How Does a 3d Pen Work?

No more flat drawings, in 2D with an HB pencil! It is now possible to draw literally in 3D thanks to the 3D pen, the 3Doodler 2.0. With its wholly redesigned design for this second version, it seduces by its ease of handling. Now the size of a small marker, young and old, will be able to handle it with simplicity. It is the ideal ally for people passionate about scrapbooking, creative hobbies, or loving to personalize all types of objects.

Find in this article, the operation of this 3Doodler 2.0 3D pen and the settings to be made on it in case of the plugged nozzle or to manually increase the temperature of the pen heater.

Presentation of the 3Doodler 3D Pen

In the same way as a 3D printer, the 3D pen has a motor that drives a filament stick in the nozzle to obtain a deposit of molten wire to draw in 3D directly. There are two buttons on the top of the pen that allow extrusion of the filament, either slow or fast. The top button is used for slow extrusion, while the bottom one will allow more rapid extrusion. It is also possible to extrude the filament independently, by pressing two buttons on one of the two buttons to access every corner of creation.

When you stop extruding, the pen motor will automatically pull the filament stick back. For this reason, there are always a few seconds before the filament comes out of the nozzle when you start extruding it again.

The materials that can be used on the 3Doodler 2.0 3D Pen

Filament refills are in the form of sticks. A pack of refills of the 3D pen is composed of 25 sticks, which can be of 5 different colors or united.

It is not advisable to use coil filament as it is bent and can damage the motor inside the pen.

It is, therefore, possible to use PLA, ABS, or FLEXY. The PLA allows you to draw flat, following patterns, and then assembling the pieces. The ABS, meanwhile, cools down almost instantly during its extrusion and will then allow drawing directly in the air, as in the image below. Thanks to this property, the realized structure will hold in the air. Nevertheless, it is essential to build a solid foundation to prevent creation from coming off the rack.

The FLEXY is going to be useful to realize more flexible objects, which will be able to bend without breaking. It will be possible to draw either flat or directly in the air with this filament. It cools less quickly than the ABS but slow extrusion it can quite hold in the air.

Accessories that complete the 3D Pen

Many 3D pen accessories make it easy to use and increase creative possibilities. Indeed, the various accessories will all allow one way or another to push the limits of the 3D pen to create more easily in 3D.

Among them, the nozzle kit 2.0, in which there are six different sizes and shapes of nozzles (a ribbon nozzle, a square nozzle, a triangle nozzle, a nozzle of 0.5 mm (very thin), 1mm and 1, 5mm. This set is ideal for drawing in different ways, thanks to existing shapes, but also to achieve more details (0.5mm nozzle) or to bring a thicker (1.5mm).

Another accessory is also handy for the autonomy of 3Doodler 2.0. This is the Jet Pack 2.0, a portable battery that offers greater freedom in creation. Indeed, it is now possible to draw in 3D wherever you are. There is no need to have a plug near you to operate the 3D pen. This battery offers an autonomy of 2h for ABS and 3h for PLA.

In the same way as a sewing machine, the 2.0 pedal allows the user to rest his fingers to access many nooks and manage the extrusion with his feet.

The Doodle Pad for 3Doodler 2.0 is ideal for flat drawings. This is transparent support to put on top of your boss so you can draw quickly and especially more easily remove the creation once completed.

The infinite possibilities of the 3D Pen

The possible creations at 3Doodler are very numerous or even infinite. The grip of the pen may take 20 to 30 minutes, and it is then limited only to your imagination. A few weeks ago, we wrote an article about the 3Doodler Awards contest in which we could see beautiful creations made by artists and people passionate about creative arts in general. 

Always to accompany its users, 3Doodler offers on its YouTube channel, tutorials that explain and show how to make a pyramid, a coaster, a phone shell, but also simple shapes to start and take control of the 3D pen. Simple videos in which it is not necessary to know how to speak English.

Basic settings to make on your 3D Pen

Unclog the pen nozzle

As on a 3D printer, it can happen that the pen does not extrude more or almost more. Nothing serious; this is a normal phenomenon that occurs when the 3Doodler has been used many times. In these cases, there is a straightforward manipulation to achieve to “unclog the nozzle.” Just follow this little tutorial to eliminate a plug that may be at the entrance of the nozzle.

1. Heat the pan to the “High” position (to better melt the filament).
2. Remove the pen filament (by pressing the two pen buttons at the same time).
3. Always leave the pen on, unscrew the hot nozzle and remove it (be careful the nozzle heats more than 200 ° C)
4. Remove the maintenance cover using a pair of pliers:
5. Take the cleaning tool supplied with the 3D pen or a straightened paperclip and insert it into the tip of the pen. Push it to remove a plug of filament that had to form. If nothing comes out in doing this, do not hesitate to scrape and turn the cleaning tool inside the nozzle to extract something.

Always be careful not to burn yourself as the pen is continually heating up. Your cleaning tool may also be hot, so handle this carefully.

Increase or decrease the temperature of the 3D Pen

Insert a screwdriver into the hole next to the temperature knob to increase or decrease the temperature of the pen heater. To see which way to turn, look at the drawing just above, indicating a “+” or “-.”

In your 3D pen, ready? 3Doodle!

You now have all the keys in hand to realize all possible creations at 3Doodler 2.0. Have you already made beautiful objects with the pen? Which?