Looking for control panel overlay material in the uk

[vibez]

Any suggest a good place to get some vinyl sheets to cover my control panel?

I'm after soom good quality stuff that won't move about & is easy to work with.


Thanks in advance

[rchadd]

i used a couple of feet of happs vinyl to cover the CPs of my cocktail cabinet. i am very happy with the outcome.

[Minwah]

i used a couple of feet of happs vinyl to cover the CPs of my cocktail cabinet. i am very happy with the outcome.

Yeah this is good if you don't want artwork.

I've noticed on my stick control panel (covered with this vinyl) that a small area where I rest my joystick hand has gone slightly 'shiny' from wear, but its nothing major and I doubt anyone else would notice it.

[vibez]

Yeah the happ stuff does look good. But happ charge you $10 extra if your order falls below $25, then add to that the cost of shipping to the uk & time delay, its not a practical option. I'm looking for an alternate in the uk if anyone has any suggestions

[Marky_1979]

Do B&Q OR Focus not have something like this? im not sure if iv seen coverings when iv been in there or not but my be worth a look..

[Minwah]

Yeah the happ stuff does look good. But happ charge you $10 extra if your order falls below $25, then add to that the cost of shipping to the uk & time delay, its not a practical option. I'm looking for an alternate in the uk if anyone has any suggestions

They don't ship it from the US as they have a UK depot.  I don't deny they charge the earth tho...

[ALeX K]

i was looking into using a 1mm transparent perspex laser-cut to the required shape. I would supply a CAD file to the workshop and they'll knock out an exact panel top. I'm going to place this over my graphic layer which in turn all sits on 18mm (3/4 inch?) MDF, which is also laser cut to the same cad file by the same people (I have no garage or area to do the woodworking by the way hence the outsourcing

[Silver]

No experience, but I would be interested to know some about your "outsourcing".  I'm planning to do the woodwork myself, but will have to wait till summer so I can do it outside (non indoor space at all) and have a car to move the stuff around.

Whats the company/how much etc...?

re: perspex : I've not done it but I would imagine you would need something else to hold the perspex down? Even with T-molding at the edge, you may find it pops up a bit as people put there hands on it?

[vibez]

Just an update. I gave happ uk office a ring & ordered from them. The shipping & minimum order charge was excessive, but atleast I've finished my cab now

[Minwah]

The shipping & minimum order charge was excessive, but atleast I've finished my cab now

Unfortunately sometimes you have almost no choice but to order from them 

[ALeX K]

The two companies I am thinking of using are Zone Creations and EightByFour, both in London. I use them for producing architectural models in my work. They can laser cut perspex direct from CAD file (brilliantly accurate) and CNC mill the MDF also from CAD, also spot-on accuracy. If I go with the analogue stick ideas (see separate post) I could get them to mill out 8mm of the 18mm thickness of the MDF and mount the joystick plate on the underside of the CP, so I don't have that huge ugly plate on the surface. I.e. they can make the CP thinner in a specified area.

As for the edge conditions, yes you're right to express concern... Well I was hoping someone here could shed some light on that  !!! I've heard talk that the buttons can clamp the perspex top well enough, but on the other hand at some points along the edges it could prove to be a problem. Any help here is appreciated.!!!

When I spoke to Happ UK they said thay have a 7 quid delivery charge... How much is minimum order?

[vibez]

 

[Silver]

re perspex:

If you like the lack of screws or whatever, I'm sure you could use something double sided stick pads (like for sticking up pictures on a wall) to hold it down. It would also make it removable should you wish to change.....

re: companies in london.

Sounds good. Obviously you can get a good deal if you work with them - would they take an indiviual order (eg 1 cp and cad file) and if so any ideas on cost? I'm London based so could deliver/pickup?

re: happs.

Its definately more expensive than the US, but I must confess despite bad stories they were quite good for me. They 'matched' the sale price on the US website for there GTee trackballs and monitor bezel, and were very easy to deal with. They even got the bezel shipped over from the US and sold it at sale price, even though they didn't get it from the states till after the sale finished. Only catch was the "sale" prices still had a UK markup - so made it reasonably priced instead of sale priced...