Etching or silkscreening chassis?

audio_moksha · 14th February 2008, 10:01 PM

I have a couple of chassis in steel and aluminium; some powder coated some not and I wanted volume, input, outputs etc labelled on the chassis like so many commercial amplifiers. How exactly is this done? Sand blasting, etching? Any thoughts?

zeonrider · 14th February 2008, 10:15 PM

Laser engraving, is the best.

Regards zeoN_Rider

SpreadSpectrum · 15th February 2008, 02:46 AM

I was hoping to find some stick-on vinyl letters or something. I have been looking but the best I can find is places that custom make stick on vinyl letters. I was hoping that a clear coat on top would keep them protected. Has anyone tried anything like this?

Aud1073cH · 15th February 2008, 05:32 AM

Laser, sandblasting, chemical etching, or screen printing are all options.

You could have a faceplate lasered, or someone may be able to laser them directly. I built a PAiA Theremin, and had labels made by a Trophy shop that had a laser. I designed the plates myself in Illustrator, to a format their laser software could read. I got two whole sets of three plates (control, jacks, and name plates) made for about $20. They cut them fairly close with a shear. I then drilled holes and touched them up with sandpaper, file, and rotary tool.

The custom vinyl could be used as a mask for sandblasting (like the small hobby kits) or chemical etching (salt water etch, or ferric chloride), to give a nice etch.

You can get more contrast on bare metal by filling the etched area with paint, then when dry, use very fine sandpaper to sand the paint off the non-etched areas. Powdercoat may already contrast with the metal.

I'm not sure who does screening, but I know it is an option.

14th February 2008, 10:01 PM	#1
audio_moksha diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles	Etching or silkscreening chassis? I have a couple of chassis in steel and aluminium; some powder coated some not and I wanted volume, input, outputs etc labelled on the chassis like so many commercial amplifiers. How exactly is this done? Sand blasting, etching? Any thoughts?

14th February 2008, 10:15 PM	#2
zeonrider diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Belgrade RS	Hi! Laser engraving, is the best. Regards zeoN_Rider

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15th February 2008, 02:46 AM	#3
SpreadSpectrum diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2007	I was hoping to find some stick-on vinyl letters or something. I have been looking but the best I can find is places that custom make stick on vinyl letters. I was hoping that a clear coat on top would keep them protected. Has anyone tried anything like this?

15th February 2008, 05:32 AM	#4
Aud1073cH diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008	Laser, sandblasting, chemical etching, or screen printing are all options. You could have a faceplate lasered, or someone may be able to laser them directly. I built a PAiA Theremin, and had labels made by a Trophy shop that had a laser. I designed the plates myself in Illustrator, to a format their laser software could read. I got two whole sets of three plates (control, jacks, and name plates) made for about $20. They cut them fairly close with a shear. I then drilled holes and touched them up with sandpaper, file, and rotary tool. The custom vinyl could be used as a mask for sandblasting (like the small hobby kits) or chemical etching (salt water etch, or ferric chloride), to give a nice etch. You can get more contrast on bare metal by filling the etched area with paint, then when dry, use very fine sandpaper to sand the paint off the non-etched areas. Powdercoat may already contrast with the metal. I'm not sure who does screening, but I know it is an option.

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