ed4copies
Local Chapter Manager
Years ago, the pen components were made to fit into the tubes VERY tightly!! So, I made thousands of pens where I relied on that fit to hold them together. MOSTLY, it worked!!!
Well, yes I cracked a LOT of pens in assembly.
Oh, and YES, several pens came back for "adjustment" after they "fell apart". But it was an infinitesimal percentage!!
WHY did they "fall apart"?? Simple physics really: "To every action there is an opposite and equal reaction". Inside your rollerballs, there is a spring--pushing on the BACK of the refill!! To keep the nib "pushed out" and "floating". HOWEVER, that spring is ALSO pushing on the "nib component" (the metal or plastic piece you are holding when you write). AND it is pushing on the "finial" piece (where it is housed). SO, why are we surprised when the pen "falls apart"? Actually, it has been PUSHED apart by the spring.
We NEED the spring to make the rollerball write nicely. So, why NOT use an adhesive to counter the forces and keep our components in place??
We KNOW CA glue will whiten the metal components as it "off-gasses" for a very long time (up to months, in the right temperature). BUT, we can use LocTite without the whitening problem.
So to avoid "Compression-depression" as your customer returns your pen for "adjusting", be pro-active and glue in your components!!! And be thankful that the fit is not so tight that you are cracking your pens, in assembly. Believe me that is REALLY depressing!!!
FWIW,
Ed
Well, yes I cracked a LOT of pens in assembly.
Oh, and YES, several pens came back for "adjustment" after they "fell apart". But it was an infinitesimal percentage!!
WHY did they "fall apart"?? Simple physics really: "To every action there is an opposite and equal reaction". Inside your rollerballs, there is a spring--pushing on the BACK of the refill!! To keep the nib "pushed out" and "floating". HOWEVER, that spring is ALSO pushing on the "nib component" (the metal or plastic piece you are holding when you write). AND it is pushing on the "finial" piece (where it is housed). SO, why are we surprised when the pen "falls apart"? Actually, it has been PUSHED apart by the spring.
We NEED the spring to make the rollerball write nicely. So, why NOT use an adhesive to counter the forces and keep our components in place??
We KNOW CA glue will whiten the metal components as it "off-gasses" for a very long time (up to months, in the right temperature). BUT, we can use LocTite without the whitening problem.
So to avoid "Compression-depression" as your customer returns your pen for "adjusting", be pro-active and glue in your components!!! And be thankful that the fit is not so tight that you are cracking your pens, in assembly. Believe me that is REALLY depressing!!!
FWIW,
Ed