Best 3D Pen - A New Dimension of Drawing
Updated: April 08,2022
Whether you’re looking for a new way to express yourself artistically or want to enrich your workshop with another powerful tool, the best 3D pen is the way to go. To help you find the perfect gadget, we’ve created a special list of high-quality products with objective reviews and plenty of useful information. You don’t need to waste your time searching through hundreds of websites. Simply scroll down our list and pick the 3D printing pen that really speaks to you.
3Doodler Create+
- Light, compact design
- Compatible with various filaments
- Helpful 3Doodler app
- Short power cable
3Doodler is one of the first and most popular 3D printing pens on the market. It was initially introduced to the public through an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign. The inventors, Peter Dilworth, Maxwell Bogue, and Daniel Cowen, sought to raise $30,000 and ended up with over $2 million. Over the years, they’ve worked on perfecting their top-rated 3D pen, coming up with various age-appropriate designs. With their new 3Doodler Create+ 3D printing pen, they’ve reached new heights. Here is our take on the product.
New, Improved Design
First, let’s look at the design. 3Doodler has traditionally been on the bulkier side, especially with kid-friendly models. With Create+, there are obvious improvements. You get a compact, light design that is easy to hold and handle. The pens come in quartz grey and onyx black versions, both looking very stylish and elegant. The best 3D pen from WobbleWorks requires a power cable, which some people find restrictive. Thankfully, the cable is really light, and you won’t even notice it’s there.
Buttons and Tweaking Potential
There are two rubber buttons on the device for slow and fast filament extrusion. The slow mode is for best 3D pen creations with numerous details, while the fast option allows you to cover more ground and work on the texture. The LED lights near the bottom of the pen tell you about the heating process, when to insert the filament, and when you can start using it. Before you can use the best 3D drawing pen, you need to flick the switch and set up the temperature. There are preset values for every type of filament, but you can also tweak the temperature yourself. If you have any trouble figuring out how to do that, you can consult the 3Doodler Create+ support.
Reliable Technology
The pen uses dual-drive technology to offer a steady and smooth filament stream, which allows you to avoid any hiccups or jams during your creative process. Speaking of 3Doodler Create+ filament, the device is compatible with PLA, ABS, flexy, and wood. The last one is a combination of plastic and real wood, which can give you a nice, natural texture. It’s slightly more expensive but definitely worth it.
Support and Education
3Doodler gets extra points in our 3D printing pen review for all the support it offers to its users. There are plenty of guides and videos online. Customer support is always available and easy to work with. To top it all off, there is a 3Doodler app, which you can download on both iOS and Android devices. The app grants you access to hundreds of high-quality stencils that allow you to trace directly from your device. To get the most out of it, you should use a tablet. There is also a vast community of users that can help you improve your drawing skills.
3Dsimo MultiPro
- Multiple functions
- LCD screen
- Extensive tutorials
- Unreliable software updates
3Dsimo was established in 2013 in a quest to create the best 3D pen to buy on the market. It really set the bar high with its ergonomic design, LCD screen, and easily customizable settings. Since then, the company has produced numerous variations including the revolutionary MultiPro tool that appeared in 2018. The 7-in-1 3D painting pen tool goes well beyond basic 3D drawing, making it a perfect workshop instrument. Here is what we mean by that.
Versatile Tool
Right from the start, it seems unfair to judge Simo 3D MultiPro by regular 3D pen standards. With its basic extension, MultiPro can easily be called the best 3D pen on the market. But with additional attachments, you get a powerful tool for decorating leather and wood or an instrument that allows for hassle-free smoldering. In addition, you can use extensions to create a cutter, saw, drill, or even a screwdriver. It can save you a lot of time, money, and valuable space in your workshop. It’s worth mentioning that the company doesn’t plan on stopping there. In the future, we might see even more extensions offering additional functions.
