CAMEO 4 UNIVERSAL PEN HOLDER INSTRUCTIONS
Most importantly. The Pen Holder is partly made from PLA as it is a natural plastic originating from corn starch and is recyclable. For these reasons it does not like heat.
Please don’t leave it in the sun, on a hot windowsill, on or near a radiator or anywhere else with a lot of heat.
Please also keep away from children and animals. PLA can be sharp when broken.
NEVER TRY AND ADJUST THE SCREW CAP WHILE THE HOLDER
IS IN YOUR MACHINE. YOU WILL DAMAGE YOUR MACHINE. ALWAYS FULLY REMOVE THE HOLDER BEFORE ADJUSTMENT.
DO NOT FLEX THE TIPS BY HAND. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO MOVE VERY SLIGHTLY TO ACCEPT A PEN NIB.
FORCING A PEN BODY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE TIP OR FLEXING THEM BY HAND MAY BREAK THEM.
To fit a pen into the holder, clip the alignment clip onto the holder as shown. It should remain loosely in place without holding. There are tabs that fit into the holes on the pen holder.
Unscrew the top cap most of the way, but not all the way
Insert your pen so the nib just touches the recess inside the alignment clip as below. You may need to wiggle the pen slightly to spread the flexible grips.
While gently holding the pen in place screw the top cap down so the flexible inserts retract into the holder and grip the pen. The cap does not need to be screwed down hard, just enough to grip the pen and stop it moving. Once the pen is held firmly continue to tighten the cap until the flexible parts line up with the corners as shown below. This is important for correct fitment into your machine.
The first few times you use the pen holder the cap may be slightly stiff but will ease with use. Now insert the holder into the machine.
DO NOT FORCE THE LATCH DOWN. IT SHOULD BE NO HARDER TO LATCH THEN WITH ANY OTHER SILHOUTTE ACCESSORY. IF IT IS STIFF REMOVE THE HOLDER, ADJUST AND REINSERT
You may need to adjust the draw pressure on your machine to get satisfactory results.
To remove the pen unscrew the lid most of the way and pull the pen out gently. You may need to wiggle the pen gently in a circular motion to release the grip mechanism.
When not in use do not leave a pen in the holder and try not to screw the lid all the way down for storage. This will help to preserve the flexible parts of the holder. If you forget and find the nibs have deformed then leave the holder without a pen for a few hours and the nibs will return to their original position.
The holder takes numerous pens from a pencil size to a full size sharpie.
USE OF LARGER PENS AND SHARPIES
To use larger pens and Sharpies it is a slightly different procedure. You may need to fully unscrew and remove the cap mechanism, insert the pen into the body of the holder and then fit the cap over the end of the pen as in the photograph below. Push the cap over the pen and slide down and then tighten into the body of the holder.
Care of your Universal Pen Adapter
Due to the way the grip mechanism works it may require lubricating periodically. If the mechanism feels stiff or “gritty” when you screw the cap down then it is time for a little lubrication.
Unscrew the cap all the off the pen holder and place to one side. Using a microfibre or soft cloth gently wipe the threads on the pen holder and then inside the cap. Once you have wiped the threads apply a very small amount of oil or grease to the threads of the pen holder at the points indicated in the next photograph. You can use a couple of drops of sewing machine oil or general purpose grease. If nothing else is available a couple of drops of cooking oil will work. Do not over grease. It really does only need a couple of drops.
Screw the lid back on and you should feel the mechanism is smooth again.