Sharp PC-1500A with CE-150

[Xorand]

I have the same setup, fully working (I had to replace the leaking NiCd batteries in the CE-150). I also have a Radio Shack CGP-115 printer that uses the same Alps plotter mechanism, so having pens around already was handy.

I've found in the US that you can order pens from Best Electronics. Their website is http://www.best-electronics-ca.com . The website is a nightmare to navigate and comes straight out of the 1990s.

They carry both color and black pen sets. I ordered a few tubes of each last year. It has been my experience that the red pens dry out first (of the ones I have, only one still works intermittently). The greens aren't far behind. The blues and blacks seem to hold up best.

The other issue with the Alps plotter mechanisms are the small drive gears that split as they get old. My CE-150 fortunately had not been afflicted with this issue (yet), but my CGP-115 was. I also purchased some replacement gears from Shapeways here [LINK].