Mechanical Pencil: An illustrated celebration of the engineering around us • Hacker News Board

Re: Mechanical Pencil: An illustrated celebration of the engineering around us

#21

Post by smahendrakar » Sun, May 31, 2026, 4:08 PM UTC

LoganDark wrote: post #20

I took a look at the pen, but it's missing an explanation of what gets the cam to rotate clockwise in the first place, such that it catches a tooth of the barrel.

I was also confused by this at first but after looking at the explanation closely I caught it. The plunger itself has grooves, and when the pen is closed, the cam's grooves and plunger's grooves aren't aligned. When pushed open, the cam is unconstrained and the pressure from the spring below causes the cam to slide into the plunger's grooves. That's what causes the clockwise rotation of the cam.

Really cool site!

Re: Mechanical Pencil: An illustrated celebration of the engineering around us

#22

Post by eth0up » Sun, May 31, 2026, 4:16 PM UTC

The mechanical pencil, though disclaimed by the webmaster as not an exclusive theme, is a subject worthy of worship. I have a handcrafted cocobolo holder for my Pentel GraphGear 500, and a protective travel case too. Despite not being very active for the last 4 years, I keep a pile of refills nearby.

I think the Japanese really mastered the pencil, though others have done their own wonders. I sometimes consider the work and design iterations behind the best designs and really admire it. Some designs are astonishingly sophisticated, with mechanical 'sensors' and more. I prefer the sweet spot of simplicity and reliability though, which I find in the Pentel.

The mechanical pencil is a modern magic wand for me.

Note: in a time of what I consider anomie and war on quality, I am pleased to have witnessed Pentel really standing behind their products. They repaired or replaced two pencils without fuss, and one rep even compiled and mailed a brochure of pens and pencils exclusive to my preferences.

As for pens, however, I am a Fisher Space Pen zealot, and push them upon all who do not defend themselves. But I do recommend the fine cartridge over the menacingly rotund default, which you can request with each pen order.

Re: Mechanical Pencil: An illustrated celebration of the engineering around us

#23

Post by NetMageSCW » Sun, May 31, 2026, 4:45 PM UTC

eth0up wrote: post #22

The mechanical pencil, though disclaimed by the webmaster as not an exclusive theme, is a subject worthy of worship. I have a handcrafted cocobolo holder for my Pentel GraphGear 500, and a protective travel case too. Despite not being very active for the last 4 years, I keep a pile of refills nearby. I think the Japanese really mastered the pencil, though others have done their own wonders. I sometimes consider the w…

Apparently we have similar tastes. A Pentel mechanical pencil was indispensable to me through college and a Fisher Space Pen is my daily carry in the working world. Though at my desk it is other pens with finer points.

Re: Mechanical Pencil: An illustrated celebration of the engineering around us

#24

Post by jt2190 » Sun, May 31, 2026, 5:51 PM UTC

Lovely!

Re: Mechanical Pencil: An illustrated celebration of the engineering around us

#25

Post by eth0up » Sun, May 31, 2026, 6:08 PM UTC

NetMageSCW wrote: post #23

eth0up wrote: post #22

The mechanical pencil, though disclaimed by the webmaster as not an exclusive theme, is a subject worthy of worship. I have a handcrafted cocobolo holder for my Pentel GraphGear 500, and a protective travel case too. Despite not being very active for the last 4 years, I keep a pile of refills nearby. I think the Japanese really mastered the pencil, though others have done their own wonders. I sometimes consider the w…

Apparently we have similar tastes. A Pentel mechanical pencil was indispensable to me through college and a Fisher Space Pen is my daily carry in the working world. Though at my desk it is other pens with finer points.

I am in Florida, where as little as a summer week in a hot vehicle can destroy a fine pen. Not a Fisher though. My work-pen has seen two years now and still writes. And a Fisher draws a substantially longer line than just about any other pen. Obviously the GraphGear is indifferent, but the nib is its achille's heel, and it can bend without serious abuse. For that, I use a Write in the Rain 1.3mm, which is also dear to me and doesn't flinch on a sodden 2x4 one bit.

PS: I highly recommend the Fisher raw brass version. It ages with character, is partly anti microbial and is an all around great pen. This is the part where self defense becomes an issue. But I swear I am not sponsored. It's honest fanatacism.

Re: Mechanical Pencil: An illustrated celebration of the engineering around us

#26

Post by samgranieri » Sun, May 31, 2026, 9:04 PM UTC

vismit2000 wrote: post #13

Reminds of Mechanical Watch: https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/

I was literally about to submit a mechanical watch as an example to the site im them submission, then i remembered I read the site you just linked to. My kid was amazed at all the gears and stuff in my mechanical watch

Re: Mechanical Pencil: An illustrated celebration of the engineering around us

#27

Post by BugsJustFindMe » Wed, Jun 03, 2026, 6:41 PM UTC

I find it funny that such a careful diagramming and description of how a mechanical pencil works forgets to describe how the lead manages to stay in place when the mechanism is released instead of falling out (tight tolerance at the opening).