Post by thread:[OT]: Engraving/hot stamping knobs?

Trying to take advantage of the manufacturing expertise on the list... We have a product where we have a bunch of slide pots that control lighting channels in a DMX stream. The product is modular so we can build systems of various sizes. This modularity makes it so we cannot silkscreen the channel numbers on the panel since we don't know until the sale comes in as to what channels a particular panel will control. Further, we'd like to avoid stocking thousands of slide pot knobs, all with the numbers we don't need today, and have none of the ones we DO need today. So... I'm thinking we could get a machine to engrave or hot stamp the numbers on the knobs. Can anyone suggest such a machine? Thanks! Harold FCC Rules Online at http://hallikainen.com/FccRules Lighting control for theatre and television at http://www.dovesystems.com ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: dl.http://www.juno.com/get/tagj. -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! use spam_OUTlistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu?body=SET%20PICList%20DIGEST

Harold M Hallikainen wrote: > > Trying to take advantage of the manufacturing expertise on the list... > We have a product where we have a bunch of slide pots that control > lighting channels in a DMX stream. The product is modular so we can build > systems of various sizes. This modularity makes it so we cannot > silkscreen the channel numbers on the panel since we don't know until the > sale comes in as to what channels a particular panel will control. > Further, we'd like to avoid stocking thousands of slide pot knobs, all > with the numbers we don't need today, and have none of the ones we DO > need today. > So... I'm thinking we could get a machine to engrave or hot stamp the > numbers on the knobs. Can anyone suggest such a machine? > > Thanks! > > Harold Harold, there are a lot of firms investing in CNC machining technology lately, but it is still a trifle expensive a purchase to do what you need. BUT, most of the firms with the CNC have excess capacity and will do small jobs for outside customers quite happily. I would ring aroung engravers/rubber stamp makers, they commonly have a small machine and obviously do small detail work. If you let them know it will be a regular deal they should be happy to set it up and do them quickly on demand. Roman -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList .....piclist-unsubscribe-requestKILLspam@spam@mitvma.mit.edu

You may want to have a look into "Tampo" printing. That's a brand name but I can't remember what the generic term is. It's the method used to print logos on pens and other give aways. You make up a plate using a similar process home etching a photo-sensitive PCB and the machine has a rubber pad that stamps onto the plate to pick up the ink and then stamps onto your product. It's ideal for small volume, multiple version work and is a lot less hassle than silkscreening. Steve. ====================================================== Steve Baldwin Electronic Product Design TLA Microsystems Ltd Microcontroller Specialists PO Box 15-680, New Lynn http://www.tla.co.nz Auckland, New Zealand ph +64 9 820-2221 email: stevebKILLspamtla.co.nz fax +64 9 820-1929 ====================================================== -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: "[PIC]:" PIC only "[EE]:" engineering "[OT]:" off topic "[AD]:" ad's

At 12:00 AM 9/25/00 +1200, you wrote: >You may want to have a look into "Tampo" printing. That's a brand >name but I can't remember what the generic term is. Yes, "Tampon printing" or "Pad printing" is what it is called, generically. The machines are very expensive for some reason. You can print (including multiple colors) onto practically any surface. One company used to demo them at trade shows by printing onto walnuts or golf balls. >It's the method used to print logos on pens and other give aways. You >make up a plate using a similar process home etching a >photo-sensitive PCB and the machine has a rubber pad that stamps onto >the plate to pick up the ink and then stamps onto your product. >It's ideal for small volume, multiple version work and is a lot less >hassle than silkscreening. Except it's only suitable for fairly small items, distorts the printed image more than a "silk" screen (particularly if the "silk" is stainless- steel mesh), and the machine is very expensive. I'm not sure the cleanup is that much less than a silk screen of comparable size. Best regards, =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" .....speffKILLspam.....interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com Contributions invited->The AVR-gcc FAQ is at: http://www.bluecollarlinux.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: "[PIC]:" PIC only "[EE]:" engineering "[OT]:" off topic "[AD]:" ad's

DESIGN A NAIL by Dee Cosmetics $40. Didn't get the 800 number. -----Original Message----- From: pic microcontroller discussion list [@spam@PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of James Newton Sent: Monday, September 25, 2000 09:32 To: KILLspamPICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU Subject: Re: [OT]: Engraving/hot stamping knobs? Importance: Low I saw an informercial the other night for a little machine that printed pretty patterns on fingernails for about $60. It was a manually operated, plastic, pad printer. In my TV induced delirium, it was several seconds after the ad was off that I realized it would have been perfect for small, low volume, overprinting of chip labels and I couldn't remember the product name or manufacturer much less the web site or phone number. --- James Newton (PICList Admin #3) RemoveMEjamesnewtonTakeThisOuTpiclist.com 1-619-652-0593 PIC/PICList FAQ: http://www.piclist.com or .org -----Original Message----- From: pic microcontroller discussion list [spamBeGonePICLISTspamBeGoneMITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Spehro Pefhany Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2000 21:01 To: TakeThisOuTPICLISTEraseMEspam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU Subject: Re: [OT]: Engraving/hot stamping knobs? At 12:00 AM 9/25/00 +1200, you wrote: >You may want to have a look into "Tampo" printing. That's a brand >name but I can't remember what the generic term is. Yes, "Tampon printing" or "Pad printing" is what it is called, generically. The machines are very expensive for some reason. You can print (including multiple colors) onto practically any surface. One company used to demo them at trade shows by printing onto walnuts or golf balls. >It's the method used to print logos on pens and other give aways. You >make up a plate using a similar process home etching a >photo-sensitive PCB and the machine has a rubber pad that stamps onto >the plate to pick up the ink and then stamps onto your product. >It's ideal for small volume, multiple version work and is a lot less >hassle than silkscreening. Except it's only suitable for fairly small items, distorts the printed image more than a "silk" screen (particularly if the "silk" is stainless- steel mesh), and the machine is very expensive. I'm not sure the cleanup is that much less than a silk screen of comparable size. Best regards, =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- = Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" RemoveMEspeffTakeThisOuTinterlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com Contributions invited->The AVR-gcc FAQ is at: http://www.bluecollarlinux.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- = -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: "[PIC]:" PIC only "[EE]:" engineering "[OT]:" off topic "[AD]:" ad's -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! use listservEraseME.....mitvma.mit.edu?body=SET%20PICList%20DIGEST