3D printing pens are an exciting and innovative way to bring imaginative ideas to life. These pens allow artists, engineers, and inventors to create tangible three-dimensional models with ease. Working much like a glue gun or ordinary 3D printer, the 3D printing pen extrudes molten plastic that cools quickly for quick and easy creations.
Much like drawing with a conventional pen or pencil, users can draw in thin air and build up objects in any shape that they choose. This makes 3D printing pens perfect for creating valuable prototypes, creative sculptures, garden miniatures, educational models, and more.
Using a step-by-step format, this blog post will discuss how to use a 3D printing pen effectively.
What is a 3D Printing Pen?
A 3D printing pen is a pen with 3D printing function. It is an innovative tool that allows users to easily create three-dimensional objects by drawing with melted plastic.
The pen utilizes filament made from thermoplastics, which is heated and then extruded through a slender nozzle. By manipulating the heated plastic while it’s being processed, artists can create sculptures and other imaginative works like no other medium before–it allows people to literally draw in the air.
Without the need for any additional software, a 3D printing pen allows you to draw whatever you imagine. Quite literally, you’re just thinking it and then drawing it.
Using a 3D Printing Pen: 7 Easy Steps
If you want to start a 3D printing business, a 3D printing pen can be a great way to create amazing and complex models. At first, it might seem intimidating, but with these 7 simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating fantastic works of art.
Select the Right 3D Pen
To ensure you make a smart 3D pen purchase, remember to shop for the best value and features, such as built-in internal cooling systems, temperature control options, and extra filament refills.
Additionally, read customer reviews and look up product specifications before buying; it’s always helpful to have an idea of what other people are saying about the product and how it has performed.
Finally, when selecting your 3D printing pen ask yourself: do I need extra help with this technology? If so find a pen that has additional support like built-in tutorials or a friendly customer service team.
Choose a Work Surface
To find the perfect work surface, take into account the type of pen you are using, as well as the size of your drawing project. A material such as thick cardstock or paper is often ideal for small projects, providing solid support while still being easy to work with.
For larger jobs, however, consider utilizing mediums such as wood, plastic, or metal – all of which provide you with a robust and reliable structure to draw on. Lastly, it’s important to remember that when in doubt a good quality piece of white construction paper is always a safe option.
Insert a Filament
When attaching filament to a 3D pen, you have a choice between two options: either place the filament around an internal spool inside of your pen body or feed it through an external port.
While both methods work well and allow you to adequately control the rate of feed, each one has its own advantages and downsides which should be taken into consideration when deciding which is best for your project. Once attached properly, users can expect fantastic results with their 3D printing pen, no matter which method they chose.
Warm Up the 3D Pen
Before you start drawing, you’ll need to warm up the 3D pen. It’s easy to do! Turn on your 3D pen and wait for it to reach the ideal temperature which is indicated on the back of your device
Following this step will ensure that your prints are laid down accurately and easily. After that, your 3D pen will be ready for use and you’ll be able to begin and complete amazing projects.
Create a Focus Point
To have a smooth 3D drawing experience, you need to create a focal point for your drawing. Simply extrude a tiny bit of plastic onto the surface to serve as the starting point. With that pinpoint established, you can start to draw and sketch your desired form.
After creating the focal point, you can begin to slowly glide the pen while keeping it in close proximity to the point of focus you just made. Greater heat increases the plastic’s potential for sticking to the surface.
Steady Your Hands
Using a 3d printing pen requires a steady hand and patience. For best results, the user must move slowly, pressing the pen down onto the desired surface while guiding it in sweeping motions along its 3D shape design. This method helps produce smooth edges and details and prevents unnecessary clogging or breaks in the filament inside the pen.
Avoid Wasteful Extrusion
Wasteful extrusion occurs when strong plastic strings get caught on and stick to material or elements in your design. To avoid this, follow these tips:
- Use a higher temperature when starting projects since this will reduce stringing due to better layer adhesion. Lower the temperature as you progress to ensure proper flow consistency without extra plastic removal.
- Opt for slow printing speed and look for templates that require little backtracking from your pen’s nozzle.
- Regular maintenance such as cleaning the nozzle, using fresh filament, and using consistent nozzle pressure can also help reduce any extrusion waste.
Frequently Asked Questions on How To Use a 3D Printing Pen
To use a 3D pen as a beginner, start by holding the pen as you’d hold a pencil. Once you are comfortable, plug in your 3D pen and select speed setting. Set the temperature and press down on the side button to feed the plastic through the nozzle, then use your 3D pen to draw freehand in three dimensions.
A 3D printing pen is a handheld device that allows users to physically draw in three dimensions. Utilizing plastic filament, the pen melts and extrudes its contents to produce an array of three-dimensional objects.
A 3D printing pen is a great tool for anyone interested in learning how to create three-dimensional works of art. With a 3D printing pen, users can explore everything from basic shapes and forms to more advanced sculptures and projects.
Writing with a 3D pen is easy. Load your 3D pen with your desired filament material and start extruding layers until you have designed your project right before your eyes. Once the filament is heated, you can create casts of objects that look like they are standing on their own – at whatever angle or design you’d like them to be.
You can use different types of materials with a 3D pen, such as filament plastic, wood fill, bronze-infused plastic, and many others. With these materials, you can create any three-dimensional object that you want without having to learn complex software or techniques.
Owning a 3D pen can be an exciting and creative experience that makes art easier than ever. Beyond the obvious fun of doodling, these pens are useful for more serious applications like sculpting and prototyping small parts.
Conclusion
3D printing technology has revolutionized many industries in ways that, only a few years ago, could have been considered impossible. The 3D printing pen is an amazing innovation of this great technology.
Using a 3D printing pen is a great way to get creative and make things that wouldn’t be possible with traditional manufacturing techniques. Moreso, It is accessible to anyone with just a few hundred dollars and the desire to explore the possibilities.
If you follow the steps outlined above, you’ll have no trouble creating stunning works of art using a 3D printing pen. You should give it a trial.
With close to 5 years of experience, Oluwatosin has honed his skills as an SEO content writer, editor, and content marketing manager. He has written articles, conducted extensive research, and managed projects for clients in the Tech, Finance, Web3, Real Estate, E-commerce, Education, and Health industries. His expertise extends to SEO content optimization, content re-purposing, keyword research, competitor analysis and web content management.
