[simpits-tech] Re: making your own PANELS

[Andre Breytenbach]

Guy
I did a lot of searching regarding backlighting and
the actual lights. At www.vishay.com go to LED and
then look for their 3mm backlight LEDs. They shine
SIDEWAYS more than forward, giving much better overall
lighting of the panel. Normal LEDs make a small light
spot at such short range.
Also look at putting a layer of white paint on the
panel before the black to reflect the light back in,
in stead of absorbing it into the black.

Good luck
Andre SimNut Breytenbach

--- Guy Lopes <guylopes at citlink.net> wrote: > Hi all.
Happy new year!
> 
> This has been an area of interest of mine for a
> while now. I have run
> into all of the obstacles that have been mentioned.
> I was talking to an
> engraver about this whole process the other day. He
> asked if I had
> considered silk-screening as a method of making the
> panels. I've done
> some checking and it looks like it might be
> feasible.
> 
> My plan is to use a white lexan or Plexiglas
> material 1/4" thick. I
> would design the panel with a CAD (or graphics)
> program. Essentially
> lining up all of the required switch holes and other
> cutouts with the
> appropriate text or graphics on two different
> layers. I would print out
> a machining template from these files to machine the
> plastic, then a
> text/graphic template to send to the silk screener.
> With proper
> registration, they should line up perfectly. 
> 
> It's my understanding that different colors could be
> used. Though I
> believe that separate silk-screens are used for this
> purpose. 
> 
> After silk-screening the panel a black or gray
> color, the text will be
> left in the original white color next to the
> appropriate switch or
> control. There is a possibility that the white may
> not be "white" enough
> for daylight ops. Tests will show whether this is
> true or not. Also,
> only the flat surface face of the panel will be
> painted. This will
> dictate hand-painting the beveled edge and sides as
> well as the back (to
> contain the light).
> 
> I plan to drill/ machine appropriately sized holes
> in the back to
> accommodate white, blue, yellow or green LEDs of
> varying brightness.
> I'll use a clear silicone to affix them to the
> panel, then paint black
> over the back of them. My test panel may be rather
> large to allow
> several types of LEDs and lettering/ font
> combinations.
> 
> I'm in the process of trying this all out now. If
> you have any
> suggestions or anything else that might help my
> experiment, please don't
> hesitate to speak up.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Guy Lopes
> guylopes at citlink.net
> Sacramento, CA
> 
> 
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