Mechanical pencil Mechanical pencil A mechanical pencil (US English) or propelling pencil (UK English), also clutch pencil, is a pencil with a replaceable and mechanically extendable solid pigment core called a "lead" . The lead, often made of graphite, is not bonded to the outer casing, and can be mechanically extended as its point is worn away. Other names include microtip pencil, automatic pencil, drafting pencil, technical pencil, click pencil, pump pen, pump pencil, leadholder, pen pencil (Indian English), and lead pencil (Bangladeshi and American English). Mechanical pencils are used to provide lines of constant width without sharpening in technical drawing and
Mechanical pencil collar that, when depressed as the lead is worn away, extends out again when pressure is released. An advanced ratchet type has a mechanism that rotates the pencil lead 9° counter-clockwise every time the lead is pressed on to the paper (which counts as one stroke), to distribute wear evenly. This "auto-rotation" mechanism keeps the lead 50% narrower than in the common propelling mechanical pencils, resulting in uniform thickness of the lines written onto the paper. The design was first developed by Mitsubishi Pencil Company, and named "Kuru Toga" under the Uni brand. This type of pencil is most suited