I don’t want to scare you, but the first four 3D pens I purchased all broke pretty quickly. Yes, they are all. Inquiring as to why?
Because extruder clogging, using the incorrect kind of plastic filament, and overheating may seriously damage 3D Pens.
Fortunately, I haven’t broken a 3D pen in a while. Over the years, I’ve picked up a few tips, and I’m pleased to share the greatest 3D pen usage techniques with you.
How Do 3D Pens Function?
Like a glue gun, a 3D pen works by melting plastic filament and squeezing it through the tip of an extruder. The melted plastic is incredibly pliable as it leaves the tip and may be painted on any surface or molded into any form.
After emerging from the tip, the plastic rapidly cools down before immediately hardening and molding into the shape you have designed.I cover the fundamentals of setting up your pen in the video below.
Selecting the appropriate 3D printer and filament
Fortunately, using a 3D pen to create plastic art is a fairly economical pastime. For less than $100, you can get a respectable pen and a few different shades of plastic filament.
If you have a little extra money to invest, we suggest the 3D Simo Mini, which costs around $140 and is excellent for both beginners and experts.
Check out the page for information on where to purchase plastic filament. The short version is that PLA filament is better for beginners since it is less costly, while ABS filament is more flexible and durable.
In all honesty, though, PLA is the greatest material to start with when using for 3D creations.
How to get ready to paint with your 3D pen
When getting your 3D pen ready for printing, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, remove the 3D pen from its packaging and plug it in.
Second, adjust the 3D Pen’s temperature to that recommended for the kind of plastic you’re using. Please read our in-depth post on this if you have any questions.
The names of the various components of a 3D pen, to which I will refer throughout this post, are shown in the figure below.
Wait for the temperature to reach the proper level before inserting the plastic into the pen; this should take 30 to 60 seconds.
The wire feeding button is located as shown in the above image, and you may press it once your plastic is prepared for printing. The plastic will then start to solidify and exit the pen after about 5 seconds.
What can be produced using a 3D pen?
With these pens, you may make plastic items in three dimensions. As I did with the 3D-printed vase, you may use it to add raised ornamental embellishments to commonplace items. More of my 3D concepts and works are available here.
You may also somewhat cheat and use a stencil if this post does not inspire you. You can find detailed instructions on using stencils on a separate page, along with some free starter materials.
Other 3-dimensional printed things may also be altered and fixed with these pens. Please have a peek at my portfolio for additional examples. Many of the items in my portfolio were made by starting with a frame or form and sketching around it.
