[simpits-tech] RE: making your own panels

[Marc Quintin]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
clear piece of plexiglas might not be the best solution for the panel since 
the LED light (or whatever you use for a light source) would not diffuse 
very much and it would be more like a spot of light.   But I would have to 
do some testing to really check that out.   Hopefully something easily 
obtainable like plexiglas would work as opposed to some sort of unobtainium. 
  :-)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was experimenting a while ago with a peace of plexi 1''x2'' and a led. 
What I wanted to achive is the light to diffuse the lenght of the plexi. So 
I took some sand paper and sand the plex in one direction. Gess what? it was 
diffusing but in the opposit direction. Ufortunately the led had to be 
position at about 1'' or more from the plex

Marc..


>From: "Jim K." <JimK at sisna.com>
>Reply-To: Simulator Cockpit tech list <simpits-tech at simpits.org>
>To: Simpits <simpits-tech at simpits.org>
>Subject: [simpits-tech] RE: making your own panels
>Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 13:54:43 -0700
>
> >>>>>Message: 1
>From: Marv De Beque <mdebeque at woh.rr.com>
>Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] RE: making your own PANELS
>Use clear Plexiglas not translucent or opaque and spray paint the all sides
>(top, bottom, and sides) white with a uniform coat.
>Turn the panel upside down and spray paint the back and sides flat black.
>Silkscreen the top layer flat black with acrylic paint.
>Marv>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
>Marv,
>That would definitely be a good way to make the panels. You could also mill 
>the lettering into the panel.
>
>If you are going to make panels that you can backlight then you need to 
>make sure the white paint you use allows light to pass through.   Applying 
>the black top coat of paint via silk screening should produce a nice 
>uniform thickness of paint which would allow you to laser etch the 
>lettering into the panel.
>
>I think the big obstacle in making your own backlight panels is determining 
>the panel material and the correct paint to use that both allow light to 
>easily shine thru.
>
>A clear piece of plexiglas might not be the best solution for the panel 
>since the LED light (or whatever you use for a light source) would not 
>diffuse very much and it would be more like a spot of light.   But I would 
>have to do some testing to really check that out.   Hopefully something 
>easily obtainable like plexiglas would work as opposed to some sort of 
>unobtainium.  :-)
>
>I know the material the real panels use have a sort of hazy, milky look.   
>I actually think the real panels are epoxy filled.
>
>The real panels I have taken apart have that hazy center section or 
>"plate".   The plate is then covered with a white "paint" layer that is 
>about 0.010" thick and then the whole thing is painted with a layer of 
>black paint again in the 0.010" thick range.
>Jim
>
>_______________________________________________
>Simpits-tech mailing list
>Simpits-tech at simpits.org
>http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
>To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above 
>page.  Thanks!

_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*  
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus&pgmarket=en-ca&RU=http%3a%2f%2fjoin.msn.com%2f%3fpage%3dmisc%2fspecialoffers%26pgmarket%3den-ca