Nice enclosure labelling  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: haxby
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 05:27:28 am
content: Hi all,I'm making a nice case similar to this one pictured. My front panel will be machined aluminium and also anodised red. I wonder who could do the white letters and what process is this? Is it a Vinyl transfer or direct ink? If direct ink, how does that work? I'm also looking for gold lettering. Is there someone local in Melbourne Australia that does this stuff, or I wonder if I can get a heat transfer kit sent to me so that I can do it?

author: Bryn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 06:27:34 am
content: There is one company that does this...ONEPOINTSIX.

author: haxby
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 07:56:39 am
content: Onepoint6 does the whole enclosure design process. I'm just after the white/silver labels

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 09:13:56 am
content: That looks expensive for low volume.Possible alternative option:clear film labelsto stick on your anodised machined aluminium faceplate

author: Bryn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 09:34:23 am
content: Quote from: haxby on October 19, 2024, 07:56:39 amHuh... I thought that did labels also, at least what a quick lookup told meAnyway, here's one that closely matches your query:Label and Tape. There's alsoFast Labelsif you fancy metallic silver labels instead of the standard ones

author: jc101
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 09:48:56 am
content: I have aluminium anodised plates for a small unit. The text is done last with a laser which burns through to the aluminium and appears white.

author: imacgreg
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 08:27:10 pm
content: I am familiar with Pro Audio manufacturing and this would typically be done with a silkscreen process. This uses a custom screen to place ink directly on the panel which is usually then cured/baked in some manner.There are other ways to do it: laser etching, selective anodize (rare), lexan labels (more common in consumer electronics).You should be able to find silkscreen vendor locally that can do this. Just be aware that silkscreen process is also common for clothing (t-shirts) and there might not be crossover in capability. Here's a sample vendor in CA, USA:http://www.calprecisiongraphics.com/If you are having metalwork fabricated locally, your vendor may be able to recommend a silkscreen shop.The silkscreen vendor will need artwork prepared in a specific format with some alignment marks/guides. I use adobe illustrator for this.EDITED to add:My guess is that the SPL white on red is white ink silkscreened onto red anodized panel. The black "SPL" label is likely a separate part fixed on during manufacture with proper adhesive. It could be a lexan part or machined/anodized with silkscreen. I bet they attach the black square piece first and then screen the whole layer of white in one shot. Avoids alignment issues! You can see the middle unit "diamond" in your photo has what appears to be a slightly misaligned black rectangle, but perfectly aligned "SPL" text.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 08:50:06 pm
content: Plenty of companies doing this for brass/aluminium/perspex signs for offices/homes/doors/other.Mostly done with sponge printing and not expensive. Look for someone doing signage.Second option is shallow engraving just breaking through the coloured oxide leaving blank aluminium text/symbols.Third option is the same, but filling with paint afterwards.Said companies also do this.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 09:04:48 pm
content: Quote from: imacgreg on October 19, 2024, 08:27:10 pmI have had a local T-shirt vendor do some panel silkscreening for me in a pinch, however there are definitely notable differences in the two processes. A big one is the inks used -- those designed to work with fabric likely won't work with nonporous materials and might require different process, and vice versa. Aligning and holding a metal panel in equipment designed for T-shirts with good initial registration to the panel might take some ingenuity, and the materials and processes used to produce the screens may not be optimized for the fine text you often want on front panels. But if you need small-batch panel printing somewhat regularly, it may be worth finding an interested local vendor and spending some time working with them to figure out the process. The couple panels we did came out decently enough, although there were some minor issues with some small text, it was an acceptable compromise given how fast they were able to get the printing done. It's certainly possible to do the screenprinting yourself, of course, if you can justify the time investment.Laser engraving anodized aluminum can work well, but the quality of the results depend on the anodizing and of course the laser type and process settings, at least with CO2 engravers. Engraving on a red anodize finish probably won't give great contrast, especially compared to a bright white screen print. Fiber engravers are a little more flexible -- you can just engrave through the anodization into the base layer if you want, although contrast may still be poor that way. Mechanical engraving is also an option, although getting good results that way can be trickier than you might think -- but there are front panel companies that have it figured out and can provide great results.Vinyl transfers won't really work for such small text, although for larger logos they could work. Overlay stickers are of course an option, as others have said, but would give a different look to the finished product.In terms of DIY labeling options, I recently did a project where we made our own laminated overlays. After experimenting with a few materials, we ended up with a pretty simple process:- print graphics using a standard color laser printer on high adhesion polyester film label sheets- use a standard office laminating machine to laminate the entire label sheet- run the laminated sheet through aCricutor similar to cut the label to size/shape, including any internal cutouts- peel the cut label right out of the laminated sheet and apply.The result isn't quite as durable as a proper lexan overlay, especially in terms of abrasion and chemical resistance, but they're pretty good, and look great. I'd meant to post a thread about it at some point, but there's the gist at least.

