Pens Leaking or Drying Out.
Pens Leaking or Drying Out
A. Verify that CalComp pens are being used.
1. CalComp pens and media are designed to provide optimal pen life,
plot quality, and plotter performance. CalComp cannot guarantee
quality with other brands of pens and media.
2. All CalComp pens are labeled on the bottom of the pen (e.g., WLB,
WPP, WFP, WL, WT, 7L, 7T). For a more detailed description of
pen types, refer to the Pens Table, later in this document.
B. If using the CalComp Liquid Ink pens, ensure that the pen tip has been
tightly pressed into the pen body, forming a good seal.
C. Examine the pen caps in the bottom of the turret. Pen caps prevent the
ink in the pens from drying out or evaporate when the plotter is not in
use.
1. The type of pen cap in the turret must match the pen type being
used. The pen caps are color-coded:
a. If using the CalComp Liquid Ink pens, the black caps are to
be installed in the turret.
b. For all other CalComp pens, the beige caps are to be
installed in the turret.
2. If the pen caps are contaminated with dried ink, then clean them
with a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol. If they are torn, then they
need to be replaced. (CalComp part #11319-0011, beige caps for
standard pens 12/pkg; CalComp part #11320-0018, black caps for
Liquid ink pens, 12/pkg).
D. Even though the pen caps in the bottom of the turret are designed to
seal the tip of the pen and prevent the pen from drying out, it is
recommended that the pens be removed from the turret when finished
plotting for the day and capped with the white plastic tops that came
with the pens. Store the pens in an upright position (with the tip of
the pen up).
E. Clean the pen tips.
1. Bond and Vellum paper contain cotton fibers. As the pen moves
across the surface of the paper it may collect fibers that can
clog the tip. Clean the tip of the pen with a cotton swab and
rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol.
2. Before the pens are to be used, hand draw with the pen on a
clean, scrap of media to verify that the ink flows.
F. Load the pens in a clean turret with clean pen caps. The tip of the
pen should fit into the center of the pen cap, not off to one side.
The pen caps should be seated flat, not cocked to one side which
would put pressure on the tip of the pen instead of sealing the pen
tip.
Pen Type/ L i n e W i d t h s
Characteristics inches millimeters
_____________________________________________________________
Liquid Ball, .012 0.30
WLB Series
Disposable, Inexpensive, Dense Line,
Good Reproduction Quality, High Speed
Plastic Tip, .012 0.30
WPP Series, Medium tip
Disposable, Medium Lines, Vivid Colors, Excellent Business Graphics
Plastic Tip, .025 0.64
WFP Series, Broad Tip
Disposable, Broad lines, Vivid Colors, Excellent Business Graphics
Liquid Ink,
WL Series
Extra Fine .010 0.25
Fine .014 0.35
Medium .020 0.50
Broad .028 0.70
Disposable, For Paper and Vellum only, Different widths to choose
from.
Liquid Ink,
WT Series
Extra Fine .010 0.25
Fine .014 0.35
Medium .020 0.50
Broad .028 0.70
Disposable, For polyester film only (Mylar), Different widths to
choose from.
Liquid Ink,
7L Series, (stainless steel)
Extra extra fine .010 0.25
Extra fine .011 0.28
Fine .015 0.38
Medium .018 0.46
Medium Broad .022 0.56
Broad .027 0.69
Reusable, General Plotting, Excellent blueline & photo reproduction.
Long Life, For Paper and Vellum Only.
Liquid Ink,
Tungsten Tip, 7T Series
Extra extra fine .010 0.25
Extra fine .011 0.28
Fine .015 0.38
Medium .018 0.46
Medium Broad .022 0.56
Broad .027 0.69
Reusable, General plotting, Excellent blueline & photo reproduction.
Long Life, For Polyester Film Only.
Questions regarding pen colors, can be answered by
CalComp's Supplies department at (800) 225-2667.