[sdiy] custom faceplates etc...

Tue Sep 23 01:22:48 CEST 2003

Yes, or, at least, I have heard of people doing it at home.  From what I 
understand, it takes a bit of practice...but is not all that hard.  One of 
my friends found quite a bit of info on the internet on how to DIY.

At 11:25 AM 9/22/2003 -0400, Michael Boracci wrote:
>Hello Everyone,
>It may be possible to anodize at home. I am sure that a suitable resist
>could be applied prior to the dyeing process to create the legend. Either
>positive or negative.
>
>http://www.caswellplating.com/index.html
>
>- MB
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>[mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of Raymond Wilson
>Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 8:41 AM
>To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>Subject: RE: [sdiy] custom faceplates etc...
>
>
>Hi All
>
>On Faceplates. I am the penultimate lazy person when it comes to faceplates
>as you can see by looking at any of my blurry synth photos but... I have
>come up with an idea. I tried the blue sheets sold by Circuit Specialists
>and All Electronics that you print your pattern on as a positive and then,
>believe it or not, iron on to a circuit board. Well anyway it actually works
>and you get good resolution and 5 mil line widths. Well I etched it and then
>I wanted to remove the resist. I thought a little alcohol would do..
>nothing. OK then acetone.. scrubbing steel wool, sand blasting... (OK I
>exagerate) but anyway it sticks really well. So next I'm going to try to
>iron it on to an aluminum faceplate. If it works BINGO I will start to make
>cool looking faceplates. I'll let you know how it comes out and even post a
>blurry photo of it when I'm done.
>
>I used to have the whole silk screening set up including a vacuum frame and
>arc lamp for developing "Blue Poly" masking material. But even then you need
>to use an epoxy ink if you want the markings to stay put for a long time and
>it is a pain when all you want is one plate. So... thats why one plate costs
>so much. After the first one, screening more takes about 10 seconds each.
>
>Cheers
>
>Ray
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Peter Grenader [mailto:peter at buzzclick-music.com]
>Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2003 11:54 PM
>To: Craig Critchley; synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>Subject: Re: [sdiy] custom faceplates etc...
>
>
>Yeah, the aluminum shows through and yeah, it does look white even when
>looking at it which is just what the doctor ordered as this particular
>Milton was for a Wiard owner.
>
>I much prefer these permanent marking methods (laser, photo-anodizing) over
>silkscreening.  My one attempt at screening was disastrous.  It cost me a
>bloody fortune and was all falling off within a month.
>
>If I were ever to go into the synth building biz, I would commit myself..NO!
>
>I would go with these permanent marking methods for the production units .
>Serge, Modcan and Cynthia gots the right idea. Life is too short to have
>units returned for bad markings or worse, NOT returned and out there looking
>like crap.
>
>Peter
>
>
>Craig Critchley wrote:
>
> > That does look nice.
> >
> > Does the lettering come out aluminum-colored? It looks white in the
>picture,
> > but I was assuming the laser just zaps off the anodization.
> >
> > ...Craig
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Peter Grenader" <peter at buzzclick-music.com>
> > To: "Craig Critchley" <craigc at nwlink.com>; "James Patchell"
> > <patchell at cox.net>; "James R. Coplin" <moog at qwest.net>;
> > <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
> > Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2003 9:42 PM
> > Subject: Re: [sdiy] custom faceplates etc...
> >
> >
> >> Flawlessly.  I have uploaded a picture.  Unfortunately, it's a little
>soft
> >> (the picture, not the graphics) as you can see by the blurred start/stop
> >> buttons - but I'm sure you can get the idea.  This is laser etching of a
> >> blue anodized aluminum panel.  If you run your finger over the graphics,
> > you
> >> can't even feel them.
> >>
> >> here ya go:
> >>
> >> http://www.buzzclick-music.com/laser_milton.jpg
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> How did the laser engraving come out? I've been thinking of canvassing
> > the
> >>> local engraving outfits to see if any of them will do that for me at a
> >>> reasonable price. Has anybody tried having a painted panel laser-marked?
> >>>
> >>> ...Craig
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>> From: "Peter Grenader" <peter at buzzclick-music.com>
> >>> To: "James Patchell" <patchell at cox.net>; "James R. Coplin"
> > <moog at qwest.net>;
> >>> <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
> >>> Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2003 6:32 PM
> >>> Subject: Re: [sdiy] custom faceplates etc...
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> I just got a .062 17 x 7 inch aluminum  panel cut at one place
> > (Industrial
> >>>> Metal, Inc) brushed finished at a second (Metalcratfers Polishing), and
> >>> blue
> >>>> anodized and laser etched at a third place (K&L Plating) and the total
> > ran
> >>> a
> >>>> little bit over $180 for the one piece.  The only variable cost was the
> >>> of
> >>>> panel meterial itself.  The finishing, plating and engraving were set
> > per
> >>>> job costs. All three of those places are in Burbank, CA. K&L does not
> >>> speak
> >>>> Mac, but they use Correl Draw ver. 10 and that can deal with PDFs from
> > a
> >>>> Mac.
> >>>>
> >>>> This price is with NO HOLES however.
> >>>>
> >>>> For straight spot anodized graphics via photo sensitive aluminum, I use
> >>>> Photo-graphics at:
> >>>>
> >>>> Photo-Graphics Co., Inc.
> >>>> 5100C Martha Truman Rd.
> >>>> Grandview, MO 64030
> >>>> (816)761-3333 ph
> >>>> (816)761-3032 fax
> >>>>
> >>>> A single .062 panel,  24 x 12 inch, cut perfectly into as many pieces
> > as
> >>> you
> >>>> can fit,  brush or satin finished, black anodized graphics, no holes:
> > $172
> >>>> plus the cost of film.  If you want them to do the film from a file,
> > add
> >>>> $60. They speak Mac and PC. VERY reliable ten day turnaround once they
> > get
> >>>> the film or file. Add 50% for a three day rush.  The can only anodize
> >>> black.
> >>>> They will do drilling, but on the only thing I had them quote (Milton)
> >>> was
> >>>> expensive.  But that has what - 45 trillion holes or something - or at
> >>> least
> >>>> it seems it when you drill one.
> >>>>
> >>>> wrist still hurts...
> >>>>
> >>>> hope this helps,
> >>>>
> >>>> Peter
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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         -Jim
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