How to fix acrylic to control panel and what thickness to use?

[uptown47]

Hi all,

I'm in the process of building a cabinet. I wondered what the best thickness of acrylic (perspex / plexiglass / not 100% sure of the right name for it) is? i'll need to be able to jigsaw it into a radius (see photo of my build below).

Also, a couple of other questions....

What's the best way to fix it in place? I'm going to be have a 'modular' control panel so the middle of the panel will have a big rectangular cut-out with modules that fit into it - so I can't use the buttons themselves to hold the plastic in place. Are there screws that are very discreet? Or a type of glue that would dry clear? etc??

Lastly - when I jigsaw the radius on to it - what's the best way to tidy up the cut? I'm assuming that sanding it would scratch it? I thought maybe a lighter to just run around the edges but wasn't sure what the best thing to do was?

Many thanks for your help.

[PL1]

You may want to consider a clear polycarbonate lamination layer on top of your printed CPO instead of plexi/acrylic.

- Most if not all of the print vendors recommended around here offer lamination that protects the printed CPO art.

- Lamination sticks to the CPO, CPO sticks to the panel.
-- No screws needed.
--  No thick plexi/acrylic forcing you to offset your T-molding slot and chamfer or roundover the underside of the panel.   




Scott

[Titchgamer]

You may want to consider a clear polycarbonate lamination layer on top of your printed CPO instead of plexi/acrylic.

- Most if not all of the print vendors recommended around here offer lamination that protects the printed CPO art.

- Lamination sticks to the CPO, CPO sticks to the panel.
-- No screws needed.
--  No thick plexi/acrylic forcing you to offset your T-molding slot and chamfer or roundover the underside of the panel.   




Scott

What scot said.

But if you really want to put plastic over the top I would not use acrylic as it tends to shatter.

I would use polycarb instead.

As for fixing a joystick mounting bolt in each corner should suffice.

[uptown47]

You may want to consider a clear polycarbonate lamination layer on top of your printed CPO instead of plexi/acrylic.

- Most if not all of the print vendors recommended around here offer lamination that protects the printed CPO art.

- Lamination sticks to the CPO, CPO sticks to the panel.
-- No screws needed.
--  No thick plexi/acrylic forcing you to offset your T-molding slot and chamfer or roundover the underside of the panel.   




Scott

Thanks for the great info Scott. How does the lamination layer stick to the CPO? Do I just stick the CPO over the wood and then glue the lamination layer on to it? If so, what glue is best for this to not leave visible residue?

Also, what thickness is the lamination layer?

Thanks for your help :-)

What scot said.

But if you really want to put plastic over the top I would not use acrylic as it tends to shatter.

I would use polycarb instead.

As for fixing a joystick mounting bolt in each corner should suffice.

Thanks Titch :-)

[JDFan]

How does the lamination layer stick to the CPO? Do I just stick the CPO over the wood and then glue the lamination layer on to it? If so, what glue is best for this to not leave visible residue?

THe lamination is added by the printer and is just another layer of the acrylic that is applied over the printed layer and pressed onto it under pressure with their machinery. So will come already applied to the CPO print which in turn is an adhesive backed product so you just remove the protective backing from the vinyl and apply it to the wood and squeegee to remove any air bubbles.

Here's a video showing the installation process (shows installing sideart but same process for CP as well.

 

[uptown47]

How does the lamination layer stick to the CPO? Do I just stick the CPO over the wood and then glue the lamination layer on to it? If so, what glue is best for this to not leave visible residue?

THe lamination is added by the printer and is just another layer of the acrylic that is applied over the printed layer and pressed onto it under pressure with their machinery. So will come already applied to the CPO print which in turn is an adhesive backed product so you just remove the protective backing from the vinyl and apply it to the wood and squeegee to remove any air bubbles.

Here's a video showing the installation process (shows installing sideart but same process for CP as well.

 

Ahhh... I see now. Unfortunately this isn't going to be an option for mine as I'm making a 'modular' control panel. So it will have removeable sections in the middle of the control panel.

Unless I just put black vinyl wrap over the whole thing and the individual control modules too?

Or do you think I'm better with some form of plastic covering (perspex / polycarbonate or whatever?) ?

Thanks

[PL1]

Ahhh... I see now. Unfortunately this isn't going to be an option for mine as I'm making a 'modular' control panel. So it will have removeable sections in the middle of the control panel.

Unless I just put black vinyl wrap over the whole thing and the individual control modules too?

Or do you think I'm better with some form of plastic covering (perspex / polycarbonate or whatever?) ?

The primary reason for the thick plastic covering on a control panel is to protect the art.

If you're going with plain black panels, black paint should be fine, maybe with a layer or two of clearcoat.

If paint doesn't work for you, you can use black vinyl wrap like Doc's Modular MAME.


Scott

[uptown47]

Ahhh... I see now. Unfortunately this isn't going to be an option for mine as I'm making a 'modular' control panel. So it will have removeable sections in the middle of the control panel.

Unless I just put black vinyl wrap over the whole thing and the individual control modules too?

Or do you think I'm better with some form of plastic covering (perspex / polycarbonate or whatever?) ?

The primary reason for the thick plastic covering on a control panel is to protect the art.

If you're going with plain black panels, black paint should be fine, maybe with a layer or two of clearcoat.

If paint doesn't work for you, you can use black vinyl wrap like Doc's Modular MAME.


Scott

Hi Scott

That vinyl look is brilliant! Thanks for the link. That's what I'll go for I think.

That's brilliant advice. Thanks very much for taking the time to get back to me.

Cheers

John :-)