Getting Started

Not sure where to begin with your new Flow pen? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get started with a few of the basics. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be ready to Doodle like a pro.

If you’d just like to dive into the manual however, you can download it here.

Basics


Plug in Your 3Doodler

Ensure you set your temperature to ABS for ABS plastic or PLA for PLA plastic.

Press Fast/Slow & Insert a Strand

Press either button to put your pen in drive mode, then insert the tip of a plastic spool into the back of the pen. Push gently to ensure it engages with the gears and grips properly.

Ready, Set, Doodle

It will take a few seconds for your plastic to extrude.


The Buttons


Fast / Slow Button

Single-click either the fast or slow buttons to start a continuous flow of plastic. Extruding plastic can be stopped by clicking either the fast or slow buttons at any time.

*Please note that the pen will sound like it is still extruding plastic once for a few seconds after clicking the fast or slow buttons. This is normal and simply the motor reversing the strand of plastic a little bit before your start Doodling again.

Reverse Feature

Double click either the fast or slow buttons to reverse the plastic. The pen will pulse slightly as it reverses, which means that everything is working properly. If your plastic is too short to reverse while the pen is turned on and heated up, you can carefully remove the nozzle with the mini wrench and insert the unblocking tool through the pen tip. That will push the short plastic out of the feed port.

Feeding Spools


Feeding Spools


First, try pushing your plastic into the pen. As we mentioned, push gently to ensure it engages with the gears and gets gripped properly.

If the plastic inside the pen is not long enough to grip or push by hand, you can use another piece of plastic, or the unblocking tool, to push the first plastic down and into the gear system.

Jammed Plastic

The unblocking tool is included to help push plastic out of the back of the pen. While the pen is on and the nozzle is hot, unscrew the nozzle using the backend of the tool. Double-click either speed button to set the pen in reverse. Insert the unblocking tool through the front end of the pen and gently push any excess plastic through the back.

A Few Reminders

  • Follow the step-by-step user manual at all times.
  • Never force anything into place! You risk breaking your pen if you do.
  • Ensure there is no plastic inside the pen when you put the maintenance cover back on.
  • When replacing the maintenance cover, please be careful with the small tabs on the sides. If you line them up with the openings they are designed to fit into, they should pop into place easily, and you will avoid breaking them off.

Still Struggling?

Don’t worry, our support team is here to ensure you are Doodling as quickly as possible. You can reach out to us here about what’s going on.

Visual Learners?

If you’d prefer a bit more demonstration, you can check out our tutorial videos.

Pressing On Surface


If you find that the plastic won’t hold to paper, or goes off in random directions, don’t worry! The solution is straightforward. Push your 3Doodler pen’s nozzle firmly onto the paper and allow the plastic to extrude for a couple of seconds, then lift the 3Doodler’s nozzle off the paper. The extra downward pressure will help your extruded plastic stick to the paper. We call this “anchoring” your plastic.

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Hovering above surface is bad
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Pressing firmly upon surface is good

Nozzle Removal


When it comes time to change your nozzle, simply use the nozzle removal tool to gently unscrew the nozzle counter-clockwise while the pen is turned on and fully heated up (this means the LED should be blue or green).

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*It’s important that you don’t over-tighten the nozzle, and equally important to keep the nozzle removal tool centered, so as to avoid damaging the threaded tip.


Snipping Ends


Keep your plastic spools clean

Use clippers or scissors to snip the melted plastic ends. This will help you avoid any unnecessary jams in your 3Doodler pen.


Welding Plastic


Connecting plastic to plastic

While extruding, simply touch the tip of the 3Doodler to both pieces of plastic you want to join together. This is an essential skill that will help you as you advance to more complex shapes like these two below.

Still Struggling?

Take a look at our 3Doodler flow troubleshooting guide.
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