Polycarbonate stickers / self-adhesive labels - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: lovemb
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 05:27:03 am
content: Hello everyone!I'm having a hard time find a solution to my little problem which is:I made a device and also picked a plastic enclosure. I've made some cnc cutouts on it and now I need to add a front panel sticker/label.Regarding quality, I like polycarbonate self-adhesive labels but I can't find a place where to order blank labels, that I can print and cut, or already printed labels at a decent price for a very small quantity (10-20).If you know any solution please say so.Also, later I will need membrane keyboards/switches done, if you know a company/place with decent price for low quantity (10-20) I would love to know.This are just examples of what I'm talking about:

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 10:06:58 am
content: I can't offer any assistance, however I am in the same predicament as you. I need some for covering an OLED display in a panel and the company that responded to my enquiry wanted a minimum order of 10 @$30 / piece.

author: Pjotr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 11:28:08 am
content: Have look at Conrad:http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/overview/2512110/Frontplatten-Herstellung.They supply various kinds of ink and and laser printable polyester sheets with and without adhesive backing. Also they have 3M adhesive film sheets (A4 size). You can print mirrored on the back of a film and then apply the adhesive sheet if you need a scratch resistant label.

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 12:38:07 pm
content: From what I can make out it looks good. Any tips on how to read the site in English? I'm on my phone and couldn't make out any language settings. I'll look at this in more depth when I get back to my computer.

author: Balaur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 12:59:13 pm
content: Quote from: PTR_1275 on October 09, 2015, 12:38:07 pmhttp://www.conrad-electronic.co.uk/ce/en/overview/2512110/Front-Panel-Design

author: lovemb
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 04:13:34 pm
content: @PTR_1275Damn. 30usd per piece in a quantity of 10 is not possible for my product price range. Unless your panel dimensions were big.@BalaurThanks a lot for this link. I'm going to buy a few sheets and hopefully do some tests next week. I need to buy the printable self-adhesive sheet + the protective film, just hope the protective film is easy to apply.(Also found the 3M equipment rubber foot I was looking for in the same store :p)

author: Pjotr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 04:36:20 pm
content: Ehm yes. That British Conrad shop is the same shop as the German one I mentioned. It is onlly in a different language. Probably they have a web page in your language also? In the end it all comes from the German shop.With regard to protective lamination. It is difficult to apply that by hand without included air bubbles. A cheap wall-mart card laminator is of great help here (but keep the heater off). Also work as dust free as possible.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2015, 07:13:04 pm
content: Your problem in going to be in the process used to product polycarbonate overlay face plates. It is a lamination process with a substrate with adhesive backing to be printed on, then a polycarbonate transparent overlay. This is then die cut. Lots of setup and time. Also a word of advice. You want 3M brand (Non substitute) Low E type adhesive. This is critical when bonding to plastics.If you are an indoor application I would consider a polyolefin label. They are far cheaper and are a surface printed solution.