Technical Description of the Mechanical Pencil
by Jannatul Ferdous
Why choose a Mechanical Pencil over the traditional pencils? Here is why!!
Unlike any ordinary traditional lead and wood pencils the Mechanical Pencil is a precision writing instrument with several advantages. Its key features reveal its value to the user. One the Mechanical Pencil can last a lifetime because the 0.012-inch lead rods can be purchased separately and be replaced. Two, the thin 0.012-inch lead rods allow for detailed writing and drawing unlike traditional pencils that must be continually sharpened, which results in losing their edge while writing or drawing. Three, since the Mechanical Pencil has no need to be sharpened, it never decreases in size, unlike the traditional pencils, which become difficult to hold after they have reached a certain length making writing and drawing, leading to difficult and frustrating moments. Finally, the rubber-gripping barrel prevents callus buildup under the bottom middle finger joint when writing or drawing for a long period of time.
WHAT IS IT? AND ITS PURPOSE:
A mechanical pencil is a pencil that is made of plastic or metal case with thin replaceable lead that can be extended as the point is worn away by pressing on the top of the pencil. Its purpose is to provide lines of constant width without sharpening in technical drawing and in quick, neat writing, which is done with the advantage of not having to sharpen.
OVERVIEW:
The Mechanical Pencil can be held in the palm of a hand and is made of hi-impact plastic. Approximately one-third of the Mechanical Pencil is wrapped with soft black rubber for comfortable gripping between the thumb, index, and middle finger while writing or drawing. The cone cap, located at the bottom, provides a pointed opening where lead rods can be ejected for writing. The pocket clamp holder, located at the top, can clamp around T-shirt pockets allowing for hands-free carrying and easy access. The eraser, inserted at the top, can erase lead particles from paper, wood, or other mediums it has been marked on. The eraser can also be removed allowing it to be replaced. When the eraser is removed, it also provides an opening where lead rods can be loaded into the hollow barrel of the Mechanical Pencil. The internal mechanical assembly of the pencil is made of aluminum and hi-impact plastic. The Mechanical Pencils are 5.5 inches in length and 0.5 inches in diameter.
COMPONENTS:
The Mechanical Pencil consist of two mail assemblies.
- Grabbing assembly
- Barrel assembly
The grabbing assembly consists of 3 components:
- the rubber-gripping barrel
- the cone cap
- the lead rod outlet
The barrel assembly consists of four components:
- the hourglass barrel
- the pocket clamp holder
- the lead rod ejector
- the removable eraser
EXPLANATION:
The gripping assembly is a hollow rubber and chrome casing designed to protect the internal mechanisms and to hold the 0.012-inch lead rods. That rubber is called the rubber-gripping barrel, which is a holding device used to hold the Mechanical Pencil between the thumb, index finger and middle finger while writing or drawing. It made of soft black rubber designed for comfortable gripping during the life use. The cone cap, with in the gripping assembly, is a hollowed cast casing designed to protect the mechanical lead rod holder located inside, and to align the 0.012-inch lead rods with the lead rod outlet. The cone cap is made of hi-impact plastic, coated with a silver chrome finish, and is screwed on clockwise. The lead rod outlet is a hollowed cast casing designed to wrap around the 0.012-inch lead rods. The lead rod outlet strengthens the 0.012-inch lead rods and prevents them from breaking while writing. The lead rod outlet is made of hi-impact plastic, coated with a silver chrome finish, and is connected to a white plastic fitting inside the cone cap.
The barrel assembly is a hollow plastic casing designed to protect the internal mechanisms, and to hold the 0.012-inch lead rods and eraser and rests on the index finger, helps balance the Mechanical Pencil while writing, and is attached to the gripping barrel. Within the barrel assembly is the hourglass barrel, which is a hollowed cast casing designed to store the 0.012- inch lead rods and to balance the Mechanical Pencil on the index finger or knuckle while writing. The hourglass barrel is made of green high-impact plastic. The pocket clamp holder is a fastening device designed to carry the Mechanical Pencil by clamping around T-shirt pockets and made of high-impact plastic and coated with a silver chrome finish. The lead rod ejector is a retracting button used to hold the removable eraser and to eject 0.012-inch lead rods through the lead rod outlet located at the bottom of the Mechanical Pencil and made of black hi-impact plastic and internally connected to the hourglass barrel. The removable is a cylindrical rubber plug that fits into the lead rod ejector opening and is used to remove the markings on paper and made of white rubber.
CONCLUSIONS:
The Mechanical Pencil is a writing instrument that is easy to use and maintain. It has the physical features of a pen and uses lead to write like a pencil but does not have the limitations of traditional lead and wood pencils. Its affordable price makes it a good purchase for users. The Mechanical Pencil can be purchased at retail outlets such as: Walmart, Staples, Shoppers Drug Mart, arts and craft stores and many other stores that supply business related supplies.
REFERENCE:
“Mechanical pencil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mechanical%20pencil. Accessed 13 Oct. 2020.
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