3DP Applications

Kickstarting New Concepts with 3D Printing — The D180 Folding Pen

Canadian based ‘3D Printed Concepts’ is a company that is looking to apply 3D printing to existing products in a way that will make them different — and better. A noble aim. The company cites the fact that “very few products have been re-imagined to make full use of 3D printing” — this is undoubtedly true, but in terms of manufacturing products, particularly in large volumes, there is a very good reason for that. 3D printing is not yet competitive enough to challenge the status quo.

But there are growing numbers of examples of 3D printing making headway, particularly for customized and high quality products. Or, as in this case, when you are thinking outside of the box and bringing something different and really quite appealing to the table. And that’s what 3D Printed Concepts is all about.

The company’s latest offering is a 3D printed pen. This is not to be confused with what has been dubbed 3D printing pens (3doodler/Swiss Penn/ YaYa) by some (or a posh glue gun by others). This is a pen — a consumer product — that has been re-imagined. The D180 folding pen, according to 3D Printed Concepts is “a tribute to 3D printing technology, an excellent writing instrument and a great conversation piece!”

Hard to argue with any of that.

D180 3D Printed Pen red

What the guys have done, essentially, is take an every day item and applied design for 3D printing principles to it. This has resulted in a product that offers an original combination of design features:

• A product that feels and writes like a normal full sized pen but one that will fold in half and fit compactly in a pocket or a purse.

• An automatic mechanism for extending and retracting the ink.

• A mechanism that locks open and locks closed using an over-centre cam for ease of use.

• A small storage container (8mm x 28mm) built into the top half of the barrel, which is accessible by unscrewing the cover.

The guys behind this project were not completely immune to traditional thinking when it comes to designing a pen though. On the Kickstarter campaign, they describe how at the concept design stage they were adding pocket clips to the sketches until they realized that this was just habit — because almost all pens have clips. They caught themselves on and eventually realized that “a clip was totally unnecessary because when folded the pen is small enough to slide deep into a pocket and does not come out.”

You can get a feel for the product in the campaign video below:

If they meet the funding target of $4500, the D180 Folding Pens will be 3D printed on a full sized industrial printer and additional features will include precision threads, integrated gear and hinge mechanism, an embossed “3D PRINTED” badge and a choice of five exterior colours: black, blue, pink, orange or yellow.

Now, I have to confess, I have been totally suckered into this one. When I first saw this project on Friday as I was writing it up, I wanted one. I just did. So I backed it for the early bird price of $49CAN, plus $3 p+p outside of Canada. It certainly wasn’t the name that did it for me — come on guys, surely you can think of something a tad more interesting than D180? And yes, it’s a little on the pricey side for a pen, but not ridiculously so. You don’t get more than one guess at which colour I will be choosing either! But I really do like the concept — of the pen itself and what the guys are trying to do. I particularly like the idea of trying to make things better with 3D printing. And besides, I need a new 3D printed talking point in my bag — the phone case is getting a little old with friends and family (although I really should be on commission) as is my key chain. But they do still get “ooo’s” and “aaaah’s” from strangers!