3D Candy Pen

Intro: 3D Candy Pen

This Instructable shows you how to build a 3D candy pen. All you need to do is melt candies to make filaments, put it in the glue gun and draw 3D objects. This was a project by Lily Lew, Fumi Yamazaki and Simon Weinsteins at Science Hack Day SF 2015.

Components:

- Candies

- Parchment paper

- Small metal plate

- Toaster Oven

- Glue gun that you don't need (you can purchase one at a dollar store)

STEP 1: Buy Candies.

Among the various candies we tried, we suggest Jolly Rancher hard candy which melts at a lower temperature and best for people who wants to do rapid prototyping.

I liked mint candy and CakePlay Isomalt Nibs candy, as they works well to make skinnier and robust sculptures, but will take a lot of time.

Feel free to explore with your own favorite candies!

STEP 2: Melt the Candies.

Put the candies in the toaster oven. We suggest 300-350 degrees to get the best melting.

STEP 3: Take the Candies Out of the Toaster and Roll It Into a Filament.

The candy is ready when the liquid flows slowly when you tilt it back and forth. If it is too runny let it cool a bit before pouring. The candy is really hot so be sure to use tongs, tweezers, pot holders or high temperature gloves to move the candy.

Take the melted candies out of the toaster oven, put it on parchment paper and roll it to a very skinny stick. Best practice for making the filament stick: We poured and moved the candy / used toothpick to smear thick areas out. If you keep the thick areas as-is, it may not fit the glue gun. And be careful, it is hot!

Let the candy cool in the parchment paper before removing.

STEP 4: Put the Candy Filament in the Glue Gun, and Create Objects. Have Fun!

This is the most fun part :)

Put the candy filament in the glue gun, and create 3D objects.

If you are having issues adjusting the temperature of your glue gun, you might want to try this Instructables project:

Make your hot glue gun cooler!

Comments

[cupcakepopcorn234]

Hmmm, its 100% intresting

[silverplato11]

could you use a candy cane as already made filament?

[Fumi Yamazaki]

Oh my god! 3D Candy Pen won the first prize of Instructables Sugar Contest!

https://www.instructables.com/contest/sugar/

Thank you for everyone who supported, and @jcommisso for suggesting to apply!

[joseph07]

Your welcome! I'm really glad you won, as this is a great idea!

[joseph07]

Nice idea! You should enter in the sugar contest! You have a good chance!

[SimonW21]

Hi! whats is the sugar contest??

[joseph07]

The sugar contest is an Instructables contest that involves sugar. You can find it here https://www.instructables.com/contest/sugar/ . All you have to do is go on that page, click the enter contest button, and choose the Instructable. Good luck if you decide to enter!

[Fumi Yamazaki]

Oh great- thank you for letting us know! Just submitted :D

[ArticAkita]

hey cool! make custom cake decorations! awesome instructable! love it!

[bman46]

Very good idea

[tomatoskins]

Such a fun idea! I can see a lot of people using this and changing things up!