitely say don’t use it in a room with a big Van De Graff, even if it is 50 feet away, locks it up every time.
I finally seem to have some free time this weekend and wanted to bring the 3Doodlers up to the space and work on them. Is this something we want to do as a coordinated/semi-coordinated effort? If anyone wants to meet up and work on them what would be a good time this weekend? Anytime Sunday would be better for me, but I’m up for pretty much anything, just not late at night… ( I need my beauty sleep…)
I’ve got about 10 3Doodlers that for one reason or another are not working. Lets tear into them and see if we can any to work. Any we get to work I’ll split with the makerspace to have - as long as they are given to the space, not for individuals to take. That way everyone gets to have fun! I opened one up, and they are pretty interesting inside. There is a little PCB board, small gear motor and a little extruder…that’s about it, so it should be fairly easy to get at least some of them working.
Let me know when people want to meet and I’ll be there.
Well, I came up to the space this afternoon and worked on a few of the 3Doodlers. I got 2 to work and left them in the 3D printer room in one of the white cabinets where all the filament is. I also left 3 that seemed to have extruder motor issues (they are labeled with their problems). All of these are to be considered a donation to the space. They are for use by everyone. Please do not take them for individual ownership.
I’ve got about 5 more I didn’t have time to crack open. If people are interested in having more for the space, let me know and I can bring them up sometime and we can mess with them.
On operating them, there is a switch for PLA and ABS. When the light turns from red to blue it’s up to temp and ready to go. The two push buttons near the tip activate the extruder. The back one is slow, front one fast. If you push both buttons at the same time it will reverse and unload the filament. To load filament (it takes 3mm filament only…) push it into the rear until you feel the extruder catch it. Do not push or pull the filament too hard or you can strip the gear motor out. If it doesn’t want to extrude, you can gently push the filament into the unit as you push the button to get it moving. Occasionally the tip will clog, but usually just letting it heat up and “helping” the filament along will get it moving again.
I totally agree - finicky! My laser harp was a failure… The MM is so sensitive, I couldn’t get it to register just one laser. It worked when I prototyped it on a breadboard, but once I soldered it all up, I think it is so sensitive it was making contact even when it wasn’t activated. I ended up having the laser trigger a relay to give a more solid on and off, but it just didn’t work. I still have the unit and am thinking of just trying to hook up an Arduino as the controller… hopefully I’ll have to mess with it soon.
I imagine these will be great to use for ‘seams’ and small repairs, as well
as to just… doodle!
There is some 3mm Black PLA loosely wound on the white shelves that can be
used by members for now.
Please Note: The 3mm black PLA has been sitting around for quite a while
(possibly before my time at the 'Space…). It is very dusty, so please
cut off short sections to use (12" - 18"), and wipe it off with a dust free
cloth before using it in the 3Doodlers. Thanks!
Hi
Just found this discussion…things have moved on but there are still problems!
The Lix pen is still not in production but the Creopop cool ink pen has arrived for crowd finders…haven’t had chance to play yet!
Back to 3 d pens…I have yay a original, 3Doodler1 and 2 finding the strands expensive so using reel filament… They still only take 2.85 mm reel filament. Keen to know if I can adapt to 1.75 but sculptures are stinger with the thicker plastic… Find them good reliable but even on fast a bit slow…they need stronger motors especially the 2
Also have 3 stereoscopic pen one went on the blink after a year and one I have had for a month… The motor has stopped… Very irritating as they are cheaper but not cheap ar £45. Anyone know how to repair them!
