The pen is firmly established in our lives and is one of the most necessary tools for writing and drawing. But it seems that this is still a very young invention. The history of the pen begins with the history of humanity. Primitive people painted on the walls of caves with a pointed stone. Before Christ, the Babylonians incised it with a stylus cuneiform – the first letter in wet clay. Now it’s different. Every day we are inventing new technology betters each other. The market of additive technologies is developing so rapidly that you do not always have time to keep track of innovations in the industry. Generations of 3D printers replace each other every year, but the principle of their work remains the same. Today, few people will be surprised by the capabilities of the desktop machine for three-dimensional printing. The three-dimensional pen is similar to an ordinary pen, only inside it there is no ink, and the ink is replaced with a particular thread.
A real breakthrough in this field was the invention of stereolithography by Chuck Hull in 1984. Thanks to this technology, it became possible to produce objects of digital projects using 3D printers. Photopolymer, a liquid substance based on acrylic, was used as a material. Under the influence of UV laser rays, the material instantly solidified and turned into a plastic object, taking the necessary shape. Of course, this invention revolutionized the environment of developers who could now create prototypes at a much lower cost. The device is capable of working with powder polymers, casting wax, nylon, ceramics, and metal powders, while the transition from one material to another chamber should be carefully cleaned from the remnants of the former material. Several models can be grown in one chamber.
A 3D pen is a tool capable of drawing in the air. You might think that is magic, but no, just another technological breakthrough in the field of 3D modeling. This gadget is destined to change forever the idea of what “drawing” is because now we all can draw not only on paper but in space! This gadget has two types of pen: hot and cold. The principle of operation of the hot 3D pen is extremely simple. In contrast to the usual devices for writing and drawing, instead of ink it is filled with plastic thread. Most of the pens are using a polymer rod, which is also can be used for 3D printers that are working in the printing style of layering. In the rear part of the case, there is a special hole in which the filament is inserted. The built-in mechanism automatically brings the ink to the extruder, where it is melted and squeezed out in the molten form. The metal tip of the print head is heated to a temperature of 464 °F (240 °C), so the plastic can be heated fast. The design of the pen makes it easy to hold it in one hand and it can be useful at any time. For the cold 3D pen design, is even more simple. Cold handles are filled with photopolymer resin. The device is devoid of heating elements so that it can be safely entrusted even to young children. The photopolymer instantly solidifies under the influence of a powerful built-in ultraviolet source. These pens drawings can be applied directly to the skin; there is nothing to burn.
Many people are using the gadget as an entertainment device. With the help of this device, you would be able to make any artful patterns on almost any surface to decorate everyday objects to create drawings in the air. The pen becomes a tool for creating unique objects, such as designer furniture or fashion accessories. 3D pens destroy traditional ideas about creativity, combining flat drawings with three-dimensional images. The devices are of great interest to children. 3D-pens can easily replace the bored paint and plasticine, not inferior to them in functionality. The practical man will find the use of pens in great need of repair. With their help, it is easy to repair or modify other plastic products. For example, glue a broken toy, add additional elements to familiar objects or patch a plastic part.
However, time does not stand still, and life changes. The progression of 3D gadget is improving, craving for perfection in everything. Our generation wants that, and we are spending time to open new innovations that is continually improve our modern technology to deprive us of unnecessary trouble. This is how people are created: less work, more rest. I wonder how many technical and electrical products have appeared on our market that can replace any specialist. Here, power saws, power drills, and lots of “electro,” that enables us to joyfully and freely to breathe: we have good assistants. Every year the number of electrical goods is growing, freeing people from hard work, helping in everyday life. These technical wonders that we have first to know how to use in our hands. After all, a lot of professional workers, electricians are going to work on the creation of advanced devices, household appliances, and computers. Technological progress has its plus and minus, and it is our responsibility to use it for useful purposes.