3D "Doodling"

We've been having fun in the STEAM Lab lately, messing around with some of the cool new tools we've gotten through our Donors Choose grant (if you missed donating to the first one, and still want to support us, we've got our second grant ready to go here!).



Our latest activity was constructing little boxes with our 3Doodler Create 3D printing pens.



Unlike a traditional 3D printer, these pens are free-form 3D drawing tools (3D 'doodling'!), which allows students the creative freedom to create free-hand, without needing to wade through a CAD program first.

 Little projects like this box are a good way for students to become familiar with the materials and the tool, so they understand how it works and what the tricks are for making projects come out smoothly. An understanding of what a tool is capable of means they can unleash their creative side when it comes to designing and producing projects for their classes.

The 3Doodler Create can use ABS or PLA plastic, and also comes with a neat flexible plastic that stays bendy even after being printed. Because it uses the same plastic type as our 3D Printer, this means we can combine more traditional 3D printed products with a more free-form 'doodled' product, expanding the range of what students can do.