Replacement nibs for Wacom graphics tablets

thingiverse

Printing plastic replacement parts is what makes 3D printers incredibly useful. Despite the challenge of printing small nibs for graphic tablet pens, I wanted to give it a try. So, I measured the diameter of an original Wacom nib and discovered that it's exactly 1.75mm - the most common filament diameter used in 3D printing. This means there's no need for a 3D printer to make some of these replacement parts. The only hurdle is getting a nice round head on the nib. You can try using PLA filament with heat, but achieving good results is tricky. I found that using ABS filament and acetone works perfectly. Here's how to make the nibs: Cut off 26.7mm long pieces of 1.75mm ABS filament. Use sanding paper to get a flat backside and shape the head into its desired form. Then, dip the head into some acetone and wait for a few seconds. Next, twist the head against a hard object to smooth and round it out. ABS appears to be softer than the original nib material, so these replacements will wear down faster and may feel slightly different. Since the cost of materials is negligible, changing the nib frequently shouldn't be an issue. For me, there was no noticeable difference using one with my Bamboo graphic tablet - it worked just as it always had, recognizing contact pressure accurately. Please note that this guide comes without any warranty. It's essential to ensure that the filament has exactly the right diameter (cheaper options can have noticeable variations) and that there are no obvious imperfections in the nib piece. If not, the nib could break or jam in the pen.