Cutting Circles in Vinyl

[vaderag]

How are you guys cutting out the holes in the vinyl for your CP?
I've seen circle cutter compas type things but worry they may not be that great (i've never had much luck with these drawing pencil lines, let alone cutting my vinyl!!)

I'm assuming i cant affix it and just drill straight through it, but interested to hear if anyone's tried this!!

Cheers

[thomas_surles]

You can use u blades to get it started. And use a router to finish it off for the best results.

[HaRuMaN]

I just use the handy Xacto knife. 

[Malenko]

I just use the handy Xacto knife.

Thats how I do it, assuming the holes are drilled in the wood/mdf/laminiate/etc . Apply the art, run the blade long the edge.

[vwalbridge]

I just use the handy Xacto knife.

Thats how I do it, assuming the holes are drilled in the wood/mdf/laminiate/etc . Apply the art, runt he blade long the edge.

ditto.

[vaderag]

Thanks all...

So i guess my main concern is lining the artwork up with the holes precisely... i had originally planned to stick the artwork down and drill through it to line up precisely, but the printer told me that would be a bad idea as it would stretch the vinyl (and now i think about it it would probably put gunk under the vinyl too...)

So, do people tend to get a paper print out too? Or just carefully mark up and hope for the best??


One other thing - i currently have dots marked for the centre points - before i print would you advise making these circles to the size of the cut out for visual ease??

Oh, and while i think about it, i was planning to leave excess on all sides and Xacto off the excess (just in case i dont apply staight or there is a difference between my and the printers measures) but i'm now wondering if that would actually be more likely to make me apply at a wonk... thoughts>?

Thanks

[JDFan]

One other thing - i currently have dots marked for the centre points - before i print would you advise making these circles to the size of the cut out for visual ease??

Oh, and while i think about it, i was planning to leave excess on all sides and Xacto off the excess (just in case i dont apply staight or there is a difference between my and the printers measures) but i'm now wondering if that would actually be more likely to make me apply at a wonk... thoughts>?

I would leave the excess on the sides and only print the center point of the holes or leave the holes not printed at all -- doing it this way allows for some lee way in placement in case the lining up is off a small amount it can be corrected without the CP having the printed button hole area showing on the printed art - In general the button holes are placed on a separate layer and are there mainly for visual of where they will be placed so no important artwork is placed where they wind up ( ie. character face right where the joystick is going to be placed etc.) THe only time I'd actually print the holes is if you are designing the CP to have the buttons outlined or directional arrows printed for the joystick directions and need to have the holes cut precisely in order to have it look correct ( Which also means having to be much more careful with placement when applying !)

[vaderag]

One other thing - i currently have dots marked for the centre points - before i print would you advise making these circles to the size of the cut out for visual ease??

Oh, and while i think about it, i was planning to leave excess on all sides and Xacto off the excess (just in case i dont apply staight or there is a difference between my and the printers measures) but i'm now wondering if that would actually be more likely to make me apply at a wonk... thoughts>?

I would leave the excess on the sides and only print the center point of the holes or leave the holes not printed at all -- doing it this way allows for some lee way in placement in case the lining up is off a small amount it can be corrected without the CP having the printed button hole area showing on the printed art - In general the button holes are placed on a separate layer and are there mainly for visual of where they will be placed so no important artwork is placed where they wind up ( ie. character face right where the joystick is going to be placed etc.) THe only time I'd actually print the holes is if you are designing the CP to have the buttons outlined or directional arrows printed for the joystick directions and need to have the holes cut precisely in order to have it look correct ( Which also means having to be much more careful with placement when applying !)

So that is exactly what i'm doing -


So the buttons really need to be in precisely the right spot (nb. buttons there are just for visual, they're obv hidden on the printout and as I said just a dot currently)

[vwalbridge]

So i guess my main concern is lining the artwork up with the holes precisely.

Easy. Tape the artwork on your panel and use a center punch to mark the exact spot where to drill each hole.

[JDFan]

So i guess my main concern is lining the artwork up with the holes precisely.

Easy. Tape the artwork on your panel and use a center punch to mark the exact spot where to drill each hole.

^this - trim one edge and tape in place along that edge ensure it is aligned properly on CP - center punch the holes and remove the artwork - drill holes - clean CP including holes to remove any dust - replace vinyl with backing still on and check placement - if things line up install vinyl carefully - cut out holes in vinyl once it is placed with exacto knife.

[vaderag]

So i guess my main concern is lining the artwork up with the holes precisely.

Easy. Tape the artwork on your panel and use a center punch to mark the exact spot where to drill each hole.

^this - trim one edge and tape in place along that edge ensure it is aligned properly on CP - center punch the holes and remove the artwork - drill holes - clean CP including holes to remove any dust - replace vinyl with backing still on and check placement - if things line up install vinyl carefully - cut out holes in vinyl once it is placed with exacto knife.

Awesome, thanks.

One follow up question - you say trim edge to line up - makes perfect sense - but do you think it's worth having one edge trimmed exactly with no overlap at the printers? Or is it safer to have a bit of play for other reasons?