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2024, 03:45:12 am
content: Front Panel Express

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2024, 07:08:21 am
content: Quote from: jc101 on October 19, 2024, 09:48:56 amThis. One of the shops I work with just got an xtool desktop laser. They are getting a ton of use out of it doing exactly this, marking anodized aluminum panels. It turns out pretty amazing actually.Pro Tip: Make sure the panels are the size you want them before you laser on the graphics.

author: cunningfellow
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2024, 12:54:24 pm
content: Pad/Tampon printing.(Maybe that is what Benta was referring to as sponge printing)If you can etch a PCB at home then you can etch some brass. Then you just need ink and a silicone pad held in a drill press and you can do it at home.You can get the silicone pads from Aliexpress for a few bucks.It is the same process they use to printThe labels on your indicator stalk in the carLogos for advertising on pens/bic-lighters/golf-balls

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2024, 03:28:30 am
content: I am in the sign business, that is silk screen printed. It is a process that is not very economical for single pieces, best suited for larger quantities because of the setup costs. Look into a flatbed UV printer, much better suited for one off items.

author: EEEnthusiast
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2024, 04:21:11 am
content: Please check with szomk, located in Shenzhen China. I have made couple of low volume enclosures from them. The front panel is laser etched as it has better quality. Screen printing fades away after some time of rough use.https://www.chinaenclosure.com/

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2024, 08:08:05 pm
content: electroetch stencils

author: mr ed
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2024, 10:56:34 pm
content: Black is easy. But you want white? Lazer print black ontro clear transfer paper (decals), spray with varnish, then slide in place. Option...lacquer whole front. 90% of the quality of silkscreen.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2024, 11:03:46 pm
content: Quote from: Old Printer on October 22, 2024, 03:28:30 ammust be ways of doing it cheaply, else pcbs would be much more expensive

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2024, 03:00:32 am
content: Flatbed UV printers can print opaque white, we have Mimaki but also had several Mutoh’s. Both machines do an excellent job with opaque white.

author: haxby
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2024, 09:14:29 am
content: Thanks all for the tips. I got a hold of a laser engraver and have to say I'm very impressed. The laser evaporates the anodising but leaves a very white surface. I was expecting a silver surface, but it's white, which is what I'm going for. Thanks again.

author: Roehrenonkel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2024, 09:53:56 am
content: Hi haxby,looks very nice. Good job!Could you please post your settings?Laser-power, distance and feed-rate.Thanks

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2024, 11:17:46 am
content: And details of what engraver you used, was it an Aliexpress special or did you spring for a Creality Falcon or similar?

author: haxby
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2024, 11:40:36 pm
content: It's an Epilog M2. It's a 100w CO2 laser, but set to 35 watts at full speed.

author: Conrad Hoffman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2024, 12:19:42 am
content: Every single way given is better than this, but for white and other colors I letter panels with a Leroy Lettering Set, They're common and cheap on eBay. The trick is choosing and thinning a suitable paint/ink.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2024, 01:12:15 am
content: Quote from: Conrad Hoffman on October 24, 2024, 12:19:42 amWow. Just wow. Talk about the hard way. It's hard to see the average person getting any kind of neat results using those templates. (I wouldn't trust myself in that regard, and I have a lot of experience hand-lettering stuff.)Are you able to get good results with that? If so, I'm definitely impressed.

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2024, 10:41:56 am
content: Another option for people who don't want to go to the cost of getting their own laser engraver isPonoko. I haven't used them for awhile but it looks like they've really expanded their capabilities since the last time I looked.