Attached a picture of the just finalized prototype. ( sorry for the bad quality of the picture)
Being a fan of the beautiful Sheaffer vac-fills, I decided to make my own demonstrator, using modern sealing techniques.
I've learned a lot on machining polycarbonate in making the parts, so next version will be perfect.
The pen has a 100% filling rate- being a full 3cc- and is the size of a Montblanc 149, although slightly smaller in diameter.
On the prototype I installed a Sheaffer nib & feed , mounted in a snug fit sleeve in the section.
Next version will probably be equipped with a Pelikan 800 screw nib assembly, at least when I find the specific taps & dies !
Can anyone of you help me to localize these tools?
For the rod seal I used my V4 fountainbel cartridge, which is the one I use for the repair of OS Sheaffer vac-fill's
Th plunger is equipped with a cup seal & a separate O ring seal which seals the ink chamber air tight against a conical seat in the section end.
This "shut-off" valve approach was already used by Onoto, but using an O ring seal the system is really air tight, avoiding any leakage or bleeding triggered by temperature & air pressure variations.
Behind the feed remains an ink reserve off approximately 0.5cc, allowing writing even with a closed shut-off valve.
By pointing the nib upwards & opening the filling knob one turn the shut-off valve opens, the ink flows completely back in the main reservoir, closing the valve the complete ink reserve is airtight isolated.
The cap closes on 1/4 turn, using a "double bajonet" enlosure system, whereby the front section end is pressed against a rubber seal ensuring air tight enclosure of the nib.
The section is screw fitted in the barrel, sealing in the barrel is obtained by a radial O ring in front of the threaded part, so the ink can not penetrate in the threads.
The pen can be completely dismantled in 10 minutes, without any special tools or the need of heat;
No shellac sealing, nothing is glued, hence optimum maintenance friendly.
All seals are standard of the shelf O rings ( 6 pieces) except for the piston cup seal , for which I've made me a twin punching tool.
Except for the nib, feed & O rings seals, all parts were fabricated in my shop.
Clip and cap are made from stainless steel, making the clip was in fact the hardest part.
Your comments & thoughts on both mechanical & esthetical aspects are appriciated !
Regards, Francis

Edited for spelling faults

That is absolutely beautiful!!

Great job.

Francis,
What a fantastic thing! I love the idea of fitting it for Pelikan nibs. Would it be able to use the more common varieties, including the pre-ground nibs sold by Richard Binder?

Don

Dear Francis,

Great job?

Will you be at the Cologne pen show this weekend?

I hope to see you there and please bring your prototype with you so I can admire it in real life :-)



Cheers

Michael

Francis,
I would like to add my humble awe and admiration for your beautiful and ingenious creation. What a treat!
Oliver

Fraancis: Not a maker and don't really understnad the technical details, but sure do like the looks and can appreciated the craftsmanship. Tberry

Great job.

That's wonderful!

WOW! Great idea and construction!

Hats off to you, thats a fine looking pen. I like the wide cap band and steel clip. Nice touch with the Sheaffer nib, it really suits the pen.

If you want to sell this or pens based on this design I most definately want one.

Again well done.

Very, very cool!

I like the look and am intrigued by the technology.

Can you make a bunch more and sell them here in the Marketplace?

Andy

That's what I'm thinking too.

Nice work!

I was thinking the same thing. I like it with the Sheaffer nib though too. It kind of mixes the old with the new.

Great Job!. I would go for one if you're up to selling them at the markeplace. Pelikan, Sheaffer of whatever nib. It really amazes me what a craftsman with a will can do.

Hello my friend,

Well first as many people people i m very impressed by your work and not only on this pen but also about your restoration results.

About this pen, of course i am a real lucky man cause i will try it at the Cologne pen show ( and will meet Michael also ).


I would be really interested to know if you plan to sell it, if yes, when you version number 2 will be ready and do you think of colored models?


Again, that s a very great work and how many hours have you spent on this...?


Best
Jean Elie

Clearly perfect!

...for those who don't know what I look like :-)




See you in Cologne

Michael

My sincere thanks for your positive reactions.
I've still not decided in making a small series of the pen. there is a lot of work involved!
Next step is to correct the CAD drawings, including the small improvements I have in mind.
I'll surely make me a few "finalized" versions, overcoming the small shortcomings inherent to a prototype.
Input a suggestions on the esthetical aspects of the pen remain most welcome !
Thanks a lot ,& hope the see some of you in Cologne, surely Michael & Jean Elie !

