[u407]’s 3D printed Signspinner was created as a clean/dirty indicator for a dishwasher, and at its heart is a mechanism that works a lot like that of a retractable ballpoint pen. Every click… ...

Of course a ‘clicky pen’ is actually called a ‘retractable pen’, and they have been around since the 1950s. ... Indeed, it’s usually the simplest mechanisms which last the longest.

Even if you've taken one of these apart, it's still hard to understand how it works! This video utilizes 3D animation to explain the mechanics clearly. It has been dubbed in over 20 languages; you can ...

Clicky Signspinner Works Just Like A Retractable Pen. ... and at its heart is a mechanism that works a lot like that of a retractable ballpoint pen.

In his latest video, he walks through the mechanism of the very first mechanical pen in great detail, and you'll see how while it's simple, it's also clever and complicated. View full post on Youtube ...

The pen utilizes a machined metal body, while the heart of the pen is a latest version of the famous 416SS pen advancing mechanism, absolutely the finest “clicky” mechanism available.

Here is another video with the same clicky pen shooting the cartridge. In this case, you can see the whole motion (again, this is slow motion 240 frames per second).