Daquan Dennis
Department of English
ENGL 21007: Writing for Engineering
Professor Sara Jacobson
April 13, 2024
Contents
History behind Mechanical Pencils……………………………………………………………….3
Section 1…………………………………………………………………………………………..4
Section 2…………………………………………………………………………………………..5
Section 3…………………………………………………………………………………………..6
Section 4…………………………………………………………………………………………..7
Section 5…………………………………………………………………………………………..8
References……………………………………………………………………………………..9-10
Reflection……………………………………………………………………………………..11-12
History behind Mechanical Pencils
For centuries, humans have been developing new ways to write. Whether it be digitally or on paper, writing is always going to be a necessity. I will be discussing and talking about the mechanical pencil, however. To do that, however, first, we need to understand what a mechanical pencil is. They can be defined as a pencil with “a plastic or metal case and a thin replaceable lead that may be extended as the point is worn away by twisting the outer casing”(Oxford Languages | the Home of Language Data, 2022). Mechanical pencils were first made in 1822. The parts that go into these pencils consist of, pencil lead also known as the Solid pigment core which is what you use to write, the barrel also known as the body, the eraser which helps you remove your mistakes, the ferrule which connects the erase and the barrel and finally the gripping assembly which allows you to grip the pencil comfortably without there being an issue or making you uncomfortable. The reason I chose this as my item is because for basically my entire time in school I’ve always used one or had one.
They are much more comfortable to use than actual number 2 pencils or any pencil. Writing constant essays or solving math problems, the pencil was with me. Throughout this essay, I will be discussing the inventor of the mechanical pencil. I will also go over his motivation and what strived him to create such a magnificent tool that people even still 200 years later use today. Is there even any difference between the mechanical pencils of today versus the mechanical pencils from 200 years ago?
Mechanical Pencils:
Source: SHARP MECHANICAL PENCIL 0.7mm BLUE – Hull’s Art Supply & Framing (shophulls.com)
Section 1:
Solid pigment core(Pencil Point)
A common misconception that most people tend to make is they believe that the points at the end of your pencil are made out of lead. The reality is they are made out of Graphite. “Graphite is a form of carbon that has a hexagonal structure” (O, 2022).
Source: The Best Colored Mechanical Pencil Leads | JetPens
“Graphite is a form of carbon that occurs in metamorphic rocks as a result of the reduction of sedimentary carbon compounds during metamorphism. It can also be found in igneous rocks, meteorites, veins, pegmatites, shale’s and coal beds”(Graphite | Common Minerals, n.d.).
Section 2:
The Barrel
Source: MUJI Low Center of Gravity Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm – Made in Japan – TAKASKI.COM
The Barrel of the Mechanical Pencil, also known as the body, allows for the storage of graphite which can be retractable, and the eraser inside of the pencil. It also allows for a comfortable grip for the user so they don’t feel any pain when writing with the pencil. The Barrel is made out of “green high-impact plastic. All parts, excluding the lead rod outlet and removable eraser, attach to the hourglass barrel which is the main body of the Mechanical Pencil” (Technical Description of the Mechanical Pencil, 2016). You can also deconstruct the barrel in case you want to add extra writing graphite or a new eraser. This allows for a lot more flexibility than you would with any normal pencil.
Section 3:
The Eraser
An eraser allows for a way to correct your mistakes should you ever make one. On the Mechanical Pencil, the eraser is very small and it’s at the opposite end from the point. “While pencils are filled with graphite, erasers are made mostly of rubber, although plastic and vinyl are sometimes used. The rubber is usually combined with sulfur to make it last longer. A softener, such as vegetable oil, is also usually added to make the eraser more flexible” (How Does an Eraser Work?, 2019).
Source: 6pcs Mechanical Pencils Solid Color 0.5mm/0.7mm With Easy Triangular Grip For Posture Correction In School & Office | SHEIN USA
The Erasers are designed extremely durable and they have a hard time destroying the page when erasing your mistake.
Section 4:
The Ferrule
The Ferrule is the metal ring on the Mechanical pencil that connects the Barrel to the Eraser. It also helps the visual aspect of the Mechanical pencil look more appealing. The Ferrule keeps the eraser and the barrel steady when writing and erasing on any surface. Having the pencil fall apart easily would be detrimental and defeat the whole purpose of it.
Source: Ferrule – the pencil, elevated | CrowdFund.News
Originally most ferrules were wooden since wooden pencils were the most common type of pencil during the 1800s. But in 1964 a man named “J.B. Ostrowski patented the aluminum ferrule, which was cheaper and easier to color. He designed it to have two horizontal bands and lots of vertical ridges to keep the soft aluminum from disfiguring–the exact same ferrule design we’re used to seeing even today” (Weaver, 2021).
Section 5:
The Gripping Assembly
“The gripping assembly (Figure 3) is a hollow rubber and chrome casing designed to protect the internal mechanisms and to hold the lead rods. The rubber casing is a finger grip used to hold the mechanical pencil while writing. The gripping assembly is attached to the barrel assembly” The Parts that go into the Gripping Assembly are the rubber-gripping barrel, the cone cap, and the lead rod outlet (Technical Description – Afsana’s English Writing for Engineers Portfolio, n.d.).
Source: Pilot Dr. Grip: A Comprehensive Guide | JetPens
This rubber allows for better handling and puts less strain on your hand than you would with a wooden pencil and a few old pens. Sometimes you don’t know how long you will be writing for so it’s important to have comfortability to not damage your hand.
References
Weaver, C. (2021, December 6). A brief history of the Ferrule — your site title. Your Site Title. https://www.cwpencils.com/blog-archive/a-brief-history-of-the-ferrule#:~:text=This%20became%20especially%20easy%20in%201964%20when%20J.B.,ferrule%20design%20we%27re%20used%20to%20seeing%20even%20today.
Graphite | Common Minerals. (n.d.). https://commonminerals.esci.umn.edu/minerals-g-m/graphite
How does an eraser work? (2019, November 14). Wonderopolis. https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-does-an-eraser-work#:~:text=While%20pencils%20are%20filled%20with%20graphite%2C%20erasers%20are,usually%20added%20to%20make%20the%20eraser%20more%20flexible.
Oxford Languages | the home of language data. (2022, August 26). https://languages.oup.com/
Shibboleth Authentication Request. (n.d.). https://ieeexplore-ieee-org.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=8930905&tag=1
Technical Description – Afsana’s English Writing for Engineers portfolio. (n.d.). https://afsportfolio.commons.gc.cuny.edu/technical-description/#:~:text=The%20gripping%20assembly%20%28Figure%203%29%20is%20a%20hollow,The%20gripping%20assembly%20consists%20of%20three%20main%20components%3A
Technical description of the mechanical pencil. (2016, May). omernecaticora.files.wordpress.com. Retrieved April 14, 2024, from https://omernecaticora.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/technical_description_mechanical_pencil.pdf#:~:text=The%20hourglass%20barrel%20is%20made%20of%20green%20high-impact,is%20the%20main%20body%20of%20the%20Mechanical%20Pencil.
O, C. (2022, November 10). What is Pencil Lead really made of? | Pens.com. Official Pens.com Blog: Promotional Products &Amp; Marketing Tips. https://www.pens.com/blog/what-is-pencil-lead-made-of/
Reflection
To reflect on this assignment, I would like to start by saying this was incredibly fun and I have gained a better understanding of what goes into making a life-changing invention. Even though making an invention now will probably be hard as it’s 2024 and everything has usually already been made, the process of doing it is a lot more complex than I was anticipating. Mechanical pencils are truly revolutionary because they are more comfortable than any wooden pencil on the planet. The grip being made out of rubber means you can write for a long period and still not have your hand sore. When you’re a college student like me doing severely different classes that can be revolutionary. Though most assignments require you to type, there are always the oddball teachers who sadly make you have to handwrite everything. I think what I did strongest in this assignment was picking a unique item that “hopefully” no one else in the class has thought of. I wanted to not do something fancy like an electronic and stay old school. I also think I was good at finding evidence to write about and use to discuss what goes into a mechanical pencil. Before this assignment, I truly didn’t realize how much went into the creation of mechanical pencils till I had to research it. For someone to come up with something so simple yet so complex makes the world of engineering insanely fascinating. It’s a different breed of science that many dare to explore. It makes me question, how many new things or secretly being worked on today that could be revolutionary and change how we go about our everyday college lives. There are many possibilities. I think my weakest point in this assignment is citing the sources. In my old high school, I never really did APA format and APA citations when doing essays so this is still brand new to me, but I’m always up and open to learn new things throughout my college experience. The peer review helped a lot with my understanding of how to do the table of contents and I’m thankful for my fellow peers!
