Using a 3D pen as a print rework tool - first test

[sprior]

I had this idea that a 3D pen could be used as a rework/embellishment tool for 3D prints, but nobody seems to have tried this before.

I bought the pen from Makergeeks which is unusual in that it takes regular 1.75mm filament in both ABS and PLA. There's a little fudging in this because it doesn't have any temperature control, it comes from the manufacturer with ABS and Makergeeks throws in some PLA.

Tonight as a first test I printed a small piece out of white ABS which is 10mm high and 2mm thick and has the word "hello" as text that's 0.5mm recessed. When that was done I used the pen to glob black ABS into the lettering - the idea was to fill the groove, not to be pretty. Then I took the result and sanded it down level. Not perfect, but I'm satisfied with it as a first try! I might make the lettering a little deeper and I'll certainly make the next test bigger so it's easy to hold on to when sanding.

[jimc]

not bad for a first shot. im sure like anything there is a technique that needs to be worked out. i do quite a bit of plastic welding and its the same thing with that. all technique in getting it to bond and fill correctly. keep us posted with this.

[Toby]

Good job. I think the test shows your idea works. I'm surprised the black abs bonded well enough to allow you to sand it down that much without coming loose.

[jsc]

Your results got me thinking.

I took a print I had lying around, a token about the size of a half dollar with an inset letter in it. I took my jar of no-longer-used ABS juice and spooned it into the lettering with a toothpick, let it set, then sanded it down.

The results aren't quite as nice as sprior's; the pigment has faded from the original red, and there are visible voids from bubbles. But, I didn't have to buy anything.