Industrial Recording Pens

Pens

Recording pens have developed from small metal devices containing a small reservoir at the end of the pen arm through capillary fed systems to the sophisticated fibre tipped disposable (FTD) pens of today. Graphic Controls has been at the forefront of all of these developments.

FTD pens look misleadingly simple. The ink, tip and internal reservoir material must all be carefully balanced for chemical and physical properties to allow the pen to release ink as required in a controlled manner and avoid bleeding and flooding. The plastic body has to be accurate to fit the recorder and always present the nib in exactly the same position to avoid re-calibration of the instrument after every pen change.

Graphic Controls’s pens represent the best quality available supported by a team of technical experts who are able to solve recording problems resulting from unusual conditions.

Print Heads

Some modern recorders record data both graphically and digitally by use of multi tipped print heads. In these a number of nibs, usually between three and six and each carrying a different colour, are arranged across the unit. The mechanism of the recorder can individually actuate each nib down onto the chart when positioned correctly above it, often at very high speeds.

These units contain a high number of components compared to any other marking system and these components are required to move freely and independently for the life of the ink supply. The accuracy of the plastic mould tools and the assembly of the components are vital to the accuracy and reliability of the print head.

Graphic Controls is one of only a few companies in the world who have produced these print heads successfully and, as always, we have added economic value to our products when compared to our competitors.

Ribbons

Some recorder manufacturers have chosen to emulate computer dot matrix technology with multi coloured ribbons to produce the record. These ribbons can offer benefits of long life but care must be taken to handle and install them correctly. A common problem of jamming arises with ribbons of any company’s manufacture if the knob provided for taking up slack ribbon is wound the wrong way.