Lamy Studio Threads

[Fenner Benedict]

I have just purchased a Lamy Studio replacement plastic grip section to replace the very slippery chrome version on my 2022 Special Edition Brown Studio. However, there appears to me to be a fairly obvious issue with the threads on the replacement part in the form of a significant 'dent' right through the threads. The shop contacted Lamy on my behalf and received this reply; " [...] the front part of our studio pens are produced by injection moulding. The "dent" in the thread on the studio is therefore not a defect but actually a production-related feature."

 

The response from Lamy seems to imply that the dent is an inevitable consequence of the injection molding process. Seems quite unbelievable to me that this was not designed out during product development. I would consider a significant dent right through the threads to be a compromise too far - the part should either be manufactured differently to eliminate that or not manufactured at all!

 

Has anyone else seen this on a Lamy Studio plastic grip?

 

[jungkind]

I have 4 Studios, 1 has this "flaw", it seems to be the oldest one.

[Fenner Benedict]

9 minutes ago, jungkind said:

I have 4 Studios, 1 has this "flaw", it seems to be the oldest one.

That is interesting. The shop seems to think that this is a new issue! Do all of your Studio pens have the black plastic grip?

[senzen]

My Palladium, Brushed Steel and replacement rubberized section for Black Studio all have it; zero problems, these pens dry way more slowly than most (not saying they dry out the slowest overall).

 

Imperial Blue doesn't have it.

 

So I would assume it's part of the design and manufacturing process and not a defect.

 

Edit: my first reaction was "phh, so this is the vaunted german quality?" but they've turned out all right.

[ZeroDukE]

My brushed steel has this same "detail" too.  So far, no problem at all.

[jungkind]

6 hours ago, Fenner Benedict said:

That is interesting. The shop seems to think that this is a new issue! Do all of your Studio pens have the black plastic grip?

 

6 hours ago, Fenner Benedict said:

That is interesting. The shop seems to think that this is a new issue! Do all of your Studio pens have the black plastic grip?

All four have the chrome over plastic section

[Paul-in-SF]

2 hours ago, ZeroDukE said:

My brushed steel has this same "detail" too.  So far, no problem at all.

 

Ditto. The brushed steel has a plastic section (one reason I got the pen in that finish). I had no idea that the divot was there before now; it is very smooth and clearly intentional, not an accident of manufacture. Of course I have no idea what it is about injection molding that would require this. It has not caused a problem in my use of the pen. 

[Fenner Benedict]

12 hours ago, ZeroDukE said:

My brushed steel has this same "detail" too.  So far, no problem at all.

That is reassuring to hear. Thanks for the reply!

[Fenner Benedict]

12 hours ago, senzen said:

My Palladium, Brushed Steel and replacement rubberized section for Black Studio all have it; zero problems, these pens dry way more slowly than most (not saying they dry out the slowest overall).

 

Imperial Blue doesn't have it.

 

So I would assume it's part of the design and manufacturing process and not a defect.

 

Edit: my first reaction was "phh, so this is the vaunted german quality?" but they've turned out all right.

Thanks for the reply! Sounds like it it quite common then. If it has not caused any problems during use then maybe I am worrying about nothing ... I just feel that there must be a way to manufacture that part without compromising the threads in that way - I have pens much lower-cost than the Studio that all have perfect threads. The Studio is the only pen I have ever seen this on!

[Fenner Benedict]

9 hours ago, Paul-in-SF said:

 

Ditto. The brushed steel has a plastic section (one reason I got the pen in that finish). I had no idea that the divot was there before now; it is very smooth and clearly intentional, not an accident of manufacture. Of course I have no idea what it is about injection molding that would require this. It has not caused a problem in my use of the pen. 

Thank you for the reply! The chrome grip section that was supplied with my studio also has the smallest dent but it is located below the threads and is hidden when the pen is assembled. My concern with the plastic grip was the scale of the divot and that it goes right through the threads! If you have not found it to be a problem though that is reassuring, thank you.

[Fenner Benedict]

10 hours ago, jungkind said:

 

All four have the chrome over plastic section

The chrome grip section that was supplied with my studio also has the smallest dent but it is located below the threads and is hidden when the pen is assembled. I have been in contact with Lamy and they have told me that the dent is only to be found on the all-plastic grips so that is interesting that you have also noticed this on the chrome ones - thanks for the reply!

