How to use a 3D pen? Beginner's guide for children (and parents)

Knowing how to use a 3D pen is hugely reassuring when you've just given one to your child: where to start, how to load the filament, and above all how to help them succeed at their first creation without frustration? Good news: it's much simpler than it looks. This beginner's guide walks you through it step by step, for parents and children alike, so that the first raised drawings happen on day one.

How does a 3D pen work? The principle in two minutes

A 3D pen looks like a large marker, but instead of ink, it melts a flexible plastic filament that comes out through the tip and hardens in a few seconds on contact with air. The child no longer draws only flat: they draw in space. A flower, a name, a small raised animal… anything becomes possible.

On a pen designed for children like the Pen'Up 3D, the filament is a low-temperature consumable (PCL): the tip does not get as hot as an adult 3D pen, its surface temperature stays low (around 35 °C), so the child can touch it without getting burned. This is what makes the activity accessible from age 6.

Step 1: prepare the pen and load the filament

Before creating, you need to "feed" the pen with a filament spool. This is the step that worries parents the most, and it is actually the quickest:

1. Turn on the pen and let it heat up for a few seconds: an indicator light usually shows when it is ready.
2. Cut the end of the filament at an angle (to a point), like a toothpick. This is tip number one: a straight-cut filament catches poorly, an angled-cut filament slides in on its own.
3. Insert the filament into the hole at the back of the pen and push gently until you feel it catch.
4. Press the feed button: after a few seconds, the melted filament comes out of the tip. The pen is loaded!

If nothing comes out, don't panic: remove the filament, cut it cleanly at an angle and reinsert it. In 9 out of 10 cases, it's simply a matter of the cut.

Step 2: first gestures (drawing flat)

To get started with a 3D pen, always begin flat, on a smooth surface (a sheet of paper, a laminated placemat, a stencil). The child learns to control:

• Speed: the slower you move the pen, the thicker and neater the line. Too fast and the filament breaks; too slow and it builds up.
• Button pressure: steady pressing gives a steady flow. Release to stop.
• The angle: hold the pen almost like a pencil, slightly tilted, tip toward the paper.

The best first exercise? Trace over a stencil (a star, a heart, a letter). The child follows the outline, the filament hardens, and they then peel off their very first raised shape. Guaranteed "wow" effect.

Step 3: going from flat to volume (3D)

Once flat tracing is mastered, it's time for the real magic: relief. The principle is simple: draw several flat shapes, then assemble them by welding them together with a little filament.

1. For example, draw the six faces of a small cube flat (or four walls + a roof for a house).
2. Let each piece harden fully.
3. Assemble them upright by laying a line of filament along the edges: the hot filament "glues" the pieces together.

You can also build up height directly: by going over the same spot several times, the filament stacks up and the object gains volume. This is children's favorite step: they create their first 3D objects, to give as gifts or to collect.

Step 4: first creations guaranteed to succeed

To keep the child motivated, it's better to start with simple and quick projects:

• A flower: flat petals, a stem, then assemble. Ideal for a first gift.
• A name in relief: trace the letters, thicken them, peel them off.
• A keychain or a simple figurine: with a stencil, the result is clean on the first try.
• Glasses or a crown: "wearable" objects that are a lot of fun.

The goal is not perfection, but the joy of creating. The stencils and models provided give the child something to work on from day one, and the desire to start again.

Our tips for a great start (and avoiding frustration)

• Always cut the filament at an angle before loading it: that's the secret to a smooth flow.
• Plan to use the pen while it charges: the Pen'Up 3D can be used plugged in, which means you never have to stop mid-creation.
• Work on a smooth surface (stencil, plastic) from which the filament peels off easily.
• Let the child experiment: the first lines are approximate — that's normal; the hand gets used to it within a few minutes.

To get started, the simplest option is the Pen'Up 3D Complete Pack: the low-temperature pen, stencils, models and spools to start creating right away. To go further on choice and safety, read our complete guide to the 3D pen for children. And once the child has found their footing, add new filament spools to vary the colors.

FAQ, How to use a 3D pen

How do you load the filament into a 3D pen?

Turn on the pen, let it heat up, cut the end of the filament at an angle, insert it at the back then press the feed button until the filament comes out of the tip. If the filament doesn't catch, cut it cleanly at an angle again — that's almost always the solution.

Where should you start as a beginner?

Start flat by tracing over a stencil (star, heart, letter): the child learns to control speed and pressure, then peels off their first raised shape. Move on to volume once these gestures are mastered.

Is it difficult for a child to get the hang of?

No. A 3D pen designed for children can be picked up in just a few minutes, from age 6, with no complicated instructions. Most children succeed at their first raised drawing on the very same day.

How do you go from flat drawing to volume?

Draw several flat shapes, let them harden, then assemble them by laying a line of filament along the edges: the hot filament welds the pieces together. You can also stack filament in the same spot to build up height.

Can you use the pen while it is charging?

Yes. The Pen'Up 3D pen can be used while charging, which means you never have to stop mid-creation. It's ideal for long drawing sessions.

What should you do if the filament doesn't come out?

Remove the filament, cut it cleanly to a point (at an angle) and reinsert it. In the vast majority of cases, the problem comes from a straight cut. If the issue persists, our customer service team in France is here to help.