Polyes Q1 SLA-based 3D Printing Pen to Launch on Kickstarter in November

Back in February of last year, Boston-based, WobbleWorks LLC. launched a Kickstarter campaign for what was the very first 3D printing pen, called the 3Doodler. The 3Doodler works similarly to that of a common FDM 3D printer, such as a Makerbot Replicator, with the exception that a person’s hand controls the path of the extruder rather than a computer. The pen, which raised over $2.3 million and became an overnight sensation, melts a strand of colored plastic in a similar fashion to that of a hot glue gun. I myself was very skeptical, until artists and makers around the world began creating impressive and intricate pieces of work with the pen.

Today, we received news that a company based out of Delaware, called Future Make Technology LLC. has plans to launch their own 3D printing pen, called the Polyes Q1, and hopefully will be doing so with the help of the Kickstarter community sometime in November.

What makes the Polyes Q1 drastically different from other 3D printing pens, like that of the 3Doodler, is that instead of melting strands of plastic, which can be a bit dangerous, it uses stereolithography (SLA) technology to cure a phototosentive resin. The pen will eject a liquid resin from the extruder, then almost instantly a UV light will cure that resin, solidifying it, as the user draws a 3D object. This is not the very first such pen to use SLA technology. Back in June, a company called Creopop announced a similar device.

Such technlogy has other advantages, besides the safety benefits. For one, the resin is hardened almost immediately, not requiring a period of time to cool down like the molten plastic extruded from devices like the 3Doodler. This means that objects can be ‘printed’ faster, and more reliably with the Polyes Q1 pen. Additionally, unlike the melting of PLA and ABS thermoplastics, the release and curing of the resin used in the Polyes Q1 emits no odor or possibly harmful fumes.

This latest pen is designed quite eligantly, and is the first product from the startup brand design company, Future Make Technology. Future plans for the company involve the launching of several key 3D printers and pens, including an SLA 3D printer, with hopes of becoming a global leader within the 3D printer manufacturing space.

The exact pricing for the pen or the date of the Kickstarter launch has yet to be determined, however, the company assures us that it will be very affordable. Let us know if you plan on backing this new 3D printing pen once their crowdfunding campaign has launched. Discuss in the Polyes Q1 pen forum thread on 3DPB.com