What is 3D Printing Pen?

As the name depicts, a 3D Printing Pen is a Pen which prints the structure and texts in 3-dimensional form.

It is a little strange to hear that a pen could print a 3 dimension structure, but it is true and a new invention in the field of development. It works similarly to the concept a ‘Glue Gun’. But the difference is that the glue gun is used to stick things, whereas the 3D Printing Pen is used to create a 3 dimensional structure and manually.

The manual creation of a 3D structure requires a thorough precision to make the exact image without any mistakes. It is like drawing figures and artwork. But the only difference with the 3D Printers is that you don’t require any paper to print the structure, instead just let the figure stand up on its own. The 3D Printing Pens are not being controlled by any specific computer software or motor, it is guided manually, just draw the structure by hand the way you like. It gives the effect like creating a sculpture with different colors simply by using just a pen.

How and Who invented the 3D Printing Pens?

The credit of inventing the 3D Printing Pens goes to “Maxwell Bogue, Peter Dilworth, and Daniel Cowen”. They first developed the 3D Printing Pen prototype in early 2012 at the ‘Artisan’s Asylum’ in Somerville, Massachusetts.

The 3D Printing Pen invention came out when these people came out to face a problem with their structure and that cannot be remade easily. Actually, the case was, they were printing a 3D structure and waited for the final product for about 14 hours. Later, they discovered that the printer has missed a line in the structure. So they decided to, “Why not to keep the structure the way it is instead of reconstructing the structure and waiting for another 14 hours, so make a pen to solve this problem”. This bad experience with the 3D Printer leads them to develop an innovative idea and make a pen to correct the problem. Initially, they called there 3D Printing Pen with a name “3Doodler”.

How 3D Printing Pen Works?

The 3D Printing Pen works on a simple phenomenon. Normally, only heat is required to melt the plastic or other metal/material. The melting temperature in device varies with the material and used to make the filament. The melted filament is then pushed out through the extruder nozzle. Then the structure depends on the person who wants to create the structure as per the requirement. As the melted plastic cools down easily and solidifies as it comes out from the pen nozzle and makes the structure permanent.

The 3D Printing Pen uses ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic, it is the same material which is used by 3D Printers. The 3D Pen is just a minimized version and a manually working form of these 3D Printers. The 3D Printing Pen requires main-powered electric to melt the plastic and form a structure. The 3Doodler is the first 3D Printing Pen. The ABS Plastic is used extensively because of its low cost. As well as ABS plastic is easily available in a Craft Store or through Online.

The Plastic Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) used in 3Doodler is recommended to use it in a properly ventilated area and avoid too much inhalation of fume, or the user can use it while having a mask over mouth and nose area for the uninterrupted long period of use.

Whereas, the 3D Printers use environment-friendly Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), which is derived from common foods like Corn, Potato or Sugar Cane. It is an environmentally friendly plastic as is biodegradable in nature. In addition to this, ABS Plastic has a low melting point as compared to normal plastic and not even emit harmful gases while heating or melting the plastic. Instead, it releases a sweet fragrance like a cooked pancake.

3D Printing Pen works with Other Different Materials

1. Wood: Wood filaments are used by architects who want to make a sculpture and to add a life-like aesthetic into the model, figure or sculpture. These figures are used for interior decoration purposes as well as repair the wooden furniture, floors, utensils, and many more.

The ideal temperature required for wood filament is 170°C to 200°C i.e. 338°F to 392°F.

2. Nylon: The designers use Nylon to make a fashion accessory, outfit, or any decorative items as well. It is also used to make manually a stylish home décor or centerpiece. The structure will be a fabric-like texture with a semi-translucent appearance. It is best for making prototypes for clothing designs.

The ideal temperature required for Nylon filament is 200°C to 225°C i.e. 392°F to 437°F.

3. Metal: The Metal Filament usually takes Copper and Bronze filament to create 3D Structure. It is ideal for making metallic jewelry and sculptures. Usually, architects and designers give a base to the design by using ABS or PLA plastic filament, then cote with the metallic filament.

The ideal temperature required for both Copper and the Bronze filament is 180°C to 200°C i.e. 356°F to 392°F.