3D pens are an amazing technology when used properly due to their convenience and the endless fun they provide.
However, there are pitfalls to be aware of once you're in possession of a 3D pen.
In this post, I'll be discussing some of the most common mistakes that people make and how you can avoid them.
3D Pen not being hot enough to work
3D printing pens work on the basis of a melted filament being spurted out. However, getting the plastic filament to melt can take a while.
(Image courtesy of Differencebetween.net)
While most 3D Pens keep you guessing about the temperature of the device, some good 3D pens for beginners like the Lunatix 3D Pen have a purpose-built display that shows you the temperature of the device for your convenience.
The improper melting of plastics can result in the clogging of your nozzle.
Plastic won't come out of the nozzle of the 3D Pen
As mentioned above, this could be a result of a clogged nozzle. This usually happens due to extended use without cleaning, or by leaving hot plastic to cool in the nozzle by leaving the pen upside down, for example.
To avoid this issue as effectively as possible, it is a better idea to invest in a 3D Pen with a removable nozzle to easily clean the remnants.
If the plastic filament won’t come out even when the nozzle is clean and the 3D Pen is perfectly heated, it could be another common issue.
Plastics not feeding correctly into the 3D Printing Pen
Irregular streams of plastic can be due to the plastic filaments not being fed into the 3D pen correctly.
Check the feeder hole and insert plastic filaments in a way that they do not bend and go straight in.
Plastic Filaments may also not be let out while the pen is in use due to breakages in the filament, possibly due to the cheaper quality of the filaments used.
Filament coming out too fast from the 3D Pen
A 3D Pen with filament being emitted too fast to be handled could be boiled down to the wrong temperature.
Higher temperatures can mean that the plastic is being melted in large amounts in a lesser time period.
Some devices, like the Lunatix 3D Pen, also have a stroke-speed control feature to limit the amount of plastic being let out for greater accuracy while creating 3D figures.
The Takeaway
The 3D pen is a relatively new tool and it's still in the stage of rapid development, with many changes and improvements being made. Even after you read the manual carefully there are details that can be easily missed and hard to find on the internet.
I hope this list helps you to better use your 3D pen. Remember, the more you practice, the more works you will create!
Meta Description:
As 3D printing is relatively new, there will be moments when you may encounter difficulties while using a 3D pen. Read to find out some common problems & their fixes.