Fierodoug5 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 In case some of you 1020 Plotter owners have not seen, RetroHax.net posted a very nice blog post on making new pens for the Atari 1020 Plotter https://retrohax.net/atari-1020-plotter-plotting-pens-replacement/ Here is more info on how you can make your own. First you will need to 3D print the Pen cases using the RetroHax.net STL files He used a Resin Printer, but I printed them on a FDM Ender 3 printer with PLA Filament I printed them pen tip side up, on a Raft at 100% infill For pens, i was not able to get the pens RetroHax.net used as I am in the US, the best I could find were these from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F814H3X?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details For cutting the pen inserts I made a 3D printed Jig for cutting them with a razor blade. You can download the STL file for the jig here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6497069 Clean out the hole in the 3D printed pen case with a 7/64th drill bit Push the pen insert into the case with a total length of about 23.50mm The amazon pens are cheap, and are gel ink, but they are not perfect.They require a bit too mush pressure to write all that great. On the flip side, another pen I tried drawed ok, but smeared really, really bad. I am on a lookout for something better, and will post here when I do If you find a better pen, please post it here. 16 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Robot Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 I was on exactly the same journey to develop this, I got most of the way and just never found the right gel pens. Excellent to see it working @Savetz will be super happy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathy Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Hello guys Pens just like the original ones are still being made today for all kinds of purposes, including medical equipment. Not sure where they can be found. Sincerely Mathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fierodoug5 Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 Finding the right gel pens is the key. The ones I am using are just OK, not great. I will keep looking. I keep hearing new pens are made, but have never seen anyone link to any that were not just old NOS pens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible kid Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathy Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Hello Fierodoug5 23 hours ago, Fierodoug5 said: I keep hearing new pens are made, but have never seen anyone link to any that were not just old NOS pens I found two sources, but both are in German(y): http://plotterstifte-faserschreibfedern.de/K5208-Medizinschreiber-4er-Paket https://www.evident-shop.de/diagnostik/plotterstifte/249/plotterstifte/schreibstift-sortiment-in-den-farben-rot-blau-gruen-schwarz Sincerely Mathy 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peri Noid Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Retrohax.net is here. @drygol, people like your ideas 😊 Again 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fierodoug5 Posted February 23 Author Share Posted February 23 12 hours ago, Mathy said: Hello Fierodoug5 I found two sources, but both are in Germany Cool, now we just need someone in Germany to try them and report back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drygol Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 It's nice to see ppl are actually making use of my lame blog posts. Regarding proper gel pens, well, I just bought a bunch and ran some tests. @Peri Noid thanks for heads-up 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Robot Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 When I was working on the same idea I found most of the pens were too fat to get through the return spring on the front so it would never reach the page. Well done actually getting this to work properly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathy Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Hello Fierodoug5 On 2/23/2024 at 2:14 PM, Fierodoug5 said: Cool, now we just need someone in Germany to try them and report back I found the links on the ABBUC Forum, somebody already tested them. They work! Sincerely Mathy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fierodoug5 Posted March 3 Author Share Posted March 3 Nice! Wish there was a USA supplier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mr. Video Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 On 2/21/2024 at 5:42 PM, Fierodoug5 said: In case some of you 1020 Plotter owners have not seen, RetroHax.net posted a very nice blog post on making new pens for the Atari 1020 Plotter https://retrohax.net/atari-1020-plotter-plotting-pens-replacement/ Here is more info on how you can make your own. First you will need to 3D print the Pen cases using the RetroHax.net STL files He used a Resin Printer, but I printed them on a FDM Ender 3 printer with PLA Filament I printed them pen tip side up, on a Raft at 100% infill For pens, i was not able to get the pens RetroHax.net used as I am in the US, the best I could find were these from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F814H3X?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details For cutting the pen inserts I made a 3D printed Jig for cutting them with a razor blade. You can download the STL file for the jig here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6497069 Clean out the hole in the 3D printed pen case with a 7/64th drill bit Push the pen insert into the case with a total length of about 23.50mm The amazon pens are cheap, and are gel ink, but they are not perfect.They require a bit too mush pressure to write all that great. On the flip side, another pen I tried drawed ok, but smeared really, really bad. I am on a lookout for something better, and will post here when I do If you find a better pen, please post it here. Gotta try this when I get the chance. My 1020 has been collecting dust because only the red pen works. Looks better than the Pilot BPS pen refill method since you don't need the original pen cases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonyscouter Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 Is there someone (or Company) I can purchase the 3D printed pen caps and cutting template? I do not own a 3D printer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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