Front panel legending success

[Chris Crosskey]

Hi Folks

First definite results with a new legending technique....I use white
powdercoated steel panels for my synths now (used to be black but I've
changed) and I've been experimenting with printing techniques for legending
them. Basically I want a technique that is repeatable (so I can have more
than one module and they'll look the same) cheap to do on a onesy-twosy
basis (screenprint is fine if you're doing thirty at once but the set-up
costs will kill you for less than five), storeable electronically (so I can
have back-ups all over the place) and easily done....

I've been trying iron-on and I belive that sometime in the future it will be
what I use, ATM though, I have a lot of experimenting to be done to get
temperature and timing issues sorted out...I've just done a panel (well last
night I did it and now I've just checked it) using the following
technique....

Plot the panel in mirror image onto a piece of plotter film....glue it
plot-side inwards onto the panel using Bison Hard Plastic adhesive....this
is a farily fast drying glue so work quickly...It does have its minor
problems, too much glue can dissolve the ink, uneven glueing shows (just)
through the film and it's an abuseable solvent so while it's prolly OK for
six year olds don't let sixteen year olds near it....End result though is
very nice...I've now got a very nice panel to mount a TB3030 as a module in
a Digisound and the legending will never wear as it's behind the film...Now
all I need to do is find some A3 plotter film to do things like an ASM-1
onto a 12" x 9" panel and a sequencer onto a 9" x 9" and I'll be
happy.....I'm also goint to experiment with Spray'n'Mount as an adhesive,
when I can work out where I left the can....

chrisc