How A Pilot Vanishing Point Works (W/ Diagrams!)

[a.zy.lee]

In case you were wondering, this is how a Pilot Vanishing Point works:

 

from The Writing Desk

http://thewritingdesk.co.uk/reference.php?id=43

[lahlahlaw]

Very neat! I always wondered what was going on in there...

[MBFan]

That is so cool, the time taken to come up with that design, making it aesthetically pleasing while also functional...wow. Today is going to be my VP-only day in honour.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[martinbir]

So the nib point actually opens the hatch!

 

I am amazed because I would have thought that was a sure way of damaging that delicate part of the nib.

 

Still, it's worked for about 50 years (am I right there, early 1960s?) so clearly Pilot know more about it than I do. Fascinating.

[discopig]

I was actually wondering how exactly these pens work since I bought mine a few month back. Thanks for the diagrams.

[Blue_Moon]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this diagram.

[Gaslight]

So the nib point actually opens the hatch!

 

I am amazed because I would have thought that was a sure way of damaging that delicate part of the nib.

 

Still, it's worked for about 50 years (am I right there, early 1960s?) so clearly Pilot know more about it than I do. Fascinating.

 

Somewhere here on the forum are x-rays of the two different mechanisms Pilot uses for the trapdoor. There it was also clear that the nib opens the door.

 

But Iridium is a pretty hard metal...

[discopig]

 

Somewhere here on the forum are x-rays of the two different mechanisms Pilot uses for the trapdoor. There it was also clear that the nib opens the door.

 

But Iridium is a pretty hard metal...

 

I was worried about something being damaged from long term constant opening and closing, but I've seen some people here post about Pilot Capless pens they've had for decades and that still work like the day they were made, so I stopped worrying.

[KBeezie]

 

I was worried about something being damaged from long term constant opening and closing, but I've seen some people here post about Pilot Capless pens they've had for decades and that still work like the day they were made, so I stopped worrying.

 

As long as the back of the trap door is not abrasive it should just glide by. It'd be a different story if you sanded down the back of that trapdoor to make the surface not smooth (ie: as rough as paper or more).

Edited July 30, 2014 by KBeezie

[pbhat]

Neat piece of technology! only source of longevity worry would be the rubber parts as rubber tends to deteriorate over time

pbhat

[PAKMAN]

Love my VP's! Thanks for the detailed diagrams!

[onfountainpens]

It's really cool to see the cross-sectional diagrams! I've made a video with my macro lens from the front of the actual pen so that we can peek into the trapdoor and spring and all that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A34S5DC4CgI

 

Full review of the pen on my blog... http://onfountainpens.com/2014/11/pilot-vanishing-point/

It's a really nice pen for a leftie like me!

[nicholasyeo]

I hate to think what dirt and gunk gets trapped in the mechanism of a VP. Does anyone clean their VP out? Or is it dangerous to do so...

[Wandering Man]

Thanks for the diagram.

 

It's really cool to see the cross-sectional diagrams! I've made a video with my macro lens from the front of the actual pen so that we can peek into the trapdoor and spring and all that.

 

Full review of the pen on my blog... http://onfountainpens.com/2014/11/pilot-vanishing-point/

It's a really nice pen for a leftie like me!

Really cool video. Thought I was watching a nature video. Waiting for the giant anaconda to emerge from its hidden lair.

[onfountainpens]

Thanks for the diagram.

 

 

Really cool video. Thought I was watching a nature video. Waiting for the giant anaconda to emerge from its hidden lair.

Maybe I should rename my video "Pilot Vanishing Point - Mouth of the Lair of the Vanishing Nib" (Wait for it... now *click* it strikes!)

[LRR]

Somehow disturbing

[Maurizio]

I carry one of my VP's daily. Love them. Thank you for the nice diagrams.

[watch_art]

I showed these back in 2010 here on FPN...

 

 

pics!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1199/5138216676_5fa8b1af53.jpg
action by watch_art2010, on Flickr

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1176/5138216370_61e8f5f955.jpg
springs by watch_art2010, on Flickr

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1073/5138216524_830a2d7436.jpg
barrel by watch_art2010, on Flickr

[miatagrrl]

Awww... you spoiled the magic! Just kiddin' -- the diagrams and the video are all cool! I have an F nib that is a little too fine for me. I'm looking forward to getting a second VP sometime with an M nib. I've heard you can get replacements for just the innards. . .? But I'd still like to have another working pen, so I might as well get a whole one.

[maverink]

@miatagrrl get the alloy nib version on rakuten its cheaper