Faceplate drilling for RGB LED

[synonymous]

Hello

Anyone here have any experience with faceplate LEDs?
I'm looking to put a single LED in the faceplate of a dissipante chassis, 10mm thick plate, and would like to know what others have done for a flush finish. I'm thinking of using a RGB and having it fit either flush or recessed a bit and would like the cleanest finish look to it and would like to know what LED and moreso what kind of drawings or info to provide the manufacturer.

Thanks
S

 

[tomchr]

I like drilling through with a 2 mm drill bit and counterboring from the inside of the panel with whichever drill fits the LED. That creates a 2 mm indicator.

Tom

 

[jan.didden]

Doesn't it depend on the LED? The dimensions etc are normally in the data sheet.

Jan

 

[synonymous]

Thanks

Seems straightforward
What brand LED you using Tom?
Just a quick search didn't reveal any 2mm RGB
I suppose that I could drill a smaller hole for the light to pass through and the larger for the LED to set in.. I'll have to test some on a spare piece of aluminum.

S

 

[tgreese]

I think he suggests you relieve the back of the panel with the counterbore so there is a 2mm hole that the LED shines through. The LED sits in the counterbore. No penetration, just light coming out.

 

[phase]

Might want to practice on something that doesn’t matter to get the desired effect.

I like using a clear epoxy as a lens in aluminum, with a light source behind it. Can drill the hole, fill it with epoxy, drill again a bit from the back to create a more uniform surface, then install an led and see what it looks like.
A small piece of something like wax paper covering the hole on the appearance side, held with tape, will make a shiny surface on your new lense when using a clear epoxy. May help to have something apply pressure so the epoxy stays flush or just under the panel depth, wouldn’t want it proud of the panel surface probably.

 

[Tromperie]

I like drilling through with a 2 mm drill bit and counterboring from the inside of the panel with whichever drill fits the LED. That creates a 2 mm indicator.

Thanks for the good idea.

 

[russc]

Stand the tubes/cans of epoxy in warm water to warm it up so it flows easily & bubbles escape.
Overfill the hole so it creates a dome and it will dry clear/smooth: not so overfull that it runs over your panel.
If you under-fill the hole; as the resin hardens, it will shrink & have rough finish.

 

[russc]

You could also use acrylic rod as a light guide.

 

[Stuwik]

You can also modify the led by sanding then polishing the end to a flat so that it fits flush with your face plate.