Francis

Edited for spelling

It looks like a very nice pen, although I am not such a big fan of wide cap bands. Still I second the previous proposals that it would be great if you made several of these and offered them for sale.

And by the way, you make the making of the pen sound so easy... almost as if anybody could make his/her own particular pen even with such an elaborate filling system. Oh I wish!

Thanks and regards, Zed

Awesome job Francis! I have always admired your work with Vac-Fils; they are some of my favorite pens. Thats really awesome. I certainly will look into purchasing one if you make more.

Evan

If we can do anything more to encourage you, just let us know. In your post you mentioned that making the clip was the hardest part. As far as I'm concerned, I'd be happy to have the pen sans clip if that made it easier enough to encourage you to produce them.

As far as esthetic suggestions, it would be easier if you could post higher quality photographs.

Andy

There are discussions on penturners.org about the tap and die (threading) ... but the repair forum, here at fountainpennetwork had some postings about the Pelikan nib holder's threading.

I seem to remember that its not a special thread. It was a standard metric tap.

I'd love to hear more about the connection between the body and the cap.

- - joe

Hi Joe,
The nib unit threads specifications for an M400 to M600 are M7 x 0.70 pitch according my measurements.
I can only get a standard tap & die of M7 x0.75, the pitch of 0.7 is to be made specially.
As for the M800 nib, I think its M8 x0.70 pitch, again only M8x 0.75 is obtainable.
I'll shortly post a sketch on the "double bajonet" connection between cap & barrel

Francis

If you ever decide to sell a few of these, I will be seriously considering one.

Looks a cracker!

Very smart.

I'm curious. How do you get the bore smoothe enough to seal against the piston? Do you ream & then lap it, or do you just ream it?

Regards

Richard.

its great seeing someone achieve the seemingly impossible, i am looking forward to seeing part 2.

Ever thought of putting your own hallmark or symbol on the pens? When I saw that this pen was a vac-fil, I immediately looked for the white dot.

I think having your own mark on the final versions would be a great touch.

Best,
Summer Greer

Great work!

Love the looks. If you go into making and selling you might also consider making a "flat-top" style with flattened ends a la Sailor Sapporo/Pro Gear.

But in any case this pen is spectacular. I love the vac-filler concept.

Wow... how did you do that? And by "how did you do that," I mean, "how can I get one?"

I like Rapt's idea about a flat top.

I like everyone else's idea about urging you to make a bunch of these and selling them here.


I like too much!

Thanks a lot for the nice comments, It's really appreciated.
But : You ain't seen nothing yet !
Tomorrow I will post some pictures of a "swirled hard rubber" version of the same pen.
I've bought me some HR bar stock from FPN member Michael Richter at the Cologne pen show last Saturday & started making the pen on Sunday
After 4 long working days the pen is now just finished.
I'll take pictures by daylight tomorrow.
Look forward to read your comments on this beauty !
Francis

Richard,
The shut-off valve uses an ring which seals on a 90° conical seat, no reaming or lapping needed.

regards, Francis

Clever, very clever.
Regards

Richard.

Francis,

That is one VERY tasty piece of work!!

Have you considered making the tap?

Respect,
Ruaidhrí

Tap making is not too bad if it's for a soft material. A standard free cutting steel will work as a tap in most plastics for a while without the need for case hardening.

Regards

Richard.

Hi Ruaidhri & Richard
Thanks for the compliment on my pen and also for your suggestion in making a tap.
I thought about that, but first I have to be sure on the thread.
I'm actually nearly sure the M800 nib assembly thread is not a metrical one, but an UNS 11/32-36.
this also is not a real "standard" thread, but i hope I can localize a vendor once I'm sure.
The thread dimensions fit perfectly with the outer diameter of the nib thread, being 8.65 mm.
A friend thinks he has such a tap in his drawers & a will do test.
I'll surely keep you informed

Francis

That is one VERY tasty piece of work!!

Have you considered making the tap?

Respect,
Ruaidhrí
[/quote]

fountainbel, you've singlehandedly ruined my work productivity for almost two weeks--I keep coming back to take another look at your beautiful prototype. Each time I'm hoping I'll see that you're offering a small run for the truly obsessed.

Count on hearing from my boss.

Still fine tuning the design & technical aspects of the pen, it must be perfect before I decide to make a small series.
I'll surely keep you posted !
Francis