U.S. startup WobbleWorks is rethinking the napkin sketch process with its 3Doodle pen. Instead of ink, the $75 pen uses colorful ABS plastic (the same used in many 3D printers) that quickly cools and solidifies, allowing the user to draw intricate 3D structures that literally jump off the page.
The trick, according to an article on the technology on NewScientist.com, is a built-in fan that cools the plastic as it leaves the nib. This cooling process gives the plastic structural properties almost instantly (see it in action in this NewScientist video).
David Barista is Editorial Director of Building Design+Construction and BDCnetwork.com, properties that combined reach more than 100,000 commercial building professionals, including architects, engineers, contractors, and building owners. David has covered the U.S. construction industry for more than a decade, previously serving as Editor-in-Chief of BD+C, Professional Builder, Custom Builder, and HousingZone.com. He has won numerous editorial awards, including six Jesse H. Neal Awards and multiple honors from the Construction Writers Association and the American Society of Business Publication Editors.
