3D printing pens may be toys to some, but they can be genuinely useful tools to repair 3D prints, rescue a support structure, or weld together different pieces. However, [BManx2000] found that the way the filament simply sticks out of the back of a 3D printing pen like a bizarre tailfeather was troublesome.
The solution? A Mini Spool System for 3D Printing Pens, with which you can use your 3D printing pen to weld together the parts after printing them. The unit holds 1.75mm filament coiled under its own tension in a tidy package that doesn’t interfere with feeding. Since different 3D pens are shaped differently, the interface to the pen is a separate piece that can be modified or changed as needed without affecting the rest of the design.
We’ve seen some interesting innovations with filament holders before, like this entirely 3D printed filament holder, but a mini spool for a 3D pen is definitely a new one.
Very neat. An elegant solution for a more civilized age.
(mind blown) I hadn’t thought of using a 3D printerering pen for welding plastics!
I didn’t even know there were 3D printing pens. Until this moment in time space I was using a modified soldering iron with a flat pad (if even) kind of like soldering and contemplating purchasing the tips that have a tube for feeding the rod through a seem in the middle of the pad. My most recent investment was reducer pipes so I could use the heat gun with a small mm tip.
Awesome… you know, is this what is used to make the 3D printers?
Did these come to market first or the other way around?
I haven’t got into the 3D printing hands on yet other than reading and visiting places to look at. I do have a project I was contemplating to make using a 3D printer, an oscilloscope face plate. I also have been discussing a versatile 3D CNC mill project (ability to mount different heads, i.e. cutters (laser, machine tool), printers (pipettes, resin, plastic) and maybe other for measuring (touch (resonating and contact), optical and laser). I haven’t got to the point of 3D printing just yet as I was researching machining last since I already have a lathe that I was planning to upgrade some time to CNC and have more accurate components. Figure, I’d couple the lathe and mill together. I’ll have to read up more on the plastic printing pens that are handheld. Handy project.
The first of these was launched with Kickstarter. They’ve since gone to a second revision. There was a scam one claiming to be USB 2.0 powered, but there’s no way a USB 2.0 port can deliver enough current for the heating, let alone the electronics and extrusion motor.
Now the 3D printing pens are everywhere. Genie is out of the bottle.
Genie? Bottle? Like it was some kinda magic? It’s a small bore glue gun with pretensions.
Pandora’s out of the box. Better? ;)
Thanks, I still haven’t read into yet. I didn’t think I noticed on the market before the printer systems when I was researching. Simple idea. Yeah, like a higher temp small bore glue gun… blah blah