Fabricate panels with a LASER

[GoingForGold]

Hi there!
I'm pretty new to this cockpit building thing and I'm still planning my cockpit. At the moment I'm thinking about how to make the panels. I'm lucky to have access to a 40W CO2 LASER and a 3D printer. However, I 'm not sure how to make nice, backlightable panels with the LASER. because I'm not experienced with this piece of equipment.
1. Since it should be backlighted, its pretty clear that I have to use acrylic. But clear acrylic with a thin white coat of color, or white acrylic, or...?
2. How do I make the text etc. visible? Can I "laser-away" the greyish-blue color? Or can I apply a masking, laser the text and spray the rest with the greyish color? or...

Thank you for all ideas!

[SimSupervisor]

Paint acrylic, then etch it with LASER.

[hyamesto]

Paint acrylic, then etch it with LASER.

I can add the following advice:
Find an acrylic vendor, talk about your necessity, and question him about the best-type acrylic for your project. There are clear acrylic, but some are translucent (like "frosted glass") maybe better to diffuse the light, or semi-translucent white too.
There are too, 2 layers acrylic, (example: black on front, with white underside. When you etch it with laser, the white part is visible over the black part.
Maybe you can find a Black or grey/transparent 2 layers, ready to etch, and you can forget the paint.
If you are a fanatic of type "No, i want the real panel colour..." , you can use vinyl mask (cut with the laser too) but you need first make the complete cut of the piece in transparent or translucent acrylic, stick the mask, paint and retire the mask, but sometimes, if the mask is not applied correctly and you are late to retire it, some of the paint will go with the mask too, or the paint will go inside the mask.


Regards.
Horacio.

[GoingForGold]

Hi!

I am back from some testing. However, I did not manage to produce satisfyable results. And somehow, I cant find any advise/tutorials on the web about how to laser/etch spraypaint from acrylic.
Is there anyone with experience here? My main problem is that either I am using too less power and nothing happens, or I use too much and the color "melts" and there are horrible edges.
I use acrylic spray paint, maybe thats wrong? Any other idea? The panels are made of PMMA acrylic.
Has anyone tried screen printing? That would also be an option for me.

[iwik]

Have a read here and I am sure John will help.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/showthread.php?t=29220
and here.
http://www.cockpitbuilders.com/commu...c=2107.0;nowap
Les

[John_B]

Hi goingforgold

Was it you that sent a private message to me?
I got it in my email but it is not in the private message inbox so I am not sure who wrote it...you/he left his real name with no nickname.
If it is reply to this and I will send you my email.

John

[GoingForGold]

Haha, yeah it was me!

[John_B]

LOL cool

Happy to help you....
I sent you a PM with my email...

John

[jonesthesoftware]

Hi
Just like to add..
Acrylic paint dries from the inside out. So spray thin coats, dry each coat with an infra red heater.Spray enough coats to get the opacity. Leave finished result for at least 2 weeks before engraving. Hard paint gives crisper edge to engraving. Spray clear matt laquer AFTER engraving as laquer melts from heat of laser.
regards
geoff

[John_B]

When I do certain panels 737 overhead panels I let the grey (RAL 7011 cellulose) dry overnight .I the cover it with masking and cut the mask with the laser...then spray acrylic ( light grey) over the top leave for 1 hour (ish...touch dry) peel off my masking and then engrave...I guess we all have differing ways to our results.

When doing the normal front panels (with sprayed edges) again ..short drying times ...cut the panel... remove from laser, leaving the outline sheet in place for registration,..... spray sufficient paint to cover all edges and obtain opacity leave until touch dry (***note***handle carefully though or you WILL get fingerprints).. re-insert to cut frame and engrave.... great results.

I do no use lacquer as I have the right amount I need to give it a tough enough finish into the spray mix....that might just be the car re-finisher (from years ago) in me !

As long as you exceed the 'flash off' point off the paint all will be well. Before that you have the paint scorch/burn in places and of course risk a fire....but that's all part of the fun surely???????

John