I undertook this project so that I could obtain a deeper understanding of shop machinery. Having a greater understanding of the intricacies of each machine in the workplace allows for me to create better products and more easily assist others. This project was done entirely using a lathe.

When designing a pen, the main goal was to integrate features that would take advantage of the numerous tooltips and techniques only available on a lathe. One notable feature is the knurling (ridges) applied using slow speeds and special fixtures. Another feature is the smooth finish of the main body and pen cap which was done performing shallow operations followed by polishing.

These techniques were able to be safely performed on the project because of my two-part design. The pen cap and main body were manufactured separately and safely, allowing high attention to detail to be paid before assembly. The interlocking components were made with a purposeful 0.002-inch interference (overlap) so that they may be press-fitted together. To accomplish this precision, I made numerous calibrations to the machine and took measurements with each machining pass using a micrometer. This allowed for a clean assembly held together by friction without any adhesives.