Making backlit panels ( laser cut ?)  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: MadScientist
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2020, 06:05:42 pm
content: I’m trying to make ( I’ve ordered a laser ) , with a local laser company a backlit instrument panel ( for boats ). This is mainly illuminated text beside switch aperaturesI’ve looked at laser cutting a paint layer over translucent acrylic, but it’s hard to make durableAnyone sorted this ?Thanks

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 24, 2020, 11:16:19 pm
content: This guy seems to do it quite well:

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2020, 12:11:56 am
content: I was disappointed to find that that video was not about the Puma.

author: robzy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2020, 01:43:36 am
content: Quote from: CJay on December 24, 2020, 11:16:19 pmYou beat me to it. I think he has a few vids on this topic.

author: MadScientist
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 12:13:58 pm
content: Thanks

author: jbeng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 04:42:54 pm
content: I think it's pretty common to paint thebackside of the plexi and then engrave the descriptors in mirror-image in that painted surface. The paint shop at my previous employer used to do that all the time. You just need to make sure the painted coating is thick enough to be opaque. You may also need a way to isolate the adjacent cells to minimize bleed-over.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 07:13:48 pm
content: Quote from: MadScientist on December 24, 2020, 06:05:42 pmA friend of mine is restoring a gutted flight simulator. He has laser-cut pieces of Plexiglas, painted white, then painted black, and then laser etched the black paint off. This looks just like the silk screened panels on the aircraft, and works quite well. This is all done on the FRONT side of the panels. I don't know how durable it will end up, that may depend more on the paint than anything else.Jon

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 07:30:39 pm
content: Quote from: MadScientist on December 24, 2020, 06:05:42 pmFor annunciators, warning signs etc., you normally use a special two-layer acrylic sandwich panel (can be sourced commercially), where the front layer is translucent (any color) and the back layer is black.You engrave the black layer with mirrored text/images etc. with a CNC router/plotter. I've never seen it done with laser, but it might work (think about the stench).The final result is a smooth panel that can be backlighted and will not suffer wear.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 08:03:47 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on December 26, 2020, 07:30:39 pmPretty much the exact process in the video I linked, the end result is impressive (even if he did make a typo) and I'm definitely doing to give it a go when I can get back into my workshop.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 08:48:19 pm
content: Quote from: CJay on December 26, 2020, 08:03:47 pmI've no time for 16+ min. of video. Sorry. But the principle is probably the same.

author: jbeng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 09:04:09 pm
content: Quote from: jmelson on December 26, 2020, 07:13:48 pmThe company I previously worked forbuildsflight simulators, everything from FTDs (Flight Training Devices) which sit on the floor with a flat-screen TV out front to FFSs (Full Flight Simulators), which are up on motion controlled platforms with 270-degree wrap-around video projection. My job was test and repair of electronics used in those systems and I tested pretty much all of the laser-engraved panels we built.

author: ChunkyPastaSauce
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 09:30:27 pm
content: Edge lit engraved panel maybe another option

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2020, 10:06:43 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on December 26, 2020, 08:48:19 pmAmazed you have the time to reply here, we should be honoured you consider us worthy.