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The Mechanical Pencil

CONTENTS
Materials and manufacturing 1
Diagram

Historical Overview 2

Innovation and its effects 2

Part formation and Manufacturing 3

Materials and Properties 3/4

Role of an engineer 4

Bibliography 5

Materials and manufacturing


Componen Material Manufacturin Manufacturing/Service
t g process properties.

Writing Tip High-Density Injection Strength


Polyethylene (HDPE) Moulded
Coil Steel Alloy Shaped and cut High Elasticity, Resistance to
Compressio Plastic deformation.
n Spring
Eraser Styrene Butadiene Milled pressed Abrasive and Disposable.
Rubber(SBR) and cut
Barrel High-Density Injection Strength.
Polyethylene (HDPE) moulded
Grip Styrene Butadiene Moulded Flexible and Elastic.
Rubber
Advanceme High-Density Injection Strength.
nt Button Polyethylene (HDPE) moulded

Mechanical Pacer Deconstruct


Historical Overview

The very first known mechanical pencil dates back to the late 18th century,
when a mechanical pencil was discovered on the wreck of the HMS Pandora.
However the first known patent was released in 1822 to Sampson Mordan and
John Issac Hawkins. This simple patent led to an exponential growth of
innovation in the mechanical pencil development and in the next fifty or so
years saw to over one hundred and fifty different designs being patented. From
this large growth and innovation the spring loaded mechanical pencil was born
and a decade later a twist feed mechanism. These two mechanisms had greatly
increased the reliability and usability of mechanical pacers and they soon
became a viable and attractive item for the general public. In 1915 after a few
small tweaks by Tokuji Hayakawa a new mechanical pencil would be made the
Ever-Ready Sharp Pencil and be a massive hit in Japan. Meanwhile across the
world in America a similar phenomenon would occur where an small Illinois
inventor, Charles Rood Keeran would be immortalised through his Eversharp
mechanical pencil that is the first real prerequisite to the modern pencil. For the
first time mechanical pencils were widely available and exposable to the public
in both America and Japan. The next innovations in that the mechanical pencil
saw was the development of the 0.9, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 cm lead sizes in and
around the year 1938 which helped create a variety in the market place. Since
the year innovation in the mechanical pencil has been more in the production
rather than in the actual design. Unlike their metal and wood ancestors most
modern day pencils are made from the artificial polymer High-Density
Polyethylene and are cheaper and more efficient to produce and source. In
recent years the innovation in mechanical pencils has somewhat frozen and
other than the introduction of a number of simple mechanisms as the shaker
and automatic mechanism as well 0.2 and 0.4 lead sizes not much progress has
occurred.

Effect of Innovation

The mechanical pencil or pacer is a writing apparatus that uses a spring-loaded


mechanism to extend its expendable graphite core as it wears away. The
mechanical pencil has revolutionised the stationary industry due to its many
advantages over its simple ancestors the pen and pencil. The first and foremost
of these advantages is its consistent precision due to its extendable graphite
core which ensures a constant line width. Although often overlooked by the
average user precision like this is invaluable for those in fields requiring
precision drawings and sketches. Another simple yet effective advantage of the
mechanical pencil over the standard pencil is its replaceable graphite core
which means that unlike the pencil it never needs to be sharpened and is
reusable rather than disposable. This makes it a greener and in some situations
more economic choice and provides a more convenient and pleasurable
experience for the user who is now sharpener free. The replaceable graphite
core also allows for interchangeability of different grades of graphite such as HB
2B or 2H adding huge customisability that is cannot be seen in any standard
pen or pencil. Overall the mechanical pencil is a precise and convenient
substitute for the pen or lead pencil as it is refillable interchangeable and
reliable.

Manufacturing of two main parts

How the spring is made the compression spring in most mechanical pencils is
a small spring that lies at the end of the barrel and is used to propel its graphite
core. The spring is made when a rolls of steel cord are unwound by a deerealer.
Next the cord is fed through a channel and into a Computerised forming
machine where it is shaped by a small metal shaft guide. When spring is the
correct length it is cut off and the process continues.

How the barrel is made the barrel is made through a system or injection
moulding. The injection moulding system comprises of two main machines the
injection system and the clamping system. The Reciprocating screw injection
system consist of 5 main parts a hopper to insert the polymer, a reciprocating
screw to transfer, melt and compress the polymer a barrel, in which the
reciprocating screws is continued a hydraulic motor to rotate and extend and
retract the screw and finally an injection cylinder which helps direct the
polymer into the mould. The first step of the injection moulding process is to
feed the chosen polymer resin into the hopper where it will be transported into
the injection barrel. As the resin is fed into the barrel it is propelled forward by
the hydraulic motor powered reciprocating screw. As the resin travels down the
length of the screw it is compressed squeezing out the air in it and causing it to
melt due to the friction of the tightly packed polymer molecules. The
temperature is measured and regulate by three thermocouples and adjusted to
the correct temperature through .The resin then flows through a one way valve
at the end of the screw until it fills up the recess in front of the valve with
compressed polymer. At this point the screw moves backwards releasing the
pressure in the recess. Hydraulic motor then forces the screw forward closing
the one way valve and pushing the molten polymer through the injection into
the mould. The polymer is injected at approximately 20,000 psi and at 160-320
degrees Celsius. When the mould is set it is extracted.

Two main microstructures


Styrene-Butadiene Rubber or SBR is the most common form of artificial rubber. The
particular from SBR in a graphite eraser is given certain additives before it can achieve
its required properties. SBR is created from the fusion of both styrene and Butadiene.
Styrene is a strong bonding material that decreases abrasion resistance while increases
hardness and Butadiene a colourless odourless gas is used as an intermediate chemical
in many polymers. SBR has many advantages over natural rubber as it does not age as
fast however crack as easily and has better abrasion resistance. However SBR does not
have the same rigidity as natural rubber due to its weaker crystalline structure.
High-Density Polyethylene or HDPE is a cheap reliable plastic used in many fields from
plastic bottles and water pipes to ballistic plates. HDPE is characterised by its immensely
large strength to density ratio Which according to the prospector can range anywhere from
0.93 to 0.97 g/cm3 or 970 kg/m3 ... Further HDPE also has it has high specific
strength and can take a large tensile load.

SBR

Role of an engineer
Although small and simple the engineer has had a large role in the creation of
the Mechanical pencil. This is seen through many subtle yet important factors
that determining the construction materials and component design are tailor
designed to fit the needs of the pen. An example of this is seen in the pens
Barrel which is rigid and durable due to its HDPE construction. Engineers have to
consider that it is often dropped and that will be subject to load and fatigue day
in and day out. Engineers also have a taken into consideration the comfortability
ergonomics of the pencil as seen through its streamlined tip and comfortable
grip shape and material. Furthermore the Mechanism design of the pen is vital
in order to ensure its reliability, designs for the mechanism must be able to deal
with the cyclic loading caused by the extension and contraction of the graphite
core. Through the eloquent and reliable design of most modern mechanical
pencils it is clearly prevalent that the mechanical engineer has played a vital
role in its production and design.

Bibliography

Sharp's history of the mechanical pencil

History and development of Keeran's and Hayakawa's pencil styles

Leadholder Museum (History and Images of Leadholders)

Mechanical Pencil Museum Jonathan Veley's Mechanical Pencil Museum

Sampson Mordan. First patent for a mechanical pencil

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