The $60 IDO3D 3D Print Shop from Redwood Ventures might look like a 3D printer, but it’s really a unique injection mold system.

As 3D printing technology continues to grow, the price for consumer-grade machines continues to drop. With cheap and child-friendly 3D printers flooding the market, it’s never been easier to get yourself a home printer.

At the surface, the IDO3D 3D Print Shop from Redwood Ventures looks like the perfect 3D printer for kids. However, in reality, this unique little gadget is not a 3D printer at all. Instead, the product is a 3D injection mold system that uses UV light to create teensy molds.

But it’s still being marketed as a 3D printer, proving that the buzzword “fake news” isn’t just restricted to the political arena.

IDO3D 3D Print Shop: False Advertising, But Cool Product?

Now that we’ve established that the IDO3D 3D Print Shop is anything but a 3D printer, let’s take a look at the actual product. This miniature battery-operated mold maker comes with with three pre-made molds, 20 mold plates, two ink cartridges, and a special solution called Formula D.

While the IDO3D Print Shop comes with different designs, the Formula D strip allows users to create their own molds. This heat-activated material becomes malleable from hot water. Once it’s softened, you can either press it into one of the pre-built plates to create your own mold. The pre-made molds include shell, miniature guitars, teddy bears, and much more.

The production process seems simple enough for young creative minds to tackle. After the ink is deposited into a spring-loaded plunger, the material is sent into the selected mold. Once this model is filled with ink, you’re ready to move on to the UV curing state.

After the mold-making process is complete, a translucent yellow cover is placed over the machine. Then, the IDO3D’s large blue button activates a UV light for bout 90 seconds. Once this is complete, the user is left with the selected mold. There’s also a bit of excess plastic on the finished product, but this can be easily ripped away.

All in all, the IDO3D Print Shop is not a 3D printer, plain and simple. However, this toy gadget still has some value for young makers looking to learn about the magic of UV-curing polymers. For a low price tag of $60, some might be willing to overlook Redwood Ventures mislabeling and enjoy the product for what it is.

Source: Mashable