[Scassidy24]

Really like the looks of your CPO kudos


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JDFan]

Awesome, thanks.

One follow up question - you say trim edge to line up - makes perfect sense - but do you think it's worth having one edge trimmed exactly with no overlap at the printers? Or is it safer to have a bit of play for other reasons?

I like to leave extra on all sides mainly because many printers have distortions that show up if trying to print too close to any edge - while some printers can print directly to an edge I'd rather not take the chance and it also allows a bit of slop in case you do not get it perfectly straight on that edge.

[GSXRMovistar]

So i guess my main concern is lining the artwork up with the holes precisely.

Easy. Tape the artwork on your panel and use a center punch to mark the exact spot where to drill each hole.

Also add a dot/cross to the artwork itself for the centre points of each button, getting that exact in your image editor will be a lot easier than having to measure/judge once it's printed.

^this - trim one edge and tape in place along that edge ensure it is aligned properly on CP - center punch the holes and remove the artwork - drill holes - clean CP including holes to remove any dust - replace vinyl with backing still on and check placement - if things line up install vinyl carefully - cut out holes in vinyl once it is placed with exacto knife.

[AndersHP]

Awesome, thanks.

One follow up question - you say trim edge to line up - makes perfect sense - but do you think it's worth having one edge trimmed exactly with no overlap at the printers? Or is it safer to have a bit of play for other reasons?

I like to leave extra on all sides mainly because many printers have distortions that show up if trying to print too close to any edge - while some printers can print directly to an edge I'd rather not take the chance and it also allows a bit of slop in case you do not get it perfectly straight on that edge.

Sorry to revive this old thread, but that's better than starting a new, containing something that's already here, isn't it?

When you trim your sideart after applying, I was wondering if it would be better to cut it 5-8 mm outside of the MDF and bend it around towards the slot for the T-molding? This way there's no chance the artwork will start peeling off, and there will be no visible gaps, as the T-molding holds it into place? But is this even possible at places where the MDF sides are rounded, maybe with relief cuts? Or is it better to just cut it completely along the outer edges of the MDF and live with the risk that the artwork might peel along the edges?

[HaRuMaN]

I always leave some extra and bend it over the edge.  For curved areas I take an X-acto and slit it so it will lay flat. 

[vaderag]

Awesome, thanks.

One follow up question - you say trim edge to line up - makes perfect sense - but do you think it's worth having one edge trimmed exactly with no overlap at the printers? Or is it safer to have a bit of play for other reasons?

I like to leave extra on all sides mainly because many printers have distortions that show up if trying to print too close to any edge - while some printers can print directly to an edge I'd rather not take the chance and it also allows a bit of slop in case you do not get it perfectly straight on that edge.

Sorry to revive this old thread, but that's better than starting a new, containing something that's already here, isn't it?

When you trim your sideart after applying, I was wondering if it would be better to cut it 5-8 mm outside of the MDF and bend it around towards the slot for the T-molding? This way there's no chance the artwork will start peeling off, and there will be no visible gaps, as the T-molding holds it into place? But is this even possible at places where the MDF sides are rounded, maybe with relief cuts? Or is it better to just cut it completely along the outer edges of the MDF and live with the risk that the artwork might peel along the edges?

Great question, great timing. I'd never have thought of that, but makes a lot of sense!!
The only issue I see is lining up... If you haven't a hard edge how do you properly align?

[AndersHP]

Awesome, thanks.

One follow up question - you say trim edge to line up - makes perfect sense - but do you think it's worth having one edge trimmed exactly with no overlap at the printers? Or is it safer to have a bit of play for other reasons?

I like to leave extra on all sides mainly because many printers have distortions that show up if trying to print too close to any edge - while some printers can print directly to an edge I'd rather not take the chance and it also allows a bit of slop in case you do not get it perfectly straight on that edge.

Sorry to revive this old thread, but that's better than starting a new, containing something that's already here, isn't it?

When you trim your sideart after applying, I was wondering if it would be better to cut it 5-8 mm outside of the MDF and bend it around towards the slot for the T-molding? This way there's no chance the artwork will start peeling off, and there will be no visible gaps, as the T-molding holds it into place? But is this even possible at places where the MDF sides are rounded, maybe with relief cuts? Or is it better to just cut it completely along the outer edges of the MDF and live with the risk that the artwork might peel along the edges?

Great question, great timing. I'd never have thought of that, but makes a lot of sense!!
The only issue I see is lining up... If you haven't a hard edge how do you properly align?

For my build I didn't have a spot that needed a 100% accurate lineup, but the lining up I did was that I backlit a button with my phone laying on the floor, so I could see it through the vinyl.

The next issue I have is that the excess is not long enough to properly stick to the MDF ends, and since my slot cutter and T-molding didn't exactly fit each other (T-mold a bit loose) I'll have to glue the T molding and place it under pressure, otherwise the excess vinyl won't get pressed down enough. But in the end, I'm sure the result will be great!