Front panels by a trophy shop

[Toby Paddock]

More vague mumblings about front panels made by a trophy shop...

A guy at work is having test equipment panels made by a shop that has a process for doing award plaques and such.
He left a couple samples on my desk.  I measure them to be about .025 inch thick aluminum.  Would need to stick them on something heavier.  Almost thick enough maybe for a very small panel.  I think this is an industrial-strength heat transfer T-shirt type process.

Sample 1:   Black letters on brushed aluminum.  Fairly sharp detail on the letters.  Feels like a thin plastic coating.  Smooth, I can't feel the letters.  I can't seem to mark it at all with my fingernail.  I can scratch it using the other piece of aluminum, of course.  Once scratched, I can not get it to keep pealing with my fingernail.

Sample 2:   Multi-colored graphic.  Looks cool.  Brushed aluminum shows through the light colors (nice effect).  Looks kind of half-tone where the colors blend.  Like a inkjet printer, which I think it is.  No horizontal bars like an inkjet sometimes does.  Same coating.  Could make a very pretty panel.


They are also using a laser on a painted panel to burn off the paint where the letters are.  (Metal letters on a paint background.)  Or where the letters aren't... (Paint letters on metal background.)  I have not seen any of these.

When I get a chance, I will go to the shop and take a look.  I think they are just having too much fun with this.

Hoping this finds you,
Toby Paddock
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