Compact but Intricate Design
MultiPro is no bigger than an average beard trimmer. It has a simple design and is easy to handle. The extensions can be replaced with a few clicks, transforming your best quality 3D pen into a mighty drill or a precise smoldering unit. What separates this intelligent 3D pen from many others is the handy LCD screen that lets you keep track of the temperature, power, and various other factors. You can easily customize settings to make sure everything is optimal for your specific material. The tool requires a constant connection to the 3Dsimo MultiPro power cable, and there is no cordless 3D pen variant. Fortunately, the cable is light and doesn’t get in the way or cause handling problems.
Various Packages
You can choose between different variations of the product, depending on how many gadgets you need. The basic 3-in-1 option won’t cost you much more than the best 3D pens from other companies. You get soldering and burning extensions in the package, along with 15 meters of filament. The 4-in-1 package adds a resistance wire cutter, while the full set 7-in-1 comes with all the extensions, drawing pad, and 45 meters of filament. There are also other family packages with special presents for kids and tools that allow everyone to be creative.
Support and Inspiration
The on-site support section is full of useful videos and guides. You can find everything from unboxing to drawing tips, custom profile setups, and troubleshooting. If you need more than that, you can send an email to the support team or check out what the community has to offer. There are plenty of amazing 3D pen templates that you can use free of charge to create the best professional 3D pen objects. The 3Dsimo Multipro app ensures that all your attachments and settings are updated. You can create custom profiles and apply them to the tool or just use templates for easier tracing.
MYNT3D PRO
- Extremely light
- Customizable temperatures and speed
- Stellar support
- Occasional malfunctioning elements
It’s natural to be suspicious about the quality of inexpensive gadgets on the internet. In most cases, these are inferior products with bad user reviews and a tendency to break down. However, MYNT3D’s best budget 3D pen will definitely make you reevaluate your preconceptions. Here are all the reasons why.
Light and Compact
As far as design goes, you won’t find a lighter and more elegant tool than this one. MYNT3D PRO weighs only 1.4 ounces, which is just a fraction of what the competition offers. It’s super slim and fits perfectly into every hand. The 3D pen for adults is powered through a USB cable, so you can use any power bank with a minimum 2A output. This means it’s a perfect option for 3D crafting on the go - the tool and filaments in one pocket, power bank in the other, and you’re good to go.
Extreme Precision
Of course, its compact nature isn’t the only thing that makes it one of the best 3D printing pens out there. The pen comes with an easily replaceable 0.6mm thin filament nozzle. You can buy additional ones directly on the site, which is quite convenient. For the amount you would have spent on some other product, you can get half a dozen more diverse nozzles, and you can take your skills to the next level. You can customize the temperatures at any point of the process from 130 to 230°C, with the sensitivity of a single degree. You can also change speeds using the slider option, giving you a lot more flexibility than the standard fast-slow mode.
Ease of Use
MYNT3D’s best 3D pen is really easy to use and includes intuitive controls. The high-quality OLED display lets you keep track of all the relevant parameters and gives you notifications about the heating process. This is extremely useful when you’re switching from one filament to another and want to keep the transition as smooth as possible. The MYNT3D PRO pen can use roll filament ABS and PLA materials. You can get good deals on the site and make a bundle purchase.
High-Quality Support
One of the frequently mentioned problems by users relates to faulty heating elements. Numerous users reported these kinds of problems in their 3D pens reviews, but these didn’t actually damage the company’s reputation. When the problems occur, customer support agents react and almost immediately send out a replacement. Overall, MYNT3D has an excellent relationship with its user base and gladly offers help when necessary. The website includes some great guides and troubleshooting instructions, but you can also send the team an email or call them up.
SkyWriter 3D Pen
- Ergonomic design
- Automatic temperature control
- Continuous and intermittent filament streams
- Outdated website
The first thing that comes to mind when reviewing SkyWriter is the old English idiom: don’t judge a book by its cover. The company’s best buy 3D pen is a reliable gadget with a great set of features. However, the product is advertised awkwardly through questionable talk shows and unconvincing YouTubers. Even the website seems a bit outdated and odd. Of course, we go beyond what’s on the surface and focus all our attention solely on the product. Is it worth the money?
New and Improved?
Before we get into the design, we have to mention the lack of transparency about this 3D printing pen on the website. The promotional text will tell you this is the third incarnation of the best 3D printer pen with 30 new improvements over the old one. What exactly are these improvements? It doesn’t say. To get actual, official information about the pen, you need to find the instructions document on the site.
