Ideal for a new hobby or to make an original and innovative gift to a child, the 3D pen is a pleasant accessory for those who love creativity. But which one to choose among the many on the market?
Read the ranking with the review of the most popular models this year, and you could immediately find the one that’s right for you without further research. But first, take a look at our guide to find out more about this object.
Here we had listed out the best 3D pens that are given below.
Buyer Guide to Choose 3D Pen
The 3D pen is a latest-generation accessory that allows you to create three-dimensional objects by freeing the creativity present in each of us.
If you have never had the pleasure of trying it and you don’t know how it works, in this article you will find useful information that will allow you to make the best use of it.
What It Is and How It Works?
It looks like a pen larger than normal and generally has a power cord that accompanies it. The results it allows to obtain are incredible: it is a small three-dimensional printer that costs a few tens of euros.
The operation is similar to that of a hot glue gun in which you have to insert the solid stick which is then melted. Here it is necessary to introduce a filament of material which can be ABS or PLA.
In both cases, these are easily available plastics at a very low price in the form of spools with a diameter of 1.75 mm and more rarely 3 mm.
PLA is a bioplastic, when it melts it produces a sweet smell, unlike ABS which instead emits a burnt plastic smell and must be used in a ventilated environment. ABS melts at a higher temperature, and not all pens are compatible. It is also more flexible than PLA and less fragile.
The filament market, however, is very active and there is no shortage of interesting novelties already used for three-dimensional printers that could soon also be compatible with 3D pens.
All you need to do is connect the pen to a power outlet, wait for the melting temperature to be reached – about 1 minute – press the button to insert the filament and the button to choose the material.
The pen is ready, and it doesn’t make noise, it doesn’t clutter up, you don’t need a computer, you don’t need a complex design, just a lot of imagination.
What Can Be Done?
So what can you do with a 3D pen? To begin, just a base on which the plastic does not adhere: you can draw in pencil what you want and then trace with the pen.
The pens of the best brand allow you to adjust the speed of emission of the filament: the maximum speed is ideal for filling, the minimum speed for “drawing” vertically.
The limit is the imagination: you can draw whatever you want, and you can download hundreds of templates from the Internet: for example, you can create individual pieces to assemble later.
You can originally decorate objects and surfaces. At Christmas, the house can be filled with nice red decorations. The filaments are available in many different colors, and a couple of rolls should already be included in the pen package to start the first project immediately.
Of course, you can draw not only horizontally, in a classic way, but also in height: the heat of the newly melted plastic will allow you to fix the new parts created.
Animals, toys, decorations for backpacks, bags, wallets, bracelets, repairs, real works of art: the list of possible creations is practically infinite.
For Professionals and Children
3D pens can be used by children as well as by professionals. Of course, you need to choose the right model. Just compare the prices to notice the differences. A children’s pen should be particularly handy and have a tip that won’t overheat.
Those for professionals can include a battery and therefore can be used anywhere, even away from a power outlet. They are also compatible with different filaments, not just PLA or ABS; allow you to set a continuous release of the material without pressing the button and ensure more precise designs.
How to Use a 3D Pen
How Does It Work?
From an aesthetic point of view, it looks like a real pen, with slightly larger dimensions and a connected power cable. It is a sort of 3D printer, technological but inexpensive, which allows you to create almost anything.
If you have used hot glue guns, using the 3D pen will be a breeze because its operation is very similar. Just plug the pen into the power outlet and wait for it to reach the melting temperature.
At this point you choose the material and color to use, and you can start working. The great advantage of this accessory is its simplicity, and you don’t need a computer or a priori study to use it, just a lot of creativity and imagination.
ABS and PLA
To use the 3D pen, you need ABS or PLA filaments, or special plastics that overheat change their consistency to facilitate creations, and which harden when their temperature drops.
ABS is very resistant and flexible, melts at high temperatures, and compatibility with your pen must be assessed. PLA is characterized by a sweetish smell when burning, is less resistant than ABS but is usually compatible with the majority of the models on the market.
In recent times, 3D printers use the latest generation materials and will soon be compatible with three-dimensional pens.
Use Creativity
To start using a 3D pen, you must first choose a surface on which the plastic does not adhere. The better quality pens allow you to adjust the speed of emission of the filament so that you can draw vertically slowly and subsequently fill the drawing at high speed.
You can download many templates from the web and, using different colored filaments, and you can create individual pieces to assemble to make a small sculpture. It can be drawn horizontally or vertically, paying attention to the fixing of the pieces.
A Pen for Everyone
3D pens can be used by professionals in the sector but also by children, and this is their strong point. Children’s models should be easy to handle, with the tip not overheating excessively.
On the contrary, the professional versions are generally equipped with a built-in battery. They can also be used with the latest generation filaments that allow you to create high-precision creations.
