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Polaroid Play 3D Pen Vs 3Doodler Create Plus: Which is the Best 3D Pen?

Polaroid Play 3D Pen Vs 3Doodler Create Plus: Which is the Finest 3D Pen?

As great as the best 3D printers are, they are also expensive, especially if you are looking for a device that your kids can use. Fortunately, there is a cheaper way to give your kids a taste of 3D printing – a 3D pen.

These handheld devices work just like 3D printers, melting filaments arranged in a design that springs to mind. While a 3D printer uses gears and motors to move the printhead, use 3D printing pens: you use them like an ink pen. Only here are you drawing with plastic filament to create a 3D object instead of a two-dimensional sketch.

To see which 3D pen was the best introduction to 3D printing, we tested two – the $ 39 Polaroid Play 3D pen and the $ 79 3Doodler Create Plus. Both of the Polaroid and 3Doodler pens work the same way: they insert 3D printing filaments into one end and a motor pushes it through a heated printhead. The molten materials squeeze out of the end of the pen and cool quickly. When you move the pen, the cooling filament forms the shape: move it quickly and you get a thin chain of filament. Move it slowly and you will get a thicker line of filament.

Which pen does the job better? Check out our Polaroid Play 3D Pen vs 3Doodler Create Plus to find out the best 3D pen overall.

Polaroid Play 3D Pen vs. 3Doodler Create Plus: Price and Availability

The Polaroid Play 3D pen significantly outperforms the price of the 3Doodler Create Plus and costs only half of its competing 3D pen. However, things get a little more complicated when you buy additional filaments for printing.

Today’s best deals on Polaroid Play 3D pens

For $ 39, get the Polaroid Play 3D Pen and four 15-foot rolls of filament. The 3Doodler Create costs $ 79.99, but it contains a lot more filament: 3 packs of filament, each containing 25 10-inch pieces in a variety of colors and styles. The 3Doodler pen also comes with an excellent book of tips and ideas.

Today’s best deals on 3Doodler Create + 3D Pen

3Doodler creation + 3D printing …

When it’s time to order more filament to print. A pack of 20 filaments for the Polaroid Play is $ 17.49, while a refill pack of 10 packs of filaments (25 each) for the 3Doodler Create is $ 42.19. The 3Doodler is therefore more expensive overall, but also offers a much larger selection of materials for printing.

Winner: Play polaroid

Polaroid Play 3D Pen versus 3Doodler Create Plus: Design

These two 3D printing pens look pretty similar, with both having the same design: filament goes in one end and out the other. However, the 3Doodler Create Plus is smaller and feels much better in the hand. This is important when creating larger objects.

Polaroid Play 3D Pen vs. 3Doodler Create Plus: Which is the Best 3D Pen?

Polaroid Play 3D pen (Image credit: Polaroid)

Both pens come with some extra parts. The Polaroid Pen contains a plastic build plate the size of a cellphone, while the 3Doodler contains a similar plate the size of a letter. Both serve similar purposes – you can use them as a base to print over a template or outline.

Polaroid Play 3D Pen vs. 3Doodler Create Plus: Which is the Best 3D Pen?

3Doodler Create Plus (Image credit: 3Doodler)

For the Polaroid pen, use it with the Polaroid Trace App, available for iOS or Android. This will convert an image to a black outline or load a pre-created template from a selection included in the app. Then, place the build plate on your phone and trace the template to create your artwork.

The 3Doodler Create Plus goes one step further. You can download stencils, print them out, and place them under the build plate for tracking. 3Doodler offers hundreds of stencils, from toys to bird and animal models to architectural models. These templates also contain tips and instructions for assembling the models.

3Doodler Create Plus

3Doodler Create Plus (Image credit: 3Doodler)

The 3Doodler also offers the option to swap out the nozzle, and a kit for $ 19.99 offers six differently shaped nozzles. Similar to a cake decorating tool, differently shaped and dimensioned nozzles create outlets with different shapes. It also includes a smoothing tool that can be used to smooth the extruded plastic to make thinner layers.

One thing to keep in mind here: The Polaroid Play 3D Pen requires a USB power source and does not come with a power adapter to plug it into the wall. However, any USB power source that can deliver 2 amps is sufficient, so the USB power adapter for your phone or a USB port on your computer will likely work. The 3Doodler Create Plus comes with a plug-in power supply.