Ergonomic Design
The pen itself looks great. It’s thin with a soft texture and fits perfectly in your hand. This is what the manufacturer promotes as the new, ergonomic design. The package also comes with a useful pen holder, which is an absolute necessity for long, tiring sessions. SkyWriter’s best-rated 3D pen utilizes a no-clog nozzle to keep the filament stream running smoothly. The device has to be plugged in through a power adapter, which doesn’t allow for much portability, but the cable is light and doesn’t get in the way.
Intuitive Usage
The SkyWriter 3D printing pen includes a quality LED screen that displays information about the material, temperature, and the heating process. It’s accompanied by two buttons on each side for simple navigation. The pen uses a smart system that automatically determines the right temperature to get the best results. If you make a 3D pen comparison between SkyWriter and other companies, you might conclude that this automation is both good and bad. On the one hand, you don’t have to worry about hitting the mark. On the other, you have less control over the process. The pen operates at eight speeds and allows for single-press continuous extruding.
Standard Materials
The pen can use ABS, PLA, and wood, although the last two have the same settings. The instructions underscore the importance of choosing the right material type before loading the filament to prevent potential malfunctions. The red light indicates that SkyWriter’s best 3D doodle pen is warming up. It can take up to 45 seconds before it’s ready to go. The light will turn green when the pen reaches the right temperature. Overall, the pen is fairly reliable and rarely jams up if you follow all the instructions.
Scribbler Duo
- Double nozzle
- Suitable for children
- Easy to use
- None at this price
One of the best things about choosing a pen that received financing from Kickstarter is knowing that it was approved by the community. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world saw this best affordable 3D pen option and gladly showed their financial support. It’s the greatest recommendation one can ask for. Scribbler Duo is the first double-nozzle 3D pen that opens up a world of possibilities.
Double Nozzle
The main selling point of the Scribbler Duo 3D pen is the double nozzle. It allows for the extraction of two filaments streams at the same time, which has various benefits. You can combine different colors at the same time to produce a more vivid creation. Filling out the textures is much faster and more efficient. Even the best 3D printer pens can take a lot of time to simply fill in the gap, but with Scribbler Duo, the speed doubles. In addition, the high-quality ceramic nozzle ensures stable and clog-free extraction.
Child-Friendly Design
If you’ve ever seen a single episode of Doctor Who, this design probably rings a bell. The somewhat bulky 3D pen feels great in your hand and, more importantly, provides additional protection for younger users. The pen’s large OLED screen displays the temperature and materials, and lets you set up the feed. As an extra safety measure, the best 3D pen for kids automatically shuts down after two minutes of inactivity. That way, even if your child forgets to turn it off, it won’t be a problem.
Easy Use
The temperatures, materials, and feeding preferences are all customizable. You can choose any temperature between 100 and 240°C. You can pick between six different speed modes and control the level of detail. The Scribbler 3D pen Duo also gives you the option to turn on continuous extrusion. Another element that puts Duo among the best beginner 3D pen options on the market is the affordable selection of filaments available on the site. This is important because the pen uses twice the amount of filament compared to other devices, so you need a constant supply.
SCRIB3D P1
- Multiple filament colors
- LCD screen
- Adjustable speed
- Hard to disassemble
The idea of 3D pens was to offer affordable printing that anyone can use. But, there aren’t many that we’d consider the best kids 3D pen. Too often, they’re bulky, complicated, or even dangerous for kids. Instead, we recommend getting your child a SCRIB3D P1 pen. It’s one of the best purchases for a young artist in your home as it comes with three filament colors out of the box, so your kids can immediately get creative. Many settings, an LCD screen, and an affordable price tag make this a purchase you won’t regret.
