Adding a third dimension to sketches with a 3D printing pen can bring a whole new layer of fun to doodling. But as we discovered for ourselves last year, it's not as easy as company reps make it look. There have been a number of variations on the theme over the years – including pro models, kid-safe cordless pens and slimmed down flavors – and all of these creative tools have had one thing in common, a single extruder nozzle. Clearly Scribbler believes that two heads are better than one, and the Ohio-based firm has launched a dual nozzle 3D printing pen called the Duo on Kickstarter to prove it.
Like other printing pens, the Duo works kind of like a handheld 3D printer, heating up and melting plant-based and biodegradable PLA strands as they move through the device from the top end by a motorized feed mechanism. As the plastic leaves the nozzles, it starts to cool and harden, allowing crafters to build three-dimensional structures as they doodle.
The two nozzle approach means more melted plastic coming out of the business end at once, which could help speed up sculpture creation, compared to single nozzle pens, and should be particularly useful for quick gap-filling jobs. It also allows doodlers to sketch in two colors at once.
If only one nozzle output is needed, for precision work perhaps, the user just loads up one feed slot with a 1.75 mm filament. Makers are offered six variable flow speeds and temperature control, as well as a useful auto feed mode that frees up the button finger for a better grip. A two-line LED display at the opposite end to the nozzles allows users to see settings info.
The Scribbler 3D Pen Duo has an expected retail price of US$129, but Kickstarter backers are being tempted with significant reductions. Pledges start at $60 and, if all goes to plan, shipping is expected to start in August.
Will two nozzles mean twice as much fun, or just more blockage cleaning to contend with? Have a look at the pitch video to find out more.
Sources: Scribbler, Kickstarter