The comments on this thread are ridiculous. This product is awesome. Who cares that they call it a 3D printing pen? I'd like to see you try to make one...
Awesome product, but ridiculous product description.
Also; "I'd like to see you try to make one..." is a silly counterpoint. If we applied that line of thought to everything we wouldn't be able to critically analyse anything. There would be very little discussion in HN comments.
I'm sure you've made criticism of products or services in the past that you personally would be unable to produce or deliver.
His point was more regarding those who have made silly criticisms for the sake of making criticisms rather than those who have found genuine faults with the product.
To use a practical example, in the New Scientist link for this product (which also made the front page), one commenter stated how the structures drooped a little and then commented that perhaps some kind of magnetic field could be used to hold the plastic in place while it cooled (he was more specific than that, but I can't recall the details).
That guy spotted a flaw and offered some of his own insights which subsequently sparked an interesting discussion based off that. Where as "this isn't 3D printing" and "this is just a glue gun" are unconstructive and, quite frankly, just nitpicking for the sake of nitpicking. The latter comments are as if people want to be seen as knowing better than the designers of the "3D pen" yet without risking their own reputation, money nor time.
And that's why some of us get annoyed when we see some pessimistic comments (not all pessimistic comments as you do also need constructive negative feedback to improve) and just wish those guys would focus their own frustrations into something constructive instead of knocking everyone else down.
It looks like a bit more than just a glue gun because of the way the plastic seems to cool almost instantly. I suppose they need to control the temperature very precisely.
That being said, in their video the actual "3D" drawing (i.e. in the air) seems extremely imprecise and for their eiffel tower demo they just make 2D sides that they glue together, so in this case it's probably fair to call it "just a glue gun", or rather a "stand-alone 3D printing head/glue gun".
Not very often you see an idea, and think, this is so simple, why didn't this already exist?! Going to be a massive hit in art class! I'd like one just to bring my drawings to life.
Cool. I only wish they weren't trying to patent it. Prior art exists in the form of http://www.makerbot.com/blog/2010/09/19/repurpose-your-old-m... at the very least. I've emailed the EFF 3d printer patentbusting group to see what they can do about making sure the patent does not get issued.
I think the hot glue gun comments are misguided. This is a really amazing product, as you can see by the professional "3doodles" from the Etsy artists. I do agree that this isn't "3D printing" because you're not printing from a model, but it's similar in intent. I'm not anything close to an artist but I'd love to have one of these, and if I had artistic talent I'd buy one immediately.
I see an immense potential for a product like this. Art and architecture come immediately to mind. Because it makes a physical wire-frame quickly, it can also be used for prototyping and brain-storming product ideas. I am sure people will come out with extraordinarily creative things to do with this once they get them in their hand.
I'd personally love to see the next "generation" (if you can even call the evolution of 3d printers "generations") input a hopper of plastic pellets instead of an expensive filament spool. A simple grinder/shredder could easily recycle old printed models into new raw material.
There is a product aimed at doing just that: http://filabot.com/ Closing the loop and attaching the output of the Filabot directly to a 3d printer wouldn't be too difficult.
I bet it's a lot harder technique-wise to draw in empty space than the video makes it appear. If you go too fast, it won't be self-supporting, and if you go too slow, the already drawn part will be in the way and probably get pushed aside.
I wonder if the glue is too hot to draw on human skin. Could make unique jewellery, very tight fitting (if ephemeral, I don't think they would last too long). Maybe for some special events, like weddings and other ceremonies?
3D Printing Pen, Glue Gun, whatever... my question is, what is it useful for?
Although I'm not sure its worth dismissing the product if the answer is for art students, this in itself would be an interesting market for a hardware product.
I am amazed at how much news this has garnered... I personally know the people involved in this project through the larger Boston Burner community, was surprised to hear that it was from one of our own.
I think that's why they are pushing the part about drawing a flat framework over a printed stencil, and then assembling them in 3D space, like the Eiffel Tower in the video. Shouldn't require much artistic skill.
The 'hot glue' is thin enough and needs to be hot enough to let you 'float' what you're drawing in mid air, hot glue would stay viscous for too long to let that happen.
Yeah I think this is what a lot of people are missing with the glue gun comments. With a glue gun you can make a blob at the base but you can't string a piece along like this, much less string a piece along in mid air. This also has the fan which helps in that matter.
I don't think they mean to impress the techies. The product's market is clearly creative/artistic people. Creative/Artistic people did not have easy access to a medium like this. I see this company popularizing an artistic medium (like canvas, paper, stone) by providing an easy-to-obtain tool to make the art.
I can see a few moms and schools wanting to buy something like this for their kids. This will also be a hit at kids' parties just like the fancy shaped balloons. Also, I doodle badly and I want one :)
Perhaps could even be reutilized as one? I see it is a 50 USD off-the-self extruder for your DIY 3D printer. Add steppers with electronics, draw by hand some fixtures, add "vitamins" (nuts, bolts etc.) and and go.
Not really usable as an extruder because you need to be able to control extrusion amount precisely. At that price, there is definitely a DC gearmotor inside with absolutely no way to control position or speed.
