Mynt3d Super 3d Pen Instructions

A. Introduction

3D pens are devices that heat a filament of thermoplastic until it can be forced through a smaller nozzle in a hand-held pen-like device. The rapid cooling of the extruded plastic causes it to quickly solidify into a new shape.

Designs can be drawn (i.e., extruded) on a horizontal surface. Once created, these flat objects can be repositioned to form more complex 3-dimensional objects, possibly using the 3D pen to weld seams between parts. In some instances, 3D pens can be used in a freeform manner rather than only extruding plastic onto a horizontal surface.

If you are using the MYNT3D pen, please consider watching the manufacturer's helpful videos, which provided the basis for much of the material on this page:

https://www.mynt3d.com/pages/tips

B. Caution

B1. Avoid burns. The extruder nozzle is hot. Newly extruded plastic is hot and can stick to the skin.

B2. Wear eye safety.

B3. Avoid inhaling ultrafine particles. When some plastics are heated and extruded, they can emit hazardous fumes as well as ultrafine particles. In particular, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic can do this, with particles lodging in the lungs of those who breath them. Try to keep your head a good distance from a 3D pen to minimize inhaling ultrafine particles, and avoid prolonged exposure.

C. Preparation

C1. Decide what it is you want to create.

C2. Prepare the surface onto which plastic will be extruded. Examples of surfaces typically include office paper, glass, and wax paper, but you can try other surfaces and see how well the filament adheres to or can be removed from the surface.

C3. Get the thermoplastic filament you intend to use, and be sure you know the type of plastic.

C4. Record initial information in the machine log for this device.

C5. Familiarize yourself with the parts of the 3D pen, as shown below in an image from the user guide.

MYNT3D Pen Parts
Graphic from the guide that accompanies the MYNT3D pen

C6. Plug in the power supply to an outlet and to the pen. Do not use a computer's USB port for this.

C7. Without adding your filament yet, set the temperature using the | and + keys. Realize that extrusion temperature settings for a 3D pen may be lower than those used in other extruders.

PLA (polylactic acid): At first try 170 to 175� C, though you might later adjust it between 170 and 190� C.

ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene): At first try 210� C.

Metal-filled: some of these extrude at 165� C.

Other: You may experiment with other thremoplastic filaments that are 1.75 mm in diameter. Please first identify the plastic. If there is a recommended 3D printing temperature, consider beginning with a slightly cooler 3D pen temperature.

C8. Click the feed control to start the warmup. It takes a minute or so for the pen to reach temperature.

C9. When pen is at temperature you are ready to load the filament.

C9a. Put the speed slider in a middle position.

C9b. Press the filament forward feed button twice, which causes the feed motor to turn on and stay on.

C9c. Add your filament to the rear of the pen, adjusting the speed slider button as needed.

C9d. After purging, turn off the forward feed by pressing the backward feed button once.

C10. Extrude some filament to see if it flows well, adjusting the temperature settings, and re-testing, as needed. During this purge, any old filament that had been left the pen should flow out the nozzle before your material appears.

If the filament is bubbling or if there is smoke, the temperature may be too high.

If the filament won't extrude, extrudes slowly, or if the extruded strand is too thick, the temperature may be set too low.

Purging a 3D Pen

D. Use

D1. Start extruding onto a flat surface and get the feel of how fast you have to move the pen and how steady it has to be to get the desired results.

D2. If the temperature still needs to be adjusted, then make that adjustment.

Caution: If you notice the dark nozzle beginning to separate from the lighter colored plastic body of the pen, that means that there is too much force building up inside the pen, and this can damage it. Immediately reverse the filament out of the pen.

Note: After two minutes of inactivity the MYNT3D pen will start cooling down.

Tips:

Consider beginning by drawing a simple shape on a flat surface.

Next, try lifting that creation off the surface, making another build, and welding them together with the pen into a 3D assembly.

Try being a 3D printer and attempt a layering technique where you lay one strand on top of another to build an object's height.

Try building in air up from a base, slowly enough to let the plastic solidify.

E. Cleanup

E1. With the pen at temperature, reverse the feed of the filament and remove it from the pen.

E2. Unplug the pen.

E3. While the pen is cooling down, replace the unused filament. Realize that some filaments are hygroscopic, and absorb moisture from the air, so they are best stored in air-tight container with a dry dessicant.

E4. Make sure your entry on the machine log sheet for the pen is complete and accurate.

E5. When it is cool, put the pen back into its box, and return the pen and the binder to their home location.

F. Examples of Students' Work

"Using a MYNT3D Pen"

All information is subject to change without notification.
Some text and graphics provided by Ms. Lindsey Miles
© Jim Flowers
Ball State University