If you take a look at the tiny, highly precise tip of a ballpoint pen...

In this article, we'll take a look at the well-known ballpoint pen.

In 1943, Hungarian László Bíró invented and introduced a practical ballpoint pen. They began appearing in the Japanese market after World War II, and PILOT began manufacturing and selling them in 1961.

At the time, the norm was to write with fountain pens filled with ink or with dip pens, and the introduction of the ballpoint pen had a massive impact.
But do you know why these writing instruments came to be called “ballpoint pens”?

So it’s called a “ballpoint pen” because it has a small metal ball at the tip. In Japanese, it's simply called a "ball pen".

As the ball rolls across the paper, the ink is quickly transferred. It’s a cleverly designed mechanism, isn’t it?

The ball ranges in diameter from 0.25 mm to about 1.6 mm. The ball and the metal tip holder that supports it are collectively called the “tip.”
It is really difficult to make the tip. To ensure the small ball can roll smoothly and stably, the supporting tip holder and ball must fit together precisely at the microscopic level.
To keep the ball from falling out, the tip holder must offer firm support, while also maintaining a clear path for the ink to flow smoothly, all achieved through extremely precise construction. This tiny tip is packed with advanced technology that creates a smooth writing feel. While we tend to take for granted how smoothly and comfortably it writes, it is, in fact, a highly precise product.