Custom printing on acrylic? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2018, 11:31:16 pm
content: I have a project in mind that would involve printing some white text and/or simple line art on an acrylic front panel. It is seen frequently on consumer devices and I've found places that will custom UV print on plastic trinkets they manufacture but I have not yet had any success finding somewhere that can print a custom part. Is anyone aware of a business with this capability? I only need a few, 2-3, maybe 10 pieces at the most and not looking to spend a lot. If I can buy a plexiglass brochure holder custom printed with my logo for 10 bucks surely there's someplace out there that can print the same sort of thing on a plain rectangle. Lead times are not a problem, so while I do like to support domestic businesses I'm not opposed to waiting a month to get something from China.

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2018, 11:44:16 pm
content: Google for pad printing. That’s likely the technique in use for one-color printing on plastics.You may find a local provider who can do it at a reasonable price.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2018, 11:45:17 pm
content: The (overlay) thought did occur to me, and it's an option I may try if I can't find anything else, but I still can't print white on transparent with my printer. I know the capability exists, I have on the table right next to me a transparent red water bottle with lovely white printing on it, and I've found sources for objects like brochure and business card holders that are custom printed. The place I asked about that said they only print the products they make though.

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2018, 11:59:05 pm
content: We do it (pad printing), but also in a highly automated, regular production system, so we are also not going to be interested in doing it on a random part, even a flat rectangle.However, I’ve toured several plastics shops or prototype fabs who do custom pad printing in low quantity. The pad is a custom part, so expect a “setup” charge if you’re doing a low volume.You could also look into hydrographics and see if you could get a custom (multicolor for this process) graphic made for transfer. This is more fiddly perhaps, but might be cheaper in quantity of 1-5 or so.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2018, 12:00:56 am
content: You can get tape cartridges for the more popular labeling machines that are white text on clear background. After making the label and removing the backing, accurate placement of the tape is up to you. Might be practical if the panel isn't too complicated.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2018, 12:04:17 am
content: Well that gives me a few ideas to look at anyway. One of the places I looked into printed with UV-cured ink and from the sound of it the printer is a large desktop machine that prints from a PC much like any consumer printer except the ink is cured rapidly by a UV lamp before it bleeds. They offered small quantities but only on products they make. There are also places that custom silkscreen tshirts and stuff at fairly modest prices, I suspect a similar process could be used on plastic. Tap Plastics can custom cut and supply a wide range of materials but I don't think they do printing.The tape label machine is another idea that crossed my mind, but I just figured if I could have something printed right on the plastic it would look really slick and professional.

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2018, 12:21:34 am
content: There are loads of decal printing services that are ultra cheap they also do embossed/epoxi various plastics they regular do in low volumes some of them can print on larger areas like shcool buss sizes etc.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2018, 12:31:28 am
content: I'm really looking for specific options here for custom printing on pieces of acrylic, specifically either smoked or colored acrylic (or other transparent plastic) that can go in front of LED displays. If anyone can recommend a specific business that offers this service I'd be curious to hear, otherwise while I appreciate other suggestions let's not dilute this thread too much with other ideas.

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2018, 12:47:05 am
content: You mean i diluted your precious "t-shirt print on plastics" thread? Ok no more suggestions to you then.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2018, 01:47:42 am
content: Ok calm down, I wasn't trying to sound unappreciative or insulting, I was only clarifying that I'm looking for specific information here since I realized I may not have been entirely clear before. If you asked for a butcher shop where you could buy a specific kind of roast it would probably not do you any good if I suggested a farm where you could go buy a live cow, or a place that had good hamburgers, or hey maybe you should just go buy a basket of fruit instead. Discuss whatever you want, it's a public forum, but if it's not the name of a company that can print custom graphics on plastic sheet then it's not useful to me in this context so no need to take the trouble. Doesn't mean you're not allowed to discuss whatever you want, if that's what you want to do.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2018, 02:12:33 am
content: Have you considered laser-etched text, on the backside? I haven't tried it but reverse-engraving might be easier than printing.Pololu custom laser cutting pics

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2018, 02:50:20 am
content: Low-volume, reasonable-price custom screen printing is widely available across the US in the form of "garment graphics" (i.e. printing on T-shirts, jackets, bags, etc.) There is no practical difference between screen printing on fabric vs. printing on acrylic (or any other kind of plastic or metal) panel.I would expect that any good T-shirt printer should be able to handle a few plastic panels. Although if you are talking about the entire width of a 19 inch rack panel, they may not be set up for something that long?

