Disclaimer – we were sent the 3Doodler Start Essential Pen Set for the purpose of this review. All opinions are our own.
Imagine having a pen that you can use to create amazing 3D designs. Well, thanks to 3Doodler is the world’s leading maker of 3D printing pens, you can do more than imagine as they have created the 3Doodler Pen which is a very clever pen that can do just that. It is compact and easy to use, the 3Doodler pen uses thin strands of plastic that are fed through the pen, gently heated so that they come out in soft, malleable form. The plastic acts like ink in this state and you can use the pen to create images or doodles. The plastic cools almost instantly into a solid, stable structure, enabling anyone to start creating in 3D within minutes.
I was as keen as my daughter to see how the pen works and we weren’t disappointed. The 3Doodler Start Essential Pen Set, gives you everything you need to get creating. Inside the box you get:
- 3Doodler Start 3D Pen
- 2 Mixed-colour Packs of Eco-Plastic (48 Strands)
- Micro-USB Charger
- Activity Guide
It only takes a few minutes to charge the 3D pen and you are ready to start. The Activity Guide is amazing and takes you step by step from your first doodle to your first creation. The pen itself is really easy to use. You turn it on, insert the strand of colour you want to work with and turn on the pen. There are only three options for the pen, turn it on to make the plastic flow through the nozzle, press button again to stop or you can double press to reverse. You use the reverse when you want to change colour.
It takes a few seconds for a new colour to come out and then you are off. It is a good idea to let your child have a practice, either in the activity book or on a piece of paper. This just helps them get used to how the plastic flows and how to manage it to create images. It is worth mentioning here that although the pen heats the plastic, it is perfectly safe for children to use. The plastic cools instantly and the tip of the 3D pen does get warm but not hot. Once cooled, the plastic comes free of the paper it has been created on allowing you to move it around without it sticking.
The Activity Book has lots of different designs for you to try from a pair of glasses to the Eiffel Tower. It gives you a template to use to create your shapes and guides you through the steps to put it together at the end. If you are attempting a 3D creation such as a box shape or a model like the Eiffel Tower, you create all of the different elements and then you simply join them altogether with more plastic from the pen. It is really easy.
My daughter quickly got into using the 3Doodler pen, she loved it. To begin with, she was worried that her hand was a bit ‘shaky’, but it didn’t matter. She decided to make the butterfly and actually the shaky way she did her 3doodling, made quite a nice effect. She carefully made the wings, then the body and then joined it all together with more plastic. It is surprisingly sturdy and is now in pride of place on the kitchen shelf. I love how easy the 3Doodler Start Essential Pen Set is to set up and use and I equally loved how it inspired my daughter’s creativity. I think she will get a lot of pleasure out of the set and already has plans to make lots of different things.
Our next project is the Eiffel Tower and when it is done, I will share a photo on Instagram.
The 3Doodler Start Essential Pen Set is a fun and educational gift that both parents and kids will love. It is easy to see why it is an award-winning product as it allows kids to bring any, and all, ideas to life in 3D. This 3D printing pen and its creations are not hot to touch and use biodegradable Eco-Plastic, making it completely safe for kids to use. I love the fact that the 3Doodler Start inspires creativity and imagination but also helps kids to think about design, planning and structure. Great for budding engineers and architects.
The 3Doodler Start Essential Pen Set comes with 48 strands which would be sufficient to make two three of the designs (depending on the size) but you are able to buy replacement strands to make lots more creations. I think it would be a great way to make Christmas decorations and I am planning to invest in some Christmas colours so that my daughter can do some 3D Christmas doodles. There are some Christmas templates on the 3doodler website along with lots of other design ideas, instruction videos and information about the different products in the 3doodler range.
The 3Doodler Start Essential Pen Set is available from Smyths for around £44.99 (RRP). The recommended age is 6 +. My daughter is 9 and this was perfect for her to use unsupervised.