[lmederos]

Just to better understand, there is an option to buy a plastic section?   I have not seen this before.

[Surlyprof]

I just checked my brushed Studio and it has the "dent" you are referring to.  I noticed that it is centered on the flash line (where the injection molding tool comes apart to release the molded part).  Since it doesn't appear to have anything to do with air flow (I don't think so anyway), I can think of two reasons for it.  The first, and probably most likely, is that it may have been engineered into it to aid the part release.  Threaded parts are challenging to injection mold.  I wonder if it was added to enable the part to release more readily while holding a tighter tolerance to the threads on the other side.  The only other reason I considered is that it might be a locking mechanism for the threads but I doubt that.  I didn't see any corresponding locking pin in the barrel threads.

 

If it helps reassure you, my Brushed Stainless Studio (with the "dent/feature") has always been a consistent writer/sketcher.  Rarely hard starts and, if it does, it usually starts flowing again pretty quickly even if ignored for weeks at a time.  It is equipped with an extra fine Z55 gold nib and I mostly use a pigmented ink in it (DeAtramentis Document inks).

 

Enjoy your reinvigorated Studio!

[Surlyprof]

13 hours ago, lmederos said:

Just to better understand, there is an option to buy a plastic section?   I have not seen this before.

The Pen Company has a range of Lamy spare parts they sell.  https://www.thepencompany.com/product/lamy-studio-fountain-pen-front-part/

[Fenner Benedict]

On 11/27/2023 at 4:09 PM, Surlyprof said:

The Pen Company has a range of Lamy spare parts they sell.  https://www.thepencompany.com/product/lamy-studio-fountain-pen-front-part/

Yes - that is the one! Also available from The Writing Desk with more nib options; https://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/pens/converters-pen-spares/lamy-studio-black-front-section-with-nib.html

[Fenner Benedict]

On 11/27/2023 at 4:07 PM, Surlyprof said:

I just checked my brushed Studio and it has the "dent" you are referring to.  I noticed that it is centered on the flash line (where the injection molding tool comes apart to release the molded part).  Since it doesn't appear to have anything to do with air flow (I don't think so anyway), I can think of two reasons for it.  The first, and probably most likely, is that it may have been engineered into it to aid the part release.  Threaded parts are challenging to injection mold.  I wonder if it was added to enable the part to release more readily while holding a tighter tolerance to the threads on the other side.  The only other reason I considered is that it might be a locking mechanism for the threads but I doubt that.  I didn't see any corresponding locking pin in the barrel threads.

 

If it helps reassure you, my Brushed Stainless Studio (with the "dent/feature") has always been a consistent writer/sketcher.  Rarely hard starts and, if it does, it usually starts flowing again pretty quickly even if ignored for weeks at a time.  It is equipped with an extra fine Z55 gold nib and I mostly use a pigmented ink in it (DeAtramentis Document inks).

 

Enjoy your reinvigorated Studio!

 

Thanks for the reply! I have since had more communication with Lamy and they have told me that the dent is the location of the injection port in the molding process - I still cannot see why the threads would be chosen as the 'best place' for this though! From what I can find this dent was never present (in that location) on older pens so I can only assume some change of the molding equipment but for me it is a quality compromise too far.

[Surlyprof]

On 12/16/2023 at 2:57 AM, Fenner Benedict said:

I have since had more communication with Lamy and they have told me that the dent is the location of the injection port in the molding process - I still cannot see why the threads would be chosen as the 'best place' for this though! From what I can find this dent was never present (in that location) on older pens so I can only assume some change of the molding equipment but for me it is a quality compromise too far.

That makes a lot of sense.  If that is where the plastic is injected, it would leave a mold sprew (leftover plastic).   So the “dent” is actually a cut.  I can also understand why they did that on the threads.  Either because they wanted the injection point hidden (most likely) or they didn’t want any knit lines occurring in the threads (imperfections where the plastic flows together as it is cooling).  These can cause weakness or micro gaps in the part.  I guess they could have moved the mold sprew just below the threads but, I suspect, they must encountered some problem with that.  Maybe the same cut there would have left the walls too thin.

 

All that said, my Stainless Studio has always been dependable so the cut doesn’t seem to effect performance.

 

John