A 3D pen is an upgraded version of a regular pen that uses plastic instead of regular ink. There are many ways to use a 3D pen, given its key functional property; it can be used on any surface and with any shade of plastic! Yes exactly.
These pens do not require a paper surface or special screen to use. They have the same design as a regular pen, require the same movements as a regular pen, so they can be handled even by children who know not to put their finger to the tip of the 3D pen to avoid scalding.
Before you decide which 3D pen to choose, we'll tell you what to consider before purchasing.
Important features of 3D pens
- Control type. Most 3D pens come with a temperature control system. You can control the temperature of the liquid plastic. Some models have plastic flow speed control for stable artwork and LCD display showing temperature and drawing mode, depending on the type of plastic. The control increases the efficiency and accuracy of the work and improves the ease of application.
- Design. It should be ergonomic so that the handle is comfortable to use for a long time. Simply put, before you buy, turn the 3D pen in your hand, it should fit perfectly in the palm of your hand.
- Plastic type: PLA, PCL or ABS. The first two are biodegradable and do not require as high a temperature as ABS. But the latter is more wear-resistant, durable and can withstand a large temperature range (from -40 to +90 degrees).
- Does the handle have a ceramic spout, which does not heat up as much as metal. Its presence is required if a child will use the 3D pen.
10. Spider Pen Polyes PS
- cold seal
- power supply: USB
- Recommended age: 9+
If you are worried about your child getting burned while doing 3D work, buy him a cold printed 3D pen.
It is devoid of heating elements, and is filled with photopolymer ink, which hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light.
The Spider Pen Polyes PS has a soft finish that won't slip off even a sweaty hand.
pros: Safe, can work up to 1 hour on a single charge, can draw while charging, there is no unpleasant smell when drawing.
Minuses: Photopolymer ink is not included in the package, this 3D pen is quite expensive.
9. Funtastique CLEO
- hot stamp
- print material: ABS, PLA
- power supply: USB
- Recommended age: 5+
The best 3D pen for beginners considering its relatively low cost and ability to work with two of the most common types of plastic. The light weight of Funtastique CLEO - 50 grams - allows even a child to use it for a long time.
And if you stop using it, and at the same time do not turn it off, then after a couple of minutes it will turn itself off.
There is no screen on the device, but there are several plastic feed rates and the ability to work from Power Bank.
pros: high-quality assembly, good ergonomics, variety of colors.
Minuses: No test set of threads included.
8. MyRiwell RP200B
- hot stamp
- print material: PLA, PCL
- power supply: built-in battery
- smooth speed control, auto shut-off, display, automatic feed, temperature control, replaceable nozzles
- consumable included
This powerful 3D pen comes with a speed control for fast filling of large areas and delicate intricate designs, as well as temperature control.
The ergonomic design of the MyRiwell RP200B allows you to control the device with perfect maneuverability, something that the more massive 3D handles cannot boast.
The built-in battery of the pen can be charged from the supplied docking station. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not give this model an opportunity to work with ABS-plastic, opting for low-temperature PLA and PCL. But this is perhaps the only drawback of the device.
pros: there is a plastic return function that allows you to make neat and finished lines, there is a display on which the temperature and material feed rate are visible, a replaceable ceramic nozzle.
Minuses: does not work with ABS.
7. Funtastique ONE
- hot stamp
- print material: ABS, PLA
- power supply: 220 V adapter
- Recommended age: 7+
- auto power off, display
- consumable included
If you are looking for which 3D pen is better according to reviews, then you will not pass by this model. Thanks to its streamlined body, the Funtastique ONE is comfortable for both adults and children. It is a little rough to the touch, so it does not slip even in a sweaty palm.
This 3D pen is equipped with an OLED display, which shows all the operating parameters, from temperature to the feed rate of the consumable (there are 6 such speeds in total). The handle heats up in less than a minute, and if not used for more than 1.5 minutes, it turns off by itself.
pros: fast heating, good build quality, weighs only 50g, very simple operation.
Minuses: price.
6. CreoPop
- Cold seal
- Printing material: photopolymer
- Power supply: built-in battery
- Consumables included
This model doesn't look like regular 3D pens. It is wireless and does not have a heating element. Instead, CreoPop uses a special photopolymer ink that reacts to the light from the blue LEDs built into the pen rather than heat.
Considering that there is no heating element inside the device, it is very easy to use and safe for children.
pros: design, includes a set of stencils, a large selection of ink.
Minuses: high price.
5. 3D 3Doodler Start
- hot stamp
- power supply: battery
- Recommended age: 8+
- consumable included
Child-friendly and absolutely safe 3D pen, which comes with a brochure with 10 stencils and 48 rods of colored eco-plastic for creating 3D drawings. It has no hot parts, and the eco-friendly plastic it is made of is non-toxic and BPA-free.
Once fully charged, the 3Doodler Start Pen will work for 45-60 minutes. In this case, the device can continue to be used even while charging. A micro-USB charger comes with a handle.
And the interactive app allows kids to draw on the screen and enjoy learning.
pros: lightweight, comfortable, safe.
Minuses: branded plastic is expensive
4. 3Doodler Create
- hot stamp
- power supply: from the network
- Recommended age: 14+
- consumable included
This product, developed by WobbleWorks, Inc., has two speeds: fast and slow. The 3Doodler can handle ABS and PLA plastics. Warming up the handle takes less than a minute.
Important: The tip of this pen gets very hot, so keep it out of the reach of children. All in all, the 3Doodler is a good pen for experienced people familiar with 3D printing, but requires a bit of training for beginners.
pros: there is an LED indicator (red - the device is heating up, green - you can work with PLA, blue - you can work with ABS),
Minuses: rather massive body, makes a loud sound during operation, it gets very hot during prolonged use.
3. SUPER 3D PEN-2 PLUS
- Hot stamp
- Printing material: ABS, PLA
- Power supply: 220 V adapter
- Recommended age: 9+
This device comes with stencils, a stand and a rug that will make 3D modeling not only fun, but also comfortable for the child.
The model is equipped with a screen on which it is convenient to monitor and set the desired temperature regime, has the functions of auto-feeding and auto-unloading of plastic.
pros: the kit already has a small amount of plastic, easy to use, not very hot.
Minuses: Plastic feed rate is not adjustable.
2. MyRiwell RP100B
- hot stamp
- print material: ABS, PLA
- power supply: 220 V adapter
- Recommended age: 8+
- smooth speed control, auto shut-off, display, temperature control, replaceable nozzles
- consumable included
A well-made, lightweight 3D pen with a ceramic nozzle will not burn the child's hand, and on the LCD display you can monitor the temperature and operating mode depending on the type of plastic (ABS, PLA or SBS-PRO).
After 2 minutes of inactivity, the handle will turn off, which is convenient if the child is distracted by something and forgot to turn it off.
And thanks to the Retract function, the plastic will be pulled into the pen as soon as the user releases the paint button. This prevents the appearance of dragging threads. The combination of its price and performance makes the Myriwell RP100B an excellent gift for both a child and an adult who is taking their first steps in 3D drawing.
pros: ergonomic, easy to operate, can be operated from the mains.
Minuses: slow feeding of plastic, a set of plastic, frequent complaints that the handle is short-lived.
1. 3D Simo MultiPro
- Materials: ABS, PLA and PCL
- Screen
- Positional joystick
- Weight 70 gr
- Nozzle heating temperature: up to 280 ° С
- Burnout nozzle heating temperature: up to 480 ° С
- Continuous working time: up to 48 hours
This 3D pen is not like regular 3D pens. It has a beautiful design and, more importantly, can help in soldering, cutting foams, plexiglass up to 110 mm thick and lightweight plastic, and even burning on wood and leather. For all these tasks, there are various attachments that come with the handle.
All these functions may not be interesting for a child, but they will be very useful for DIYers and people who are professionally engaged in 3D painting. The professional requires all kinds of tools to design and manufacture complex parts, and 3D Simo does just that.
The body of the device is a bit bulky, but that's forgivable when you consider that when creating the Simo MultiPro, you had to combine soldering, cutting and burning with 3D painting. The device has all the basic control functions such as temperature and speed and is also suitable for all types of plastic suitable for 3D work.
What's more, this 3D pen comes with its own app designed for both IOS and Android. Here you can watch tutorials and create 3D projects.
pros: has a mobile application, easy to use, rich in functionality.
Minuses: high price, difficult to find on sale in Russia, but can be easily bought on eBay and other foreign Internet sites.