3D pens, one year later

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posted in Community by mr_glass

I saw that it's been around a year since the 3Doodler went bananas on kickstarter........... I'm still thinking about getting one but wanted to hear your opinions.

One year later, what are your thoughts on the 3D pens? Novelty or Awesomeness?

9 years, 10 months ago

vinnie90 - I been having my 3doodler for about 2 months or so.

I am having issues with it extruding for one second then stopping for one second then extruding one second....and so on.

I am having a meeting with "one of the engineers" on skype to see what the issue is. Now, I "didn't" take it apart to see what the problem was ;) But, they need to have a tension adjustor on the filament, it grabs and looses grip way to much.

Other than that. It is a great toy to have to zone out and just make stuff. It is kinda hard to make 3D stuff in air. It is almost easier to extrude plastic on a sheet of paper in the shape you want then puzzle piece the parts together.

I bought it for two reasons and they dont work exactly like I thought it would. First reason is to fix 3D Prints. If their is a hole, or something broke, etc. The hot plastic that comes out the pen doesnt really stick to the cold 3d model you printed. Second reason is to 3D Sketch the general size of models for my customers. I made a lot of oil field models for my customers and they always have a hard time knowing the size of the finish product. So, my plan was to 3D Sketch the 3 foot long models in air to give them an idea of the size. But it is really difficult to do that.

Summary......is it worth the price I paid. Yea, if you have the money go for it, if not I wouldn't stress about it. I would probably wait for a newer version.

9 years, 10 months ago

elpulpo - Ya know, I dunno. Far as I'm concerned, melting and extruding plastic isn't the groovy thing. It's the level of control you have about where the molten plastic goes that's the source of the awesomeness. That said, I was very tempted recently by a new 3D pen on Kickstarter. ...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lix3d/lix-the-smallest-3d-printing-pen-in-the-world?ref=nav_search

Seems to me that this.....

http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/bosch-cordless-glue-pen?istCompanyId=bf3344d9-83f5-4abd-b69a-da131f7567d1&istItemId=xliwprppm&istBid=tzxp&gclid=CjgKEAjwoJ-dBRDbjfKN7IzN0FsSJAAP0G_DKM-Ui8wUnKJOqXUrMWVcW8_f6qQHjsrqpxST5J5dNvD_BwE

....seems more-or-less the same and faaaaaar cheaper! :-D

9 years, 10 months ago

vinnie90 - Yea, I think the LIX will be a better pen.

9 years, 10 months ago

defcon3d - Here's a fix to help with finishing issues and the like. As you are correct hot plastic on a cold part doesn't do well..

Now a precision device that controls the air temp with a small enough nozzle will help do the trick. Dont you just hate how the plastic turns white when you file or sand in PLA :)

Here's a hint....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GRHD5RA?psc=1

There are many different vendors that sell these products. You just need to know which one will work for you and practice, practice, practice... :)

9 years, 10 months ago

elpulpo - Great idea Defcon3D.

Check THIS out!!

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/creopop-the-world-s-first-3d-pen-with-cool-ink

Oooh! Gotta-gotta-gotta!!!

9 years, 10 months ago

vinnie90 - @defcon3d Im real used to sanding and fixing plastic with heat and other methods. It is one of those things that I am always trying to do. I was just hoping that this could be another method. Thanks for your suggestion though.

WOW that Creopop looks cool. They didnt show it much but the 3D Sculpting in air looks better.

9 years, 10 months ago

elpulpo - ....and there's no chance of getting molten plastic in your eye! LOL

9 years, 10 months ago

defcon3d - elpulpo@ great device... I'm reaching in my wallet now as my kid is looking at me with those big brown eyes....
I remember the days when allowance was cheap and a trip to the Soda shop would suffice.
May have to get two of these as I would be hard pressed to wrestle this one from her hands.

Guess, I have to be careful of who's looking over my shoulder when I'm online now. Ah, heck half the time my kids are the ones to tell me about the stuff on Kickstarter. Who am I fooling? :)

Andy, I still haven't got my free samples yet. Maybe, that extra set they sent to you was really for me ;)

9 years, 10 months ago

elpulpo - LOL! Ooh! You've got a good memory. I'll have to watch that! Heh!

Sounds like you're champing at the bit for that sample. What do you have in mind for it??

9 years, 10 months ago

defcon3d - I'm just teasing you... At their price point, I'm not anywhere close to working with it for an application. But it's always nice to test out new product.

9 years, 10 months ago

elpulpo - Indeed it is! And now I have an all-singing, all dancing temperature control mod for my Up! Mini, I'll be trying some new samples. Hmmm. What's first? T-glase or the Carbon Fibre-filled?? :-D

9 years, 10 months ago

defcon3d - First the mild summers, and now this. I just think they don't like us "west coast guys".. :)

9 years, 10 months ago

elpulpo - Who? The Germans?? :-D

9 years, 10 months ago

makerbeck - Strangely enough, I use mine in a way I would never have guessed. I use it to touch up supports/reattach them to the build plate when having problems during a long build. Since it uses ABS, it works great for that. It has save a number of builds that way.

I have barely used it for doodling.

9 years, 10 months ago

elpulpo - Good idea, MakerBeck!!

9 years, 10 months ago

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toybuilder - makerbeck - that is a great use of it, and I'm slapping my head for not thinking of doing the same!

9 years, 10 months ago

vinnie90 - makerbeck you da man....Better than my method of whatever I can find and tape/glue/melt plastic to help it out. One build I used toothpicks, tape, and melted plastic with a soldering iron just so I dont have to reprint it

9 years, 10 months ago

tom10 - The best from the 3D pens is still to arrive and currently too, these are considered a good option for a number of aspects. You can buy a good 3D pen from 3D Printers Online Store and use to fill voids, draw outlines and adjoins objects etc.

5 years, 8 months ago