3D for Everyone
SCRIB3D is known for its Plug’n’Play design, which is especially apparent in the case of its P1 pen. The whole kit can be set up in a matter of seconds, making it a good 3D pen for beginners. Just plug in the power cord, put in some filament, wait 2-3 minutes, and you’re ready to draw. Even though it could be considered more straightforward than its competitors, SCRIB3D P1 still has enough tricks up its sleeve to become a viable tool for advanced users as well. You can set both the temperature and speed of the nozzle using a stepless slider. On top of that, the pen automatically goes to “sleep” if it’s out of use for more than 2 minutes, preventing possible injuries and making it a great 3D pen for kids.
Lightweight and Fun
Of course, a 3D pen needs not just to be easy to use but also fun and light enough so that your arm doesn’t cramp up from using it. In many 3D drawing pen reviews, you’ll see customers who bought SCRIB3D products praising them for their build quality. The P1 pen is very light, but it doesn’t feel like it’ll fall apart if you press it too hard. Ergonomic design ensures it’ll be a perfect fit, however big or small the hand holding it is. The ceramic tip also has anti-clogging capabilities, but we found the pen very hard to disassemble, which is unfortunate if you want to repair it by yourself. It’s evident that this pen was designed with younger users in mind, as it’s not really meant to be tinkered with.
Amazing Value
We’ve already said that the SCRIB3D P1 is the best kids 3D pen. You get quite a lot for your money here. First, three different colored filaments are included in the box, each 15ft long. Then, you get a project guide book and a stencil book, so you can start creating 3D shapes right away. Additional filaments can be purchased directly from SCRIB3D, and the company sells packs of 10 colors at a very affordable price.
Safe to Use
Safety is paramount when it comes to 3D printing, especially with pens where your hands can get in touch with the heated filament. This pen is designed so that your fingers are protected, and it automatically shuts off the heater when it detects you’re not using it anymore. Guides that we’ve mentioned in our 3D printer pen review are accompanied by video tutorials on SCRIB3D’s website, including a manual on cleaning the pen and even some ideas for your first project.
SCRIB3D Advanced
- Ergonomic design
- Auto-sleep
- Precise settings
- A bit unreliable
We can’t talk about SCRIB3D’s products without mentioning its another excellent product, the SCRIB3D Advanced 3D pen. As the name suggests, this one’s aimed at experienced users who would like to create complex 3D structures. For them, this will be the best 3D pen printer around, especially considering the great value proposition this manufacturer is offering right now. A single purchase, and you’re already set to start working on your next project.
Professionally Designed
A lot of similar products look more like toys than tools. Case in point - the P1 from the same company is amazing for kids, but it’s not a tool professionals would use. That’s not the case with this 3D pen, however. Just one look at its design is enough to convince you that this is a premium product. Instead of sliders, the pen uses buttons for all of its settings, so it feels very “clicky,” which many 3D printer pen reviews praised. The tip is made from ceramic, and it’s easily replaceable, so not only is the pen sharp-looking, but easy to maintain, too. The pen’s ergonomic shape is brilliant, and even after hours of use, you won’t feel any pain in your hand. Quite surprising for such an affordable pen, but very welcome indeed.
A Complete Bundle
SCRIB3D isn’t a popular brand just because it makes easy-to-use pens but also for its highly competitive pricing. When you buy the SCRIB3D Advanced, you do not only get the 3D doodler pen itself but three sets of different colored filaments and a guidebook with some stencils. That’s why this cheap 3D printing pen option is for creators that don’t want the hassle of purchasing everything piece by piece. Of course, SCRIB3D offers additional sets of filaments in 10 different colors, but you can also use any other brand as long as it’s ABS or PLA in 1.75mm thickness.
Precision to Perfection
When drawing in 3D, you want total control over how much filament exits your pen and even at what temperature. Luckily, SCRIB3D has thought of this, so its Advanced pen has eight speed levels and per-degree temperature settings for both kinds of materials it uses. It’s great that this best buy 3D printing pen uses buttons instead of sliders for its settings, as that allows for a more precise setup, and there’s a smaller chance that you’ll press anything by accident while working on your 3D model’s details. You can quickly set the filament to automatically extrude if you’re working on longer lines and can set it to go backwards when you want to swap out colors.
