3D Pen Kit

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One project that students really take hold of is designing and creating custom pens on a mini lathe, or even better, using a 3D printer. This project is quick and easy to do, and the best part is that it's relatively inexpensive for students to complete, costing around $2 in total. After teaching this project in my own classroom and introducing 3D printing technology, I was amazed at how quickly students picked up designing pens on the computer and 3D printing them out. With a print time of under an hour, students can design their pens however they want or download pre-made designs to use. The objectives of this lesson are for students to learn the fundamentals of 3D printing and measurement. This project can be adapted to fit any grade level, with younger students requiring assistance with assembly and older students working independently. To complete this project, students will need access to a 3D modeling program, computer, 3D printer, and pen kit. To design their pens, students can use any 3D modeling software, including Inventor or Google Sketchup. Inventor is the most ideal option if available in schools, and it's free for educational institutions. Alternatively, students can use Google Sketchup and download a plugin to convert their designs into .STL files. Many schools with Apple devices can use the MAC version of Google Sketchup, which is one of the only programs compatible with MAC that can create STL files. Once the design is complete, students can convert it to an .STL file and print each part. The prints take about an hour per pen, making this a quick and inexpensive project for students to complete. I use pen kits from Penn State Industries, which are made for wood turning but can be easily replaced with 3D printed parts if measured correctly. The final product should be a fully functional twist-action ink pen. Grading can be based on the student's ability to design within the given tolerances of the pen parts, or they can measure the parts themselves and use that information to create their design. Depending on the age group, students may also need to print a dimensioned drawing of their designed pen or an exploded view.