Drafting compass that holds a pen or mechanical pencil?

[usernumber1]

Staedtler has like 4 pages of compasses.
Some hold drafting pens, pencils, second needle, universal holder, etc etc
https://www.staedtler.com/intl/en/products/technical-drawing-instruments/compasses/

I'm surprised you haven't heard of them?

I have Staedtler compasses, among others, but I haven’t looked at their offerings in years. Maybe they’re updated? But no, essentially the same design for the last 70 years. None of them hold a mechanical pencil let alone a ink pen or Sharpie type marker.

Maybe I spoke to soon, depending on the capacity of the “universal adapter”. Can’t find any specs for it.

lol yes. some kits include the mechanical pencil and some include their fine point sharpies. been the same for 70years as you said

 

[semenza]

"The one I have is not 3D printed, and I doubt current production versions would be either."

Thanks for that clarification. I based that comment on the appearance in the photos. The surface
has the look of a 3D printed object. I did not mean that to imply it was inferior, just that if that
was the method of manufacture it might be possible to make a compass with greater capacity
than the AccuScribe.

I am just guessing, that 3D for production of plastic parts is probably not the fastest or most cost effective.

I might get a new one so that I can put something other than a pencil in it. Might be handy.

Seth

 

[Cheese]

I am just guessing, that 3D for production of plastic parts is probably not the fastest or most cost effective.

You are correct because 3D printing was never meant to be a production method for quantities larger than 10-15 items. The reason it came into being was it was to be a replacement for the traditional methods used for rapid prototyping. Prior to that, prototyping was done exclusively on traditional machine tools, knee mills, lathes, shapers, surface grinders et al. Check out some of Darcy's equipment, that's how engineering/manufacturing models were constructed in the formative years of our industrialization.

The only problem being, was that those methods were time intensive but more importantly operator intensive. If it took 16 hours to produce a prototype...that meant it took 16 operator hours to produce a prototype. The linkage between a prototype model and the machine operator was a direct one.

Enter 3D printing where you'd prepare the equipment, load the model config and then just walk away. Sixteen hours later you'd have a prototype that was suitable for engineering/manufacturing analysis. The machinist, in the interim, was free to work on other projects which sped other projects along. 

The first in-house 3D printer I became familiar with cost $125,000 in 1996, it had the same sized foot print as the current models but  it was a God-send. So it could be said that 3D printing has now progressed into an arena it was never initially designed to serve. Small quantities of manufactured product rather than limited quantities of rapid prototypes.  [smile]

It's all very interesting to see how the the simple inclusion of semiconductors into manufacturing equipment has changed the manufacturing world...as well as everything else.

 

[tomp]

This set on Amazon Compass Set shows using a Sharpie in the provided adapter. I was a draftsman for many years, compasses by Mars and others came with adapters to hold technical (ink) pens - e,g, Rapidograph - so you could draw lines of varying widths. I probably have a couple still in the box I brought home when I cleaned my desk out on retirement.

 

[AstroKeith]

I am just guessing, that 3D for production of plastic parts is probably not the fastest or most cost effective.

You are correct because 3D printing was never meant to be a production method for quantities larger than 10-15 items. The reason it came into being was it was to be a replacement for the traditional methods used for rapid prototyping. Prior to that, prototyping was done exclusively on traditional machine tools, knee mills, lathes, shapers, surface grinders et al. Check out some of Darcy's equipment, that's how engineering/manufacturing models were constructed in the formative years of our industrialization.

The only problem being, was that those methods were time intensive but more importantly operator intensive. If it took 16 hours to produce a prototype...that meant it took 16 operator hours to produce a prototype. The linkage between a prototype model and the machine operator was a direct one.

Enter 3D printing where you'd prepare the equipment, load the model config and then just walk away. Sixteen hours later you'd have a prototype that was suitable for engineering/manufacturing analysis. The machinist, in the interim, was free to work on other projects which sped other projects along. 

The first in-house 3D printer I became familiar with cost $125,000 in 1996, it had the same sized foot print as the current models but  it was a God-send. So it could be said that 3D printing has now progressed into an arena it was never initially designed to serve. Small quantities of manufactured product rather than limited quantities of rapid prototypes.  [smile]

It's all very interesting to see how the the simple inclusion of semiconductors into manufacturing equipment has changed the manufacturing world...as well as everything else.

Initially it was true that 3D was only used for prototyping and small volumes. However the ability to make parts lighter and stronger than otherwise now has driven it into mainstream manufacture. An Airbus750 has more than a 1000 3D printed parts. Of course they are not made the same way as your average home or college 3D printer!

 

[Packard]

Groz makes three sizes for pencils; you would have to use a stick pen if you wanted  to use a pen.  A drafting pencil will probably fit too.
https://www.grozusa.com/products/wing-compass

 

[bertv]

The Rotring compass set I have been schlepping with me since middle school had an add on specifically for mechanical pencils, drafting pens, etc — a ring that could be tightened and would hold anything upto maybe 14 or 15 mm. That design may still be around.

Correction: found it! Not part of that set, but still… Works with up to 12 mm, so no Sharpies. But, to be fair, I have had this for about 40 years, so no guarantee that it is still around.

