Labelling Prototypes
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From: Jamie on 5 Jul 2010 15:47 Ian Bell wrote: > What do you guys use for labelling prototypes? I am thinking > particularly of control panels (19 in rack mounting for example) > containing pots, toggle and rotary switched all of which need labelling. > So far I have looked at iron on T shirt printer paper, special > transparent overhead projector type film with built in adhesive and > contacted a company that does custom stick-on vinyl decals. I need > something I can design easily myself on a PC and either produce myself > or have produced at reasonable cost. Any one of more of the above might > work but before I take the plunge I thought I would ask what others use??? > > Cheers > > Ian For small cabinets I print out via laser in mirror form, the drill locations, knock out locations, control labeling, logo's etc. all on a single sheet of either ink jet photo paper or clay paper and iron it on the surface.. when removed via wetting it, 99% of it comes out and I touch up what I don't like.. then I spray it with a clear coat to protect it.. P.S. The cabinets I used either have a base color already on it that the toner sticks to nicely or we spray it with a thin clear coat first.. It does give a shinny look if that isn't abjectable. Jamie..
From: Peter Bennett on 5 Jul 2010 15:53 On Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:51:26 +0100, Ian Bell <ruffrecords(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >What do you guys use for labelling prototypes? I am thinking >particularly of control panels (19 in rack mounting for example) >containing pots, toggle and rotary switched all of which need labelling. >So far I have looked at iron on T shirt printer paper, special >transparent overhead projector type film with built in adhesive and >contacted a company that does custom stick-on vinyl decals. I need >something I can design easily myself on a PC and either produce myself >or have produced at reasonable cost. Any one of more of the above might >work but before I take the plunge I thought I would ask what others use??? > >Cheers > >Ian How many units, and how much of a prototype? Does it have to look professional? I've used a Brother label maker for one-of's. You can get label tapes in various colour combinations, including white-on-clear and black-on-clear. The clear tape allows the panel colour to show, and the fact you've used individual tape labels doesn't show too badly. Another poster suggested Front Panel Express - I've used them many times, for both single panels and small quantities. FPE machines and engraves panels from their pre-anodized stock, or from customer-supplied panels. I've also printed a mirror image of the legend on overhead transparency film, and used a spray adhesive (3M-77, I think) to fasten it to the panel. -- Peter Bennett, VE7CEI peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca
From: Charlie E. on 5 Jul 2010 15:57 On Mon, 5 Jul 2010 14:47:19 -0400, "Martin Riddle" <martin_rid(a)verizon.net> wrote: > > >"John Larkin" <jjlarkin(a)highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote in >message news:vl7436de1hnp42vtgssfvor6va15d8ee2a(a)4ax.com... >> On Mon, 5 Jul 2010 10:15:22 -0700 (PDT), mpm <mpmillard(a)aol.com> >> wrote: >> >>>On Jul 5, 10:51 am, Ian Bell <ruffreco...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >>>> What do you guys use for labelling prototypes? I am thinking >>>> particularly of control panels (19 in rack mounting for example) >>>> containing pots, toggle and rotary switched all of which need >>>> labelling. >>>> So far I have looked at iron on T shirt printer paper, special >>>> transparent overhead projector type film with built in adhesive and >>>> contacted a company that does custom stick-on vinyl decals. I need >>>> something I can design easily myself on a PC and either produce >>>> myself >>>> or have produced at reasonable cost. Any one of more of the above >>>> might >>>> work but before I take the plunge I thought I would ask what others >>>> use??? >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> >>>> Ian >>> >>>Silkscreening. Even if a one-off. >>>Cheap, easy, professional-looking results. >>> >>>The setup I use (Speedball, I think), has reusable screens, so once >>>you get going, you can change as often as your mind does. >>>The only major investment for me was the light stand, though you could >>>probably DIY roll your own. >>>The lightbulb is about $10, and at least here, available locally. >>>5000K, I think. A Photo-Flood #12, IIRC. >>> >>>Good luck. >>>- mpm >> >> We make nice looking labels with an inkjet color printer and some sort >> of adhesive paper stuff. They're good enough to use for product >> photos, or to put on eval loaners for customers to play with. For >> production, we just send the same file to a label company. >> >> These photos used fake labels: >> >> http://www.highlandtechnology.com/DSS/T750DS.html >> >> http://www.highlandtechnology.com/DSS/P730DS.html >> >> You can even include little translucent windows for LED indications. >> They are a little denser on the paper protos than the real polycarb >> labels. >> >> John >> > >You can make labels with some Avery stuff, they have a clear label thats >good for covering the top of a finished Avery label. > >Cheers > > I usually print on the 8x11 clear Avery lables using my color ink jet. If you let the colors set, you get good life out of it. If paranoid, the old technique was to print reversed on an overhead transparency film, and then glue the colored side down. Lets you do a proto for less than $10! For a full size rack, you might need to split the graphics, and have a seam somewhere... I have also printed all the labels on smaller avery type clear lables, and then xacto cut them out and attached just over the appropo button or LED. Charlie
From: Baron on 5 Jul 2010 16:04 Ian Bell Inscribed thus: > What do you guys use for labelling prototypes? I am thinking > particularly of control panels (19 in rack mounting for example) > containing pots, toggle and rotary switched all of which need > labelling. So far I have looked at iron on T shirt printer paper, > special transparent overhead projector type film with built in > adhesive and contacted a company that does custom stick-on vinyl > decals. I need something I can design easily myself on a PC and either > produce myself or have produced at reasonable cost. Any one of more of > the above might work but before I take the plunge I thought I would > ask what others use??? > > Cheers > > Ian A local company engraves plastic panels at very low cost. Many different colours with white, red, green or black lettering. The plastic is made from three layers and they remove the top layer by engraving it with a high speed router type bit. Thing like pots, switches and connectors can be mounted directly to the plastic panel if required. -- Best Regards: Baron.
