Full Version: Question for the experts...
From: Dixie2 [#1]
28 Feb 2007
To: ALL
Hello everyone..
I didn't know what to call my thread... but here's what I'm needing help with..
I have some state shaped plaques. I get my plates from the man who makes the plaques for me.
Here's the question. I have a college that wants to order these plaques for a Golf Tournament. They would like the plaque double plated.. black on top, red on bottom.
I have no trouble with this if the plates are square, but they aren't. I really don't want to have these cut out of aluminum, because the man who does this for me is always busy, and would charge me an arm and a leg.. I'm partial to both.
So is there some kind of foil or vinyl or something that I can cut out with my laser to put under the black plate I already have??? It would need to be something shiny like red aluminum... or should I just bite the bullet and have them cut out...
Did this make ANY sense??????? :|
Thanks for the help,
Dixie
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#2]
28 Feb 2007
To: Dixie2 [#1] 28 Feb 2007
There are some types of engraving stock that you could cut out with your laser. Not sure if mirror red is one of them.
Even if you can't find a mirror finish material, the addition of color behind the main plate can be eye-catching enough.
From: Brian (BRIAN_R) [#3]
28 Feb 2007
To: ALL
What black plate are you using? Black with brass in a state shape?
I would think that the foils would look nice or even a thin mirror red acrylic.
From: Cindy (CINDYM) [#4]
28 Feb 2007
To: Dixie2 [#1] 28 Feb 2007
Be careful since you are using a state shape when cutting out the back plate. I have a job that requires two oregon state shaped plates - the back one gold and the front one blue marble brass. I currently have a guy with a waterjet cut them out. But the set up was tricky because when you just enlarged the front plate to make up the back plate sizing, it didn't match exactly. We had to tweak a few places to make all the outside dimensions equal all the way around.
Since you have a laser, I'd suggest finding a thin plastic (flexibrass perhaps?) or ordering in 1/32" so it looks less bulky than the 1/16" plastic and cutting the plate out that way. You'll probably have some trial and error, but that would probably be the easiest way for you to get the size and shape you want rather than have metal plates cut out.
Cindy Murdoch, CRS
From: Dixie2 [#5]
28 Feb 2007
To: Brian (BRIAN_R) [#3] 28 Feb 2007
Yes Brian..
It's a black brass type plate in the shape of Arkansas...
I would think the foils would look nice, too.. but I've never used them. Do they last? And how do you apply??
Stupid question, I'm sure...
Dixie
From: JHayes55 [#6]
28 Feb 2007
To: Dixie2 [#5] 28 Feb 2007
From: Brian (BRIAN_R) [#7]
28 Feb 2007
To: ALL
Yeah, for the foil or the "laser lite" apply "lightly" to the plaque and cut in place. Pull out the weed and then use the back you pulled off the adhesive to press the material into place.
If the plaque is small enough, trace the outside onto a piece of paper, scan the paper for a digital format, put it into Corel, change to a bitmap, trace bitmap, outline and then put it back into a Corel drawing. Duplicate and resize to get it looking like you want.
Cindy's absolutely correct about how it will look, it will need to be tweaked to make it look right. That's why I suggest leaving to original outline in the drawing and using the duplicate to resize and tweak.
If all else fails, shoot me an e mail and I'll try to help.
From: logojohn [#8]
28 Feb 2007
To: ALL
I do that a lot with logos to thin them up when they are engraved tiny so they come out clear instead of an unreadable blob.
Actually I figured out the contour usually makes excessive nodes and distorts corners if your settings aren't exactly right.
What I do instead is apply a pen thickness, select "arrange" and convert outline to object. That leaves the original center line(its there but may be colored white so is invisible till you recolor it) and another equidistant line inside and outside the shape. It has less nodes and doesn't distort the corners that often happens.
EDITED: 28 Feb 2007 by LOGOJOHN
From: Brian (BRIAN_R) [#9]
28 Feb 2007
To: ALL
Hey that worked really nice!
Thanks, I'll have to put that in my memory,
Lord knows there's plenty of room!
From: cardjim (JIMMY) [#10]
28 Feb 2007
To: Brian (BRIAN_R) [#9] 1 Mar 2007
From: Dixie2 [#11]
28 Feb 2007
To: JHayes55 [#6] 1 Mar 2007
Okay...
Just so I'm understanding this... You put the foil on the plaque, then vector cut the outline... weed off the extra material.. and then I'll have my red background??
Sounds easy enough............ :|
Where do you get the foil for this?? And it is safe to cut this in my laser?
Thanks for all the help.
Dixie
From: Carl (CSEWELL) [#12]
1 Mar 2007
To: Dixie2 [#11] 1 Mar 2007
Link
From: JHayes55 [#13]
1 Mar 2007
To: Dixie2 [#11] 1 Mar 2007
Yes you have it correct - and yes it is simple - I would get a scrap board and do a little practice first just so you feel confident in what your doing.
Laser Foils are safe for you laser - they are polyester not vinyl so no PVC
As stated LaserBits sells foils - so does Innotec Tape Co. - www.innotape.com and I am sure there others but cannot come up with them right now.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#14]
1 Mar 2007
To: Dixie2 [#11] 1 Mar 2007
Dixie,
I believe you can also get laser foil from Johnson Plastics.
From: Brian (BRIAN_R) [#15]
1 Mar 2007
To: ALL
From: Dixie2 [#16]
1 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#14] 2 Mar 2007
Thanks Chuck..
I pulled their catalog yesterday.. I'm trying to find someone close to save on shipping charges..
BTW.. Your posts are always quite witty.. I enjoy reading them. Thanks for the laughs. :-)
Dixie
From: JHayes55 [#17]
2 Mar 2007
To: Dixie2 [#16] 2 Mar 2007
Dixie
Please do not encourage Chuck!!!!! Encouraging him could create more of what we already have!!!
From: AL (SUBLIAL) [#18]
3 Mar 2007
To: Dixie2 [#1] 5 Mar 2007
Dixie, You could apply your colors through heat transferring them onto the substrate.
AL La Costa
www.atttransfer.com
1-866-900-2830