I just got a Yaya 3D-printing pen, along with the 101Hero printer from Kickstarter. This weekend I tried it out for the first time, and after a bit of experimentation, I decided to create something wearable. I was inspired by The Laser Girls, who make custom fake fingernails in weird and cool designs. But using the pen, I could instantly create my own – and be sure that they fit!
There was already a pack of acrylic fake nails on hand for another project, so I picked out a couple that fit, taped them to the ends of a little stick, and started doodling.
ResultsImmediate results were dicey, but I ended up with two "good enough" nails – lattices ending in pointy claws. I refined them by clipping them down with a side cutter.
They still weren't very striking, but I discovered that they look super cool when you peel them off of the original acrylics! They pop right off, and since I used pure-black filament, they make an excellent, gothy contrast to my natural nails. My phone camera went out, so you get these grainy computer pics.
I glued these on using the adhesive included with the kit (which smells exactly like superglue and probably is). They lasted through brunch and most of a trip up Twin Peaks, but I broke one on my bike frame and decided to peel both off. It's a decidedly weird feeling: they transmit sensations just like my real nails, but I can't do things I expect to... making a fist, for example, is impossible. Prizefighters take note.
Since the 3 printing pen doesn't come with a base for you to print on, I experimented a bit. Aluminum plate was too heat-conductive; it cooled the PLA instantly, so it wouldn't stick to the surface at all. The 101Hero box and acrylic nails were both less heat-conductive, while being slick enough to allow easy removal of the printed objects.
Further experimentation awaits!
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