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2018, 04:44:15 am
content: I'll look around and see what I can find. The panels I have in mind would fit in some of the Pac-Tec or similar clamshell instrument enclosures, so probably 10" wide max.Etching on the back side won't work because I want to use either smoked or dark red or green with LED displays behind it. I did a lot of brainstorming and I think the only thing that would give a really slick polished look is printing on the face.

author: Le_Bassiste
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2018, 08:04:44 am
content: Have a look at "Tampon Printing" or "Pad Printing", where a soft silicone stamp picks up its print paint from a steel stencil (basically similar to an smt soldering stencil that has its patterns loaded with uv-curable paint) and then ever so slightly dips its "footprint" onto the object to be printed. see here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pad_printinghth

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2018, 12:47:38 pm
content: I think what you want is a small UV printer. I work in a custom sign company and until the last five years or so printing with white ink was not really feasible, outside of screen printing. We have a couple Mutoh 426 flatbed UV printers. 19" x 13" material max size. One of the problems with the process is the unpredictability of how well the ink will adhere to different substrates. Durability can be increased by reverse printing on the underside of a thin (1/16") clear/matte acrylic and laminating a second layer on the back. We also have a couple laser engraver/cutters by Epilog and the combination of these two technologies has given us some rather neat products. Do you know anyone in the sign business? This sort of equipment is becoming pretty standard in this industry.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2018, 04:24:34 pm
content: I don't know anyone in the business but looking at sign companies is another good suggestion I'll look into, thanks. UV printing was my initial idea after some research on the subject but a couple places I came across that advertised the capability said they don't print on custom materials.

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2018, 04:37:37 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on August 10, 2018, 04:24:34 pmCustom materials can be a can of worms, a busy shop can't be bothered. How big is the panel you want to do?

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2018, 04:41:17 pm
content: I haven't settled on a specific enclosure yet, but the panel will be something in the ballpark of 8"x2", desktop instrument enclosure.

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2018, 06:17:47 pm
content: You might consider seeing if a sign shop can do an 8x12" panel and then waterjet / route it into 5-6 pieces for you (either the shop or you).

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2018, 06:37:49 pm
content: Yeah that's a good idea, I can certainly cut the stuff to size. I also know of multiple small shops that can do laser cutting and I a friend of mine has access to a laser cutter at work too so I could probably convince him to cut the pieces to size for free.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2018, 09:37:08 pm
content: Can the available laser cutter also do engraving? There is a process where you put sticky paper on the acrylic, do the engraving through the paper and then spread paint. After it dries, you remove the sticky paper.See reply #3 here:https://www.cnczone.com/forums/general-laser-engraving-cutting-machine-discussion/116883-proper-colorfill-engraved-acrylic.htmlYou can Google for other solutions. I tried 'laser engraving on acrylic backfilling with paint'.

author: basinstreetdesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2018, 01:06:06 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on August 10, 2018, 02:50:20 amI did a project a while ago, a commission for a local guitarist that required white markings on a painted aluminum box and looked around for a screen printing house in my area to do it. Nobody, but nobody was interested in printing anything else than a T-shirt. And those that did wanted a minimum quantity of 50-100 pieces and the printing would not be done locally. It would be sent to a central facility about 3 hrs drive away that handled T-shirts from dozens of T-shirt shops in the Greater Toronto Area.So since I only wanted 2 units, had the time, and didn't mind learning a new skill I did it myself. It took me a week to find a supplier for the materials and another week to get the process down.IMHO it was worth it. The client was happy.

author: scuzzyTerminator
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2018, 06:17:18 am
content: Any opinions on printing with UV curable solder resist?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2018, 07:09:52 am
content: Might stick-on cut vinyl be an option?

author: Domagoj T
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2018, 07:11:39 am
content: Does it have to be printed?Self adhesive vinyl foils are pretty durable stick well. They can be cut on cheap machines so artsy craftsy groups probably have access to them.After the design is cut, it is transfered to a transfer sheet (self adhesive foil, but with weak glue) and then to the final position.You could also use it as negative, fill in with UV curable paint, and finally remove the vinyl.edit: Ninja-dI should type faster

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2018, 05:03:48 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on August 08, 2018, 01:47:42 amI'm always calmed down, it's you who have to calm down and adjust your reply aproach and your weirdo analogies to a such broad terminology such as "plastics" are and you use all the time! So in this "plastic" diluted thread you would be surprised what a decal manufacturer actually can print on if you just bother to ask them! Yes some also do print on thin acrylic sheets. Some even have live cows to sell at least here in Europe! Also judging by your time on EVVBLOG you should by now understand most threads get diluted, if this is a major issue for you, well maybe you should talk to Dave J but i suspect he will just shrug his shoulders to your request.