{"id":20401,"date":"2016-06-27T05:00:39","date_gmt":"2016-06-27T12:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/?p=20401"},"modified":"2016-07-02T15:45:52","modified_gmt":"2016-07-02T22:45:52","slug":"3d-printing-pen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/3d-printing-pen\/20401\/","title":{"rendered":"Playing With My Brand New 3D Printing Pen"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"3D<\/a>Video #740:<\/span> Definitely a learning curve… but perfect if you LOVE challenges… like me!<\/em> Lots of fabulous design possibilities!<\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n

In today’s video I demo a 3D Printing Pen that a company based out of China (Banggood… see links below video)<\/em> sent to me. They are kind of like the Chinese version of Amazon, and their pricing is very good, especially when you consider that they offer free International shipping.<\/span><\/p>\n

At first I wasn’t sure whether to accept their offer, since I had never really thought about how a tool like this could be good for polymer clay artists. But then Doug told me about some videos he had seen from Angie Scarr, a UK polymer clay miniaturist (her direct links are posted below as well)<\/em>… and I got excited!<\/span><\/p>\n

In my video, I show how this product is packaged for delivery… what the box looks like… what is included (the Pen, power adapter and 3 small rolls of PLA Filament)… and the features. I also show you the extra pack of ABS Filament that the company sent me to work with.<\/span><\/p>\n

This pen has two temperature settings… each one for the different types of plastic. The cool thing that Angie Scarr discovered, is that because the ABS filament melts at a temperature higher than what polymer clay bakes at, it is possible to make something with the pen… and then add your polymer clay elements onto it, after. She used liquid polymer clay and color (for the color, I can’t remember if she used paint, chalk or ink), and filled in the open areas of a tiny stained glass framework that she made with black ABS. It turned out really cool!<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing I can tell you is that 3D pens are harder to use than they look. There is definitely a learning curve. It is a lot like trying to draw with a glue gun. After talking with Doug, I likened the 3D pen to a crayon… easy to use, but difficult to create great art with. Not impossible… just a bit more difficult than you might think. Perfect for those who LOVE challenges… like me :)<\/span><\/p>\n

You will see in my video that I am excited about the potential of what I can make with these pens. I ended up making some feather shapes and squiggly roses that looked really cool as jewelry components. They “work” well on their own as well, filled with liquid polymer clay and resin.<\/span><\/p>\n

I also experimented with some cage shaped hollow bead forms, covered with a thin sheet of translucent polymer clay and baked in the oven. My samples are amateur at best, but I do see the potential here, for some fabulous design possibilities!<\/span><\/p>\n

If you would like to get one of these 3D Printing Pens yourself, my affiliate link is posted below the video. They are not expensive (~$50 USD) and the shipping is free. I’ll play with mine some more so I can post additional idea and project videos in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

If this sparked any cool ideas of your own, do share them in the comment section below.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n