Front Panels

[Bob Zimmer]

Since there has been an extended discussion on DIY about panel marking, here
is yet another possible solution.  The company is called Techniks (home page
@ http://chelsea.ios.com/~techniks/) which markets a product called
Press-n-Peel and is designed for putting resist on PC boards as an
alternative to the photographic process.  One uses board layout software and
laser prints the layout onto their paper.  I had sent them a query as to
whether this could also be used for panel markings and received this reply:

Date: Sat, 23 Mar 1996 16:26:43 -0500
X-Sender: techniks at chelsea.ios.com
To: "Robert E. Zimmer" <bzimmer at voicenet.com>
From: techniks at chelsea.ios.com (Techniks, Inc / Frank Cappelle)
Subject: Re: Question about your products

>>I'm interested in your products for PC Board creation, but have another 
>>thought as well.
>>
>>Since they can basically emboss an image on copper, would it work on any 
>>other metals as well, such as aluminum or steel?  What I'm thinking of 
>>is whether they could be used to create easy panel markings for test 
>>equipment and other devices where the image would be ironed onto the 
>>chassis or panel and then a clear top coat applied to seal them in.
>>
>>This might be a new market???
>>
>>If you think this would work, would the transfered image be black?
>>
>>
>Thanks for the mail!
>
>Press-n-Peel has been used sucessfuly for panel markings as well as
>"screened" component markings on the top of a circuit board.
>
>Several things to keep in mind:
>
>The metal has to withstand the temperature of an iron 225 + degrees F.
>The image that appears is Blue-Black.
>The Image is not scratch resistent unless protected.
>
>Many hobbyist have used it sucessfully to accomplish what you ask.
>
>Thanks
>Frank Cappelle


This is not an endorsement of the product since I have not used it yet, but
merely a sharing of information.  Prices seem in line with other products at:

 20 sheets (8.5"x11")  $30.00 US
 40 sheets (8.5"x11")  $50.00 US
100 sheets (8.5"x11") $100.00 US
Shipping & Handling is extra

Two separate types are available:
Blue and Wet.  Blue is intended for precision PCB Layouts and has an extra
layer of resist. After ironing it is peeled off the board.  Wet soaks off in
water.

Use is explained on the home page, but is quite simple.

1. Design the layout and laser print (or photocopy) onto the Press-n-Peel film.
2. Clean a single or double sided copper clad board.
3. Iron the image onto the PC Board.
4. Peel off Blue or soak off Wet.
5. Etch in Ferric Chloride or Ammonium Persulfate.
6. Clean off the resist layer.
7. Start soldering!

I'm going to order some soon and will try to follow up as to how it works!

  >=== Bob Zimmer -- Philadelphia PA ===<
  >=== bzimmer at voicenet.com          ===<