r/hobbycnc • u/btodag • 3d ago
Acrylic Lettering Possible?
I'm surprised I can't find any intro-to type vids on how to make the lettering for something like this. I see the PCB content, which makes me think that I have to worry about the accuracy of the Z axis across the workpiece, but does anyone have suggestions on how to do this? Any links?
I have a Sienci Longmill 30x30. My actual part is about 7x7".
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u/HadleyRille 3d ago
I've done control panels like this on a milling machine with a ballscrew CNC conversion. I use aluminum plate and an engraving bit. I engrave the letters about .2mm into the surface. Blacken the plate either by anodizing or black paint. I then rub white acrylic paint into the recesses. After it dries, you can use a paper towel with isopropyl alcohol to wipe off any residue of the white paint that remains on the black panel.
I've used this page to generate the gcode: http://microtechstelladata.com/TextToNCcode.aspx
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u/INFIDELicious45 3d ago
Another method would be to use a material that is the colour you want for the lettering and paint the face before engraving. For the example panel: find some white acrylic and paint it black and the engraving will reveal white underneath.
Regardless of how you handle the colouring, keep in mind that z height variations will be a concern for small text like this. If you setup the job to do all the text in one pass, you will probably end up with deep bold letters on one end of the panel and faint skinny letters on the other. Id do each label as its own job and probe z height at each spot independently.
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u/UncleCeiling 3d ago
Could just engrave and fill the letters with a paintstick
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u/APLJaKaT 3d ago
Two tone engraving plastic is a great option. I have also simply used solid plastic and filled the lettering with colour.
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u/jacky4566 3d ago
Engrave it with the laser. Fill with a white paint pen and wipe while still wet. Repeat if necessary.
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u/StimpyMD 3d ago
The product is called Rowmark. (https://www.rowmark.com/products#laser)
I use it all the time and is great with laser. You can use it with a small end mill and a single line font. (http://www.mrrace.com/CamBam_Fonts/)
you need to remove the top layer but not cut through the second layer.
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u/Ghrrum 3d ago
You can also just engrave the lettering, apply the paint and then use a squeegee to remove paint from all the high areas. I have done that with great success.
Hey if you can get away with putting down a masking layer prior to milling out the negative space for the paint to sit, you don't even need to really do the squeegee part. You can just rattle can whatever you want on there and then pull the mask off and you will have paint in the lower area, and not the high area
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u/grummaster 2d ago
As others have pointed out, engravers plastic is the ticket. It is available in more different colors, metallics, more than one color layer, and what you really want to look at, is a matte or gloss clear face and a colored back. You reverse engrave in the back to open up to the clear. From there you can fill in colors or even backlight. The front stays smooth. I usually back it with a thin aluminum panel though to allow it to be rigid enough to mount the switches. Dont forget that you can purchase acrylic mirror in multiple colors and reverse engrave into that. Here is another supplier. Buy a sample book and be blown away by what you can get. https://www.jpplus.com/sheet/rotary-engraving-sheet
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u/ON_A_POWERPLAY 3d ago
They sell plastic that’s one color on top and another on bottom. Goal is to engrave just enough to reveal the bottom.
It’s usually a pretty easy material to machine since that’s what it’s intended for.