From: StickThatInYourPipeAndSmokeIt on 5 Jul 2010 16:12
On Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:57:15 -0700, Charlie E. <edmondson(a)ieee.org> wrote: >On Mon, 5 Jul 2010 14:47:19 -0400, "Martin Riddle" ><martin_rid(a)verizon.net> wrote: > >> >> >>"John Larkin" <jjlarkin(a)highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote in >>message news:vl7436de1hnp42vtgssfvor6va15d8ee2a(a)4ax.com... >>> On Mon, 5 Jul 2010 10:15:22 -0700 (PDT), mpm <mpmillard(a)aol.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>>On Jul 5, 10:51 am, Ian Bell <ruffreco...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >>>>> What do you guys use for labelling prototypes? I am thinking >>>>> particularly of control panels (19 in rack mounting for example) >>>>> containing pots, toggle and rotary switched all of which need >>>>> labelling. >>>>> So far I have looked at iron on T shirt printer paper, special >>>>> transparent overhead projector type film with built in adhesive and >>>>> contacted a company that does custom stick-on vinyl decals. I need >>>>> something I can design easily myself on a PC and either produce >>>>> myself >>>>> or have produced at reasonable cost. Any one of more of the above >>>>> might >>>>> work but before I take the plunge I thought I would ask what others >>>>> use??? >>>>> >>>>> Cheers >>>>> >>>>> Ian >>>> >>>>Silkscreening. Even if a one-off. >>>>Cheap, easy, professional-looking results. >>>> >>>>The setup I use (Speedball, I think), has reusable screens, so once >>>>you get going, you can change as often as your mind does. >>>>The only major investment for me was the light stand, though you could >>>>probably DIY roll your own. >>>>The lightbulb is about $10, and at least here, available locally. >>>>5000K, I think. A Photo-Flood #12, IIRC. >>>> >>>>Good luck. >>>>- mpm >>> >>> We make nice looking labels with an inkjet color printer and some sort >>> of adhesive paper stuff. They're good enough to use for product >>> photos, or to put on eval loaners for customers to play with. For >>> production, we just send the same file to a label company. >>> >>> These photos used fake labels: >>> >>> http://www.highlandtechnology.com/DSS/T750DS.html >>> >>> http://www.highlandtechnology.com/DSS/P730DS.html >>> >>> You can even include little translucent windows for LED indications. >>> They are a little denser on the paper protos than the real polycarb >>> labels. >>> >>> John >>> >> >>You can make labels with some Avery stuff, they have a clear label thats >>good for covering the top of a finished Avery label. >> >>Cheers >> >> >I usually print on the 8x11 clear Avery lables using my color ink jet. >If you let the colors set, you get good life out of it. If paranoid, >the old technique was to print reversed on an overhead transparency >film, and then glue the colored side down. Lets you do a proto for >less than $10! > >For a full size rack, you might need to split the graphics, and have a >seam somewhere... > >I have also printed all the labels on smaller avery type clear lables, >and then xacto cut them out and attached just over the appropo button >or LED. > >Charlie Printing on clear stock does not protect the printed media. Print on white label stock and COVER it with a clear over-sheet. Labels with direct exposed print, especially from a laser or ink jet, do not usually last very long. Clear laminate on top of such labels makes them appear more professional, and retains the integrity of the print without smears or other undesirable happenstance. |