Pilot Vanishing Point Mechanism.

[pendulous]

I have just received a Pilot Vanishing point I ordered a week ago. In an attempt to see how Pilot arrange the opening of the 'Trap Door' which seals off the nib from drying out, I am very surprised to observe the following, using a x10 loupe.

 

It would appear that the actual nib is used to push open a spring loaded plate when the pen button is pushed in. The plate has a rolled over edge and the actual writing part of the nib can be seen sliding over, and pushing the door open, followed by the feed as the opening proceeds. The trap door appears to be made from steel and despite the iridium tip being harder than steel,I find it surprising that the writing part of the nib is allowed to make such contact in the action.

 

Has anyone else studied this mechanism?

[Draless]

I have studied the VP mechanism and the Lamy Dialog 3 mechanism and found the Dialog 3 to be far superior. Twisting engages cogs that first open the trap door then the nib is ejected, no contact.

[pendulous]

I have studied the VP mechanism and the Lamy Dialog 3 mechanism and found the Dialog 3 to be far superior. Twisting engages cogs that first open the trap door then the nib is ejected, no contact.

 

Did you observe the contact between nib and door in the Pilot?

[Draless]

yes, the iridium tip makes first contact and then the feed. I don't care for it rather basic. not only that but the trap door and metal area surrounding will get loaded with ink.

[testrider]

I haven't really looked that close and I don't have my VP with me today. I thought the trap door opens in (towards inside the barrel)? Then how does the nib pushes it?

[pompa]

not only that but the trap door and metal area surrounding will get loaded with ink.

Yeah, i noticed that when after flushing and filling up with blue ink my VP still wrote black :-p

It's still a nice enough pen and it serves a purpose, but I think that one is enough for me.

[pendulous]

I haven't really looked that close and I don't have my VP with me today. I thought the trap door opens in (towards inside the barrel)? Then how does the nib pushes it?

 

Watch the action with a loupe - it will be obvious then.

[djpyle]

Yep. This is one of two things I don't like about the VP (the other being the ink capacity). I still have one and don't plan on getting rid of it, but I won't be surprised if I end up with a flat spot on my nib years down the line.

[Ron Z]

But, the basic design has been around for almost 50 years. It works. The Dialogue 3 is cool, but the nib dries out in the pen rather quickly. Not the case with the Pilot.

[pendulous]

But, the basic design has been around for almost 50 years. It works. The Dialogue 3 is cool, but the nib dries out in the pen rather quickly. Not the case with the Pilot.

 

....... and the Lamy Dialog 3 is a heck lot more expensive.

[professionaldilettante]

yes, the iridium tip makes first contact and then the feed. I don't care for it rather basic. not only that but the trap door and metal area surrounding will get loaded with ink.

I have used a Fermo for at least 6 months now, and there isn't any buildup. It's a very clean mechanism, unlike the Dialog. When actuating the Dialog, I found the insert would unscrew after sometime. There isn't that problem with the VP's. On top of that Vp's have been in development for at least 50 years. The Dialog is the new kid on the block, and as a result, I don't know of the reliability of it. The VP line, however, can speak for itself.

[Oranges and Apples]

When actuating the Pilot Vanishing Point, the feed hits the trap door first, then the nib, and then the feed continues in completing the opening of the trap door.

[Draless]

i guess a positive note is you can always buy the VP nib inserts at a decent price, as opposed to the Dialog 3 where you cannot.

Edited June 27, 2012 by Draless

[pendulous]

When actuating the Pilot Vanishing Point, the feed hits the trap door first, then the nib, and then the feed continues in completing the opening of the trap door.

 

I don't understand this sequence. The nib tip leads the feed,so how can the feed make contact with the door first as the nib assembly moves forward? It is clear that whatever the exact sequence is, the overall result is a superb pen. I have been playing with my new one for several hours now and the nib has 'brown papered' beautifully. The gauge is Fine and this has smoothed down to very close to Lamy EF which is my ideal nib size. I would prefer a slightly wetter ink flow - is there a safe and easy fix for this?

[Oranges and Apples]

The trap door is on a slant relative to the nib (which is flat) so the feed hits the trap door first, then the nib hits the trap door as you go a little deeper (pushing the button), and then the nib leaves contact with the trap door with the feed's friction completing the action.

 

If you press slowly, you can feel the initial contact, which is soft and that could only be the feed since the feed is relatively soft when compared to the point's material.

[pendulous]

The trap door is on a slant relative to the nib (which is flat) so the feed hits the trap door first, then the nib hits the trap door as you go a little deeper (pushing the button), and then the nib leaves contact with the trap door with the feed's friction completing the action.

 

If you press slowly, you can feel the initial contact, which is soft and that could only be the feed since the feed is relatively soft when compared to the point's material.

 

Yeah - I do see the point you make - your sequence does make me feel better about the design

[kps]

 

Quite a rat demon stratum, as we never used to say in math class.

[pendulous]

 

Quite a rat demon stratum, as we never used to say in math class.

 

Thanks kps - no doubt now as to how it is done :clap1: