James-

I have a drum recorder that was originaly built=20
by Howard Grebin and he built an ink pen like you=20
are describing. He used capillary tubing, hypo=20
needle and sheet brass shim stock all=20
soft-soldered together. It has performed flawlessly for me for decades.

I would be glad to send you a picture of the pen=20
detail so you could see how he attached it to the galvanometer.

George


At 09:48 AM 10/25/2009, you wrote:
>=EF=BB=BF
>Thanks Chris, Steve, Al, and Meredith for all=20
>your help.  I secured some very thin capillary=20
>tubing and a hypo. needle.  Will test approach=20
>and then try to cobble together attaching it to=20
>the existing stylus on the helicorder.  Will let=20
>the list know results.  It really is great=20
>knowing one is not alone on this quest.
>James Allen
>Cerritos, Ca.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: ChrisAtUpw@.......
>To: psn-l@..............
>Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 8:40 AM
>Subject: Re: Hypodermic Tubing
>
>In a message dated 25/10/2009,=20
>jcallen1@........... writes:
>
>For some time some PSN members were using=20
>hypodermic needles to build ink pens. You simply=20
>grind the point off and have a precesion tip=20
>that  can then be connected to the reservoir=20
>using a capillary feed tube. We learned the=20
>process from Howard who used this design back in=20
>the first Bay area seismic station way before=20
>our time in the 40=E2=80=99s. I ran two drum recorders=20
>back around 1990 and Jan Froom currently has a=20
>display station at Bonfante Gardens  in Gilroy=20
>CA that has a permanent display he put together=20
>for them Regards, Steve Hammond PSN Aptos, CA
>
>Hi James,
>
>     If you want to get ready supplies of fine=20
> SS hypodermic tubing see=20
> www.smallparts.com=20
> They have a very wide range. You can vary the=20
> flow rate by inserting a variable length of=20
> wire through the ink reservoir and into the=20
> capillary tube. It would probably be easier to=20
> get fine Nichrome wire than stainless steel.
>     Alternatively, some companies used to make=20
> pens with a coarse tube to the reservoir and a=20
> fine 'nib' tube pushed into in the other end.=20
> There are only a limited range of hypodermic=20
> needles produced and some suppliers refuse to=20
> supply non medics, or only sell in boxed quantities.
>
>     Regards,
>
>     Chris Chapman


George Bush
Sea Ranch, CA, USA


James-


I have a drum recorder that was originaly built by Howard Grebin and he
built an ink pen like you are describing. He used capillary tubing, hypo
needle and sheet brass shim stock all soft-soldered together. It has
performed flawlessly for me for decades.


I would be glad to send you a picture of the pen detail so you could see
how he attached it to the galvanometer.


George




At 09:48 AM 10/25/2009, you wrote:

=EF=BB=BF 

Thanks Chris, Steve, Al, and Meredith for all your help.  I secured
some very thin capillary tubing and a hypo. needle.  Will test
approach and then try to cobble together attaching it to the existing
stylus on the helicorder.  Will let the list know results.  It
really is great knowing one is not alone on this quest.

James Allen

Cerritos, Ca.



----- Original Message ----- 


From: ChrisAtUpw@.......



To:
psn-l@.............. 


Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 8:40 AM


Subject: Re: Hypodermic Tubing



In a message dated 25/10/2009,
jcallen1@...........
writes:





For some time some PSN members were using hypodermic needles to build
ink pens. You simply grind the point off and have a precesion tip
that  can then be connected to the reservoir using a capillary feed
tube. We learned the process from Howard who used this design back in the
first Bay area seismic station way before our time in the 40=E2=80=99s. I ra=
n
two drum recorders back around 1990 and Jan Froom currently has a display
station at Bonfante Gardens  in Gilroy CA that has a permanent
display he put together for them Regards, Steve Hammond PSN Aptos,
CA





Hi James,


    


    If you want to get ready supplies of fine SS
hypodermic tubing see
www.smallparts.com They have a
very wide range. You can vary the flow rate by inserting a variable
length of wire through the ink reservoir and into the capillary tube. It
would probably be easier to get fine Nichrome wire than stainless steel.



    Alternatively, some companies used to make pens
with a coarse tube to the reservoir and a fine 'nib' tube pushed into in
the other end. There are only a limited range of hypodermic needles
produced and some suppliers refuse to supply non medics, or only sell in
boxed quantities.


 


    Regards,


 


    Chris Chapman






George Bush

Sea Ranch, CA, USA

38.73775N, 123.48882W