label CNC operator panel

Engrave it on the cnc, fill with lacquer stick, and apply a clear sealer. Randy

"Karl Townsend" wrote in news:41f27275$0$13949$ snipped-for-privacy@auth.newsreader.octanews.com:

Draw it up in any cad software, and take it to your favorite laser marking shop. They can import it directly to the laser. Burn time would probably be a few seconds, at most. The set-up charge will be more than the burn charge. Another option, multi-layer plastic engraving. Basically, two different colors of plastic where you engrave through the top color to reveal the lower color. Permanent, highly visible, and relatively cheap.

Seems to me that Staples had something on the shelf... If not, look into printed circuit making materials, they have a number of methods of doing just that.

Print the mirror image on a laser printer, make a contact print of the toner against the metal using acetone or lacquer thinner. Cover with clear spray lacquer or a laser transparency if subject to wear. I use this method to label parts such as you can see here in a few examples:

The best result I have had is to Draw it up in cad and then take it to a Lamcoid engrave shop and get them to reverse engrave it (from the back) this way there is no grooves on the clear coated lamacoid to fill in with crud. This way you can get different fill-in colours. e.g. Yellow around your E-stop. Also cheap. Al

I've had good results making panel layouts in MS Publisher, printing on good quality photo paper, adhering with double sided tape and spraying the finished panel with krylon. The krylon waterproofs it and makes it much more durable.

It isn't as permanent as engraving or silkscreening, but for light duty use, it was satisfactory.

Earle Rich Mont Vernon, NH Alva, FL

Do you know of any cad programs that use TruType fonts? One the worked on MSDOS and used TruType would be very handy.

Hul

At least some versions of Autocad do.

I usually use Adobe Illustrator for very fancy panel designs.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Try these guys. Back in the late 90's they did a batch of parts for me, new faceplates for Sigma comparators. The cost per plate, (punched & etched) was $35 (in batches of 12) and the setup fee wasn't very bad either.

The big problem I have found with silk screening on aluminum etc is it wears off especially around the feedrate switches etc. Lexan or Lamacoid is the most permanent. Al

If you have a 3-axis CNC, you might try laying it out in whatever CAD you use so that you can mill it into the mounting plate - neat, tidy, won't wear off.

When I used to make such things (control panels for plasma experiments) we used transfer lettering (clean surface, rub on, be careful and it makes a good job), followed with several coats of a clear sealer.

I like the results!

Could you describe the way you make a "contact print" with the laser printed design. Is it on paper? How does it release from the print media and adhere to the metal?

Put a piece of transparent plastic sheet over it -- the self-adhesive kind.

--RC "Sometimes history doesn't repeat itself. It just yells 'can't you remember anything I've told you?' and lets fly with a club. -- John W. Cambell Jr.

On paper, yes. Laser toner is lampblack fused with polystyrene under heat. The appropriate solvent loosens the styrene from the paper and deposits it on the metal. The trick is blotting just enough solvent to dampen through the paper and transfer without making the toner run or smear.

Come to think of it, this might work with just heat and pressure, no solvents. That's how the laser printer fusers work.

You can buy transparent decal sheets for printers anywhere a good selection of printing supplies are sold--Walfart has them.

Ken Grunke

It does. I use a reverse laser printed image and a hot iron to transfer designs for wood carving all the time.

--RC

"Sometimes history doesn't repeat itself. It just yells 'can't you remember anything I've told you?' and lets fly with a club. -- John W. Cambell Jr.

Ok. I ve seen this done with heat for masking flat printed circuit boards. They even sell special paper for that. I was interested in doing it on your curved surfaces. Thanks.