Best 3D Pens For Printing – Top 5 Picks To Consider

The first type of 3D pen was created by Peter Dilworth, Daniel Cowen, and Maxwell Bogue as a response to unpleasant experiences when using early 3D printers. Their creation was called the 3Doodler inspired by the freehand 3D printing aspect of the device. It launched in 2013, and paved the way for many different 3D pens for artists and hobbyists to use to creating unique three-dimensional plastic sculptures.

3D pens allow you to create anything that you can imagine in three dimensions. It is a great product to get started in 3D printing, as it allows you to begin creating immediately, without need for any prior knowledge with modeling software on the computer.

The idea behind the 3D pen is a relatively simple one. Using heat, the plastic filament is melted, just like a glue gun’s glue stick. Once the filaments has been pushed through the heating chamber and has been melted, it is pushed through the extruder nozzle. As the user moves the pen, the plastic creates different shapes and figures, and as the plastic cools, it solidifies and permanently keeps its shape. Plastic cooldown is extremely quick once extruded from the pen. Generally, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), poly lactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyamide (nylon), glass filled polyamide, polycarbonate (PC), and high density polyethylene (HDPE) are acceptable plastics, but ABS and PLA are the most popular of the selection.

ABS plastic is more cost effective, and therefore is currently more widespread, which makes it easy to find ABS filament in hobby shops as well as online. One of the downsides of ABS use in 3D pens is its high melting temperature, and while this is no trouble for the technology in 3D pens, the high temperature causes fumes to emit from the plastic during doodling that may cause irritation to the user or others who are around. It is advised to take breaks when working with ABS filament, and always doodle in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling fumes.

On the other hand, PLA plastic is derived from food sources such as potatoes, corn, and sugarcane. This means that PLA plastic is biodegradable and is a much better product for the environment. The melting point of PLA plastic is lower than ABS plastic, and it does not emit harmful fumes as it is heated. In actuality, PLA plastics give off a sweet odor when heated that smells similarly to pancakes being made. However, PLA plastics are slower to cool and may require additional cooling equipment to function properly, and it is not as strong when compared to ABS plastic.

A variety of 3D pens are available in retail craft and hobby locations as well as from online retailers, such as Amazon.com.

The average cost for a 3D pen is between $40 and $60 dollars, with additional costs for colored filament.