The modern world is full of sleek and fancy new ways to stand out – and the 3D pen is no exception to this rule. This remarkable little piece of technology originally came from a Kickstarter project after some artists had a really great idea… what if we could make a 3D pen that worked in much the same way as a 3D printer did? Wouldn’t that be cool..?

Well a couple of years later – and you can. 3D pens are everywhere and are the height of trend right now, particularly among artists and creatives the world over.

(Want one for your kids? Read our reviews here!)

So what exactly is a 3D printing pen

It’s a pen, but not as you know it! This pen ejects the same thermal melted plastic that a 3D printer uses – meaning that with just a glue gun you can join products of the two to make some pretty fantastic sculptures.

The 3D pen allows you to write with plastic, essentially meaning that the finished creation will be solid and able to stand on its own two legs. No longer is writing limited to the page, either, since your 3D pen is able to build on top of what it has already made – in much the same way that a 3D printer prints in layers. The plastic cools instantly, meaning that solid structures can be built in seconds… a revolution in the world of art and design.

The nib of your average 3D pen is extremely hot, reaching temperatures of up to 329 degrees – so you need to be very careful in the handling of it. It has a similar temperature to a soldering iron, so bear that in mind if you are looking to invest. Fortunately, there are child-safe versions available that don’t heat up quite so much.

How Much is a 3D Pen?

You should also consider how much the price of one of these pens has fallen since their introduction to the market. Once their sale was introduced by 3Doodler other brands scurried to mimic the idea, and now the cost has settled to a much more reasonable investment.

3D pens are now available in all types of colors and varieties. Thankfully, you can now buy ones without the superheated nib which are a whole lot more child-friendly. Since the idea caught on so quickly there are also several different brands and styles to choose from too.

A favorite among kiddies and an absolute smash hit among artists: the 3D pen has come a long way in its reasonably short lifespan. The art world has earmarked this product as the designing tool of the future. So perhaps one day we will be enjoying 3D pen works in art galleries?

Whatever the future holds one thing is for sure – this is a highly addictive little pen that will even write on the air for you… and when it comes to consumer satisfaction the 3D pen ticks every box. Completely safe and non-toxic (although maybe don’t ingest it) the plastic comes out warm and sets into a hard coating that allows you to create anything you want to… all you need is a little imagination!