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Asked — Edited

3D Printer Pen

I've decided I'm not ready to own a 3D printer just yet, but I did purchase a 3D printer pen. It's no maker bot, but it's pretty neat. I got mine for about $100 on ebay and it came with some sample filament. Mine uses 1.75mm ABS, which seems to be standard to all the models of 3D pens I have seen. It works like a standard 3D printer has it has a nozzle that melts plastic, but instead of using motorized controls to position the nozzle you free hand it.

Obviously you don't want to print something big, but small things, crafty things and even fixing flaws in 3D prints from printers this pen would be handy for.

Here is a video of the first things I did with my pen. I made a cover for a sonar sensor, fixed an old action figure I had and I made a great big mess with spaghetti plastic all over, but I had fun and learned a lot.


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USA
#1  
With a steady hand and hours of drawing you could manually 3d print something lol.
Canada
#2  
Thanks Justin....... Your video is very encouraging for the all the jobs you mentioned . Looking forward to any more applications!
#3  
Justin :-}
Thanks for the video and explaining things about the 3D Printer Pen, I had looked at it before on Ebay and Amazon, I thought it was just for fixing mistakes on 3d prints from the 3d printers. I might actually buy one now, since a lot of things I need at times are smaller pieces, it would be very handy.
#4  
@jstarne1-XLRobots.com I was actually thinking you might find the 3d pen handy for fixing small errors in prints. For instance the little defects you mentioned in some parts you made for an Ironman finger.
Canada
#5  
Awesome review Justin! That video will be very handy. :)
United Kingdom
#6  
So throw it on a few motors which move it in the x, y and z axis and you get yourself a cheap 3d printer which shouldn't be too difficult to program to print with (not as simple as a makerbot but a lot cheaper!)

I may have to pick one of them up just to have a play with it, I can think of load of things where it would come in handy just off the top of my head.
Canada
#7  
Wow! That looks sweet. I think I would like one of those, but at the same time, I'm worried my hand-eye coordination wouldn't be good enough to make anything I really wanted to use. I'd probably be better off with a normal, mini, 3d printer...

But rich, that idea sounds really awesome. I almost want to do that myself...

You know what would be funny? Give a robot the ability to print with a 3D pen. Sounds like a fun project.
Canada
#8  
Haha Chrissi! That sounds awesome. I would pay to see that! A robot printing other 3D robots... glorious.
United Kingdom
#9  
How much would you pay?:)

It shouldn't be too difficult to do that, the fabrication of the mounting brackets and movement of the axis would be harder than the programming side of it. You could quite easily program something to build specific parts to set dimensions or even go for the whole Spirograph look and do some fancy 3d printed patterns.

I guess I need to save up and find some time to take on that challenge:)
#10  
The only possible downside to using a 3D pen (at least the model I have) is the control of the abs through the nozzle. Because when you stop pressing the button to extrude a little bit will continue to flow and needs to be wiped away with a paper towel (bunch up the paper towel so you don't burn your fingers). This is similar to how a hot glue gun will continue to push out hot glue drippage after you stop pressing the trigger.
Canada
#11  
@Rich - I would pay in non-monetary value. Perhaps by way of a giant bag of candy? Or... witty ( or not so witty) commentary? Haha I don't think that counts... but I will throw it in for free!:D
South Africa
#12  
I would like one of those pens but I am not the best at drawing so my the things I draw will not come out write
Czech Republic
#13  
Hi everyone,
I think this might be of interest to you. Our new tool 3D pen that can also solder, burn and cut is now on Kickstarter: [ http://bit.ly/3DSimoMini ]
I would be happy if you could share the idea if you like it, back us or even post your comment here to give us feedback.
Thank you!
#15  
That pen looks nifty. Read the reviews from other customers for any 3D pen or printer, I find it helpful to see what people said they liked or did not like. There is very much are "art" to using a 3D pen, don't expect to be able to make something pretty right at first.

Heating and Cooling is the real trick and thing to master. You needs to be hot enough to stick, but cool quickly enough to make straight lines. You'll need a LOT of patience to master that! :)

My rule of thumb for a 3D pen is don't spend over $100 for one, and this one is under that price range on Amazon and it looks like it has some nicer features then mine did.

I thought I would use mine more to "fix" mistakes in 3D prints from my printer, but since I'd discovered ABS glue (acetone and bits of abs plastic) and Simplify3D software to print nicer things I have not needed my pen.
#16  
Hey Justin, I read your blog and yes it was quite helpful. But don't use think that for the newbies, they should opt the easy to use 3D pens in order to get hands-on practice on this new technology, check this list of the easy to use 3D pens and let me know your feedback.
http://mobilesiri.com/best-3d-pens/
#17  
Honestly, no. I never use my 3D pen now. I think saving up to purchase an entry level 3D printer and then saving up to purchase software like Simplify3D is much more useful.
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