 

[Cheese]

Here's what Dick Blick offers, there's about 6 or 7 that fill the multi marker capabilities test.
https://www.dickblick.com/categorie...MI1Z-9l8_78AIVGAutBh0t7gS8EAAYAiAAEgJHBPD_BwE

 

[Michael Kellough]

Been sorting through my stash of drafting equipment mostly inherited from my father) and haven’t found a Staedtler compass but a bunch Alvin and Post (the Post stuff is so beautifully crafted) but none of them will do what I want. One of the Alvins will accept a proprietary Rapidograph type pen.

So I just bought a Staedtler 551 02 on eBay set. Might not hold a Sharpie but it will do most of what I want. FYI there are hundreds of listings for “lots” of drafting equipment at scrap prices.

 

[Packard]

Staedtler used to be a high end maker, but they have either transitioned to cheaper products or have parallel lines that are cheap. 

I saw my old high school drafting set ($12.00 in 1962) selling for $225.00 on Ebay.  I still have the compass, ruling pen and dividers. 

 

[squall_line]

I saw my old high school drafting set ($12.00 in 1962) selling for $225.00 on Ebay.  I still have the compass, ruling pen and dividers.

Even with inflation (in today's dollars, around $106.11), that's still a little more than a 100% increase in value!

 

[Bob D.]

"Rapidograph type pen"

I have the whole set packed away somewhere. Last time I used them
was probably 1984 when I drew up floor plans of my old house.

 

[Packard]

I saw my old high school drafting set ($12.00 in 1962) selling for $225.00 on Ebay.  I still have the compass, ruling pen and dividers.

Even with inflation (in today's dollars, around $106.11), that's still a little more than a 100% increase in value!

Back when a loaf of bread was about $6.00 (2001 or so), my dad said to me complaining about the price, "Right after the war in 1944 a loaf of bread was 5¢ each.  Now it is six dollars.  If I had bought 200,000 loaves of bread back then I'd be a millionaire now."

I replied, "They might have gone moldy or stale in 55 years, don't you think?"

He retorted, "Spoil-sport". [big grin]

 

[Michael Kellough]

This inexpensive compass holds a Sharpie and lets you draw a circle a little bigger than 12”.

Made of “metal” and the joint is stiff enough, at least when new.

 

[bertv]

"Rapidograph type pen"

I have the whole set packed away somewhere. Last time I used them
was probably 1984 when I drew up floor plans of my old house.

When looking for that compass I found my immense collection of drafting pens: Rapidograph, Rotrings, MecaNorma, Staedtler — some of them never used (bc you always have a favourite that works all of the time). I used to be an illustrator and layout artist and one of the jobs I had was drafting layouts for those metal cards that attach to machinery and will be stamped with serial numbers and such. Paid really well, but you had to be absolutely exact (DIN and such). Those were the times…

 

[Michael Kellough]

I had a love/hate relationship with that kind of pen. They were by far the best at making clear consistent opaque black lines of precise width but you had to use them all the time or the ink dried and required a lot of work to restore that was often futile. Gladly technology has made them pretty much obsolete.

Currently I’m working on a commission that requires a mix of old tech and current tech. Reproduce a small unique form in a larger scale. I was tempted to suggest the client get a 3D scan done and find someone with a 6 axis CNC rig but he offered me good money to make it by hand so I’m photographing the original with a 300mm lens on a Micro4/3 camera (makes 600mm equivalent) then uploading the images into an iPad Pro and tracing with a fine mechanical pencil onto very smooth tracing paper (if my old cad software could import a jpeg at high resolution I’d skip the tracing paper) then taping the tracing paper onto the screen of a MacBook Pro and using a capacitance stylus on the good sized track pad tracing into the cad app.

It works because the tracing is done at more than three times the size of the original. Once in cad I can discover all the angular relationships etc. and then print full sized (for the new scale) templates and get to work on the wood using bandsaw, lathe, drill press, belt sander, and hand tools.

 

[Bob D.]

You're right it was a PITA to clean those Rapidograph pens.

 

[bertv]

You're right it was a PITA to clean those Rapidograph pens.

I used an ultrasonic bath to clean them. Perfect for the purpose.

 

[Bob D.]

You're right it was a PITA to clean those Rapidograph pens.

I used an ultrasonic bath to clean them. Perfect for the purpose.

I don't think ultrasonic cleaners even existed back when I was using those pens.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Staedtler has like 4 pages of compasses.
Some hold drafting pens, pencils, second needle, universal holder, etc etc
https://www.staedtler.com/intl/en/products/technical-drawing-instruments/compasses/

I'm surprised you haven't heard of them?

I have Staedtler compasses, among others, but I haven’t looked at their offerings in years. Maybe they’re updated? But no, essentially the same design for the last 70 years. None of them hold a mechanical pencil let alone a ink pen or Sharpie type marker.

Maybe I spoke to soon, depending on the capacity of the “universal adapter”. Can’t find any specs for it.

Bought a Staedtler compass kit with Universal Adapter. It holds a Sharpie perfectly, and anything smaller just about as well.

Problem solved!