Safety First
Since you’ll be holding the pen for extended periods of time, it’s good that designers thought to protect your fingers from getting in contact with the filament. The pen also has an internal clock and goes to “sleep” after being idle for five minutes. Unfortunately, some 3D doodle pen reviews claim there’s an issue with this feature, as several people reported the pen cooling off and retracting filament after just two minutes of idle time. That’s really the only downside of this otherwise brilliant product.
Top 3D Pens - Our Top Five Picks
- 3Doodler Create+
- 3Dsimo MultiPro
- MYNT3D PRO
- SkyWriter 3D Pen
- Scribbler Duo
Our Evaluation Process for Finding the Best 3D Printing Pen
We used a special set of criteria in order to identify the best 3D pens on the market. Here are all of the elements we took into consideration.
Design
First and foremost, we looked at the design of the 3D printer pen. Naturally, this is a broad category, but we tried to answer a few key questions. Does it rest comfortably in your hand? Is the material durable, sturdy, and able to withstand hours of use? What are the handle, nozzles, buttons, and hot-end like? Are there extensions, stands, or boxes included in the package? We find out the details and give you the most important highlights.
Ease of Use
Whether we’re reviewing the best 3D pen for adults or kids, it’s important to find a product that offers simple, intuitive controls. The 3D printing technology is new, which is why most people are beginners. We look at the 3D printing pens interface, the buttons, and the screen and make sure everything is beginner-friendly. In addition, we find pens that you can grow with and those that offer as much control as you can handle. Whether it’s choosing the right temperature or creating custom feeding profiles, we gave extra points to capable but not overwhelming systems.
Materials
3D pens work by heating plastic filaments, so you’ll need a constant supply of this material. As such, we expect the top 3D pens to offer compatibility with various types of filaments, even those made by third-party manufacturers. In addition, we’ll check if the pens have replaceable nozzles with different filament sizes and how it affects your budget. Simply put, the more affordable the options, the higher the score.
Support and Education
Finally, we look at how much support you’re getting from the manufacturer. What do we mean by that? Well, you need to know that if any part of your new 3D pen malfunctions, you can contact the company representatives and ask for a replacement. Our best 3D pen reviews shed light on the companies’ practices and warn you about potential problems. In addition, we check to see how many educational materials you can find on the website or the company’s app. This means guides, walkthroughs, tips, ideas, and anything else that the community might bring to the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
While it depends on your actual needs, our top picks are 3Doodler Create+, 3Dsimo MultiPro, and MYNT3D PRO. With 3Doodler Create+ you get a great budget option for hobbyists with plenty of support from the company and its community. 3Dsimo’s MultiPro is the ultimate workshop tool that doesn’t only draw in 3D but can also burn, solder, cut, and even function as a screwdriver. You get all of that in one high-quality package. For us, the best cheap 3D pen that is actually worth your time and money has to be MYNT3D PRO. For a fraction of the standard price, you get an exceptional tool for boosting your creativity.
A 3D pen is an exciting gadget and a relatively affordable 3D printing solution. Besides the obvious artistic value, this tool can provide you with a simple yet effective way to improve existing objects or do various repairs around the house. In some ways, it’s like a very interesting glue gun that uses various materials. There are many good 3D pen filaments, including one that combines PLA and real wood. It’s perfect for fixing wooden furniture or filling up holes in the floor.
Yes, 3D pens heat up to instantly melt the plastic filament and allow it to cool down as soon as it leaves the nozzle. The temperatures depend on the material, though most of the high-end manufacturers will offer customization options. You don’t need to worry about safety. These pens are usually insulated with special materials that prevent burns. The only hot part is the rightfully named hot-end at the very bottom. As long as you don’t touch it, you’ll be fine.
Most of the 3D pens we reviewed here can be mastered pretty quickly. However, the pen we found to be the most suitable for absolute beginners is the SkyWriter 3D pen due to automatic temperature adjustment and general ease of use.
First of all, it’s a good idea to find the best 3D pen for beginners. These tools include automatic temperature control, an easy-to-understand LED screen, and intuitive controls. Before you start testing your creativity, you should read through the instructions carefully, watch online guides, and ask the community for any tips and tricks. Getting the hang of it is really not that hard.
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