Best 3D Printer Pen in 2022
You’d be forgiven for thinking that 3D pens are a gimmicky ploy to capitalize on the growing interest in 3D printing. To some extent, this is true, especially on the lower end of the pricing scale. And, let’s face it, a 3D pen can’t match a full-sized 3D printer for versatility and print quality, nor is it a replacement for one.
Nevertheless, the best 3D pens available are an enjoyable, cheap, and unconventional way to dabble in 3D printing – compact, hands-on, and an arguably more immediate vehicle for creative expression free of the lengthy slicing and tinkering usually necessary to bring three-dimensional ideas to life. After all, a handheld printer that lets you draw in three dimensions sounds like a good time in most peoples’ books.
As with all consumer products, it’s worth fending off the desire to buy the first 3D pen you come across and assessing what’s out there first. To that end, we’ve done all of the heavy lifting for you and pulled together a selection of the best 3D printer pens in the game.
Whether you a seasoned crafter, a maker that needs an affordable touch-up tool, a parent looking for a low-cost and creative 3D printing tool for a child, or someone who wants to try their hand drawing or modeling with something a little different, you’ll hopefully find a 3D pen that ticks the right boxes.
Products at a Glance
Best 3D Printer Pen in 2022
- Weighty, normal pen-like in-hand feel
- Steady, consistent filament flow
- Two speed settings
- Temperature switch for different material types
- Includes maintenance kit, 15 color refills, and doodling guide with five step-by-step projects
- Only compatible with 3Doodler filament refills
- Child-friendly
- Great safety features
- Easy to use
- Chunky, comfortable design
- Only compatible with 3Doodler’s Eco-Plastic material
- Slow to solidify
- Temperature, flow, and speed settings
- OLED display for monitoring
- Ergonomic design
- Mobile, but not wireless
- Low price
- Functional
- Speed adjustment
- Simple controls
- Experience and print quality trails behind more expensive options
- Beginner-friendly
- Ships with tons of filament
- Easy to setup and use
- Low price
- No wireless function
- Print quality fits the price tag
Are 3D printing pens worth it?
It depends on what you expect to get from it. You will have likely seen videos of people 3D drawing the Eiffel tower and such like. This kind of thing, while cool, is difficult as well as limited. Where 3d printer cans can come into their own is if you already possess a 3D printer and you can then use the pen and filament to patch up errors in your larger print. It comes in most useful during the post process! Of course, if you want to make the Eiffel Towerr, be our guest, send us your pics!
What can you make with a 3D printer pen
We touched above on how not to let your expectations run away with you but there is no doubt you can still make cool things with your new 3D pen. One thing we like to see them used for is to enhance learning. Why not encourage the kids to draw the picture on paper in 3D rather than a traditional felt-tip pen? There is no doubt the engagement level rises when a child gets hold of a 3D pen.
Less creative in some ways but just as much in others you can also use your 3D pen to make minor repairs to household items? Handle snapped off your corkscrew, either reattach it with some melted plastic or simply fashion a new one by drawing round and round!
Finally, you could even make some arty, glittery butterflies to stick on your face as 3D makeup. The key here is just to go with your imagination.
Where to buy a 3D Pen Printer
More and more high street tech shops and stationers are beginning to stock 3D pens as their popularity increases. If you aren’t lucky enough to live near such a superstore then you can always rely on Amazon to get one to your doorstep in next to no time.
Our Verdict
For us, there’s little doubt the 3Doodler Create+ is the most well-rounded 3D pen on the market today. Comfort, consistent print quality, and a good spread of settings combine to offer a genuinely pleasant experience for all ages. If you can overlook the proprietary filament refills, it’s hard to go wrong.
Following closely behind and firmly seated in our runner-up best 3D printer pen spot is the child-friendly 3Doodler Start Essentials. The easiest to use of our picks, there’s everything here for a safe and fun experience.
Those looking for a more professional 3D pen will want to consider the Mynt3D Professional Printing 3D Pen. Highly customizable and ergonomic, this is one for those who plan to take handheld printing from an occasional fun hobby to a serious artistic activity.
Need to stick to a tight budget? The Mynt3D Basic 3D Pen is a no-frills, functional 3D pen perfect for those that don’t need the best print quality or advanced features. For beginners, our top choice is the SCRIB3D P1.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch in the comments section with any questions or comments.