Winner: 3Doodler Create Plus

Polaroid Play 3D Pen vs. 3Doodler Create Plus: Achievement

When testing both 3D pens, I found that the 3Doodler Create Plus is easier to use. It’s smaller and more manageable, two factors that younger audiences will appreciate. An easy-to-hold device makes it easy to use, which is important if you have been using the pen for a while.

3Doodler Create Plus

3Doodler Create Plus (Image credit: 3Doodler)

Both Polaroid Play and 3Doodler Create Plus use buttons to control the flow of plastic, with the ones stopping and starting the flow under the index finger. Here, too, the Create Plus is a little more comfortable with the buttons on the top of the pen.

Polaroid 3D pen

Polaroid Play 3D pen (Image credit: Polaroid 3D Pen)

Both pens create a steady, steady flow of molten plastic, but the Create Plus has a protruding nozzle (or possibly a tip) that makes it easier to see where the plastic is flowing. This helps when you are doing a good job or joining multiple plastic pieces together.

Winner: 3Doodler Create Plus

(Image credit: 3Doodler)

Polaroid Play 3D Pen vs. 3Doodler Create Plus: Materials

Both pens can print with PLA, a lightweight plastic material commonly used in 3D printing.

(Image credit: 3Doodler)

However, the 3Doodler Create goes one step further as it can also print with ABS, the plastic that Legos are made of. This is much harder than PLA, but it requires a higher temperature to melt. ABS cools down faster and is therefore ideal for 3D models. Try that with PLA and you will get a wet mess.

(Image credit: Polaroid)

The 3Doodler Create can also use two additional types of materials: a flexible filament and a wood texture filament that creates a wood-like finish. 3Doodler also has a pretty interesting approach to selling you more materials: in addition to packages with different colors and textures, themed packages are made, e.g. B. a cute $ 30 package that contains the filament colors to create a replica of Fallingwater, the legendary Frank, house designed by Lloyd Wright.

Winner: 3Doodler Create Plus

(Image credit: Polaroid)

Polaroid Play 3D pen

The Polaroid Play 3D Pen is cheap and fun, but it is rather limited in its use.

Size: 7.1 x 1.9 x 1.4 inches | Weight: 5.3 ounces | Materials: PLA | Energy source: USB | Recommended age: 14 years and older

Cheap

Easy to use

Only prints PLA

Big pen is not comfortable in smaller hands

(Image credit: 3Doodler)

3Doodler Create Plus

The 3Doodler Create Plus is twice as expensive as the Polaroid Play. It’s a very flexible 3D printing pen that can print with multiple materials.

Size: 6.2 x 0.8 x 0.7 in | Weight: 1.76 ounces | Materials: ABS, PLA, FLEXY, WOOD | Energy source: Power supply | Recommended age: 14 years and older

Prints with PLA, ABS, wood-like and flexible filament

Comfortable in the hand

Expensive

Short filaments often need to be replaced

Polaroid Play 3D Pen vs. 3Doodler Create Plus: Verdict

Our tests with the Polaroid Play 3D Pen and 3Doodler Create Plus showed that both pens cost a lot of money and both can create interesting models. Your choice depends on how committed you think your children – or you – will be using 3D pens to create objects and models.

Polaroid Play 3D pen3Doodler Create Plus
Price (20 points)17th14th
Design (25 points)15th20th
Achievement (30 points)20th26th
Materials (25 points)1322nd
Total (100 points)6582

If using a 3D pen seems like an occasional activity, turn to the Polaroid Play 3D pen and a refill of filament. At $ 39.99 for the pen and $ 17.49 for the filament, the bank won’t break if your kids have fun with the pen and get bored for a few days.

But serious 3D printers and hobbyists will appreciate more about the $ 79.99 3Doodler Create Plus. With the support of additional materials and helpful instructions, more complex designs can be created. And the pen is convenient enough to encourage people to come back to learn more. The 3Doodler Create Plus is the right pen if you want to do more than just try out this offshoot of 3D printing.

Summary of today’s best deals

3Doodler creation + 3D printing …