American Pencil

thingiverse

The American Pencil of Innovation. It's not mechanical, yet it uses the same type of lead as its mechanical counterparts. Nor is it made of wood; instead, it's crafted through 3D Printing Technology. I was drawn to the original design, found at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1577709, but I noticed a limitation - once the lead becomes too short, the pencil becomes useless. Therefore, I created a new version that can accommodate various lead sizes effectively. If you prefer the affordable Chinese pencils and think you can improve upon this design, located at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2225535, then please feel free to do so. Print Settings: Printer: FlashForge Creator Pro Rafts: No Supports: No Notes: The file should print with minimal effort, especially if you have a glass bed. Post-Printing Instructions: Insert the lead into the front of the pencil and attach an eraser to the back. Press gently to avoid breaking the lead. Design Process: I used 123D Design to redesign the original file, found at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1577709, from scratch. I added slight tolerances to the hole, a spot for an eraser, and a functional hole on the back part of the design.