Author Topic: Mouse mat covering for control Panel ? (Read 5401 times)

swebb · « **on:** December 18, 2002, 08:00:02 pm »

Does anybody know what the matted clear plastic type covering is that a lot of mouse mats ? I thought it would be ideal for a control panel covering. You can print your design out, stick it on the panel and then cover it with the same thing as is used on the mouse mats. It seems very tough, has a slight texture to it, certainly a lot of mats which have pictures use it !

Cheers

Steve

TazMan · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2002, 09:11:59 pm »

Yep, it's Lexan. Hmmmm, I think I have seen other posts talking about Lexan

Anyhey, I work for a promotional advertising company and we have sold a plethora of mousepads. Might not be a bad idea, I'll try and contact some supplier(s) and see what the specs are, how they attach it, etc.

I'll let ya know what I find out

Oh and just so no one thinks I'm crazy when I say it's Lexan you can read about it here.

SNAAAKE · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2002, 09:55:08 pm »

what kind of mouse pad covering?

NORMALLY,you are supposed to use lexan or plexi glass to protect your CP...what kind material are you talkin about here?

TazMan · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2002, 12:22:01 am »

Snake,

Unless I was mis-understanding swebb - was referring to the clear covering on the "hard-top" mousepads.
Picture probably won't give you the detail. But, the mousepads that have a full color picture underneath a clear semi-hard coating (Lexan) attached with some sort of adhesive or heat.

SNAAAKE · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2002, 01:46:15 am »

OH..i saw those before..didnt look like lexan to me though. $:-\$ .

I am not quite sure where i saw these....cant remember.. $:-\$ .

COMPUSA...eerr..maybe.

Howard_Casto · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2002, 01:53:35 am »

So basically it's like a laminate finish for your cp. Are the do-it-yourself mouse pad kits also made of lexan? If so then perhaps the manufacturers could be convinced to make large self-adhesive sheets for our uses.

SNAAAKE · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2002, 02:51:44 am »

Quote from: Howard_Casto on December 19, 2002, 01:53:35 am

So basically it's like a laminate finish for your cp. Are the do-it-yourself mouse pad kits also made of lexan? If so then perhaps the manufacturers could be convinced to make large self-adhesive sheets for our uses.

YEAH !..okay

..normally they(the bootleg lexan/self adhesive thiny company) dont give a crap i believe about mame and us.ONLY acts lab do

.

Howard_Casto · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2002, 05:09:07 am »

snaake i know you are young and thus haven't gotten the opportunity to take any college level financail courses yet so remember this free education.

There is an old law that involves the "magical invisible hand of the economy" that states if people want a product, and it's makeable, and can be made with appropriate production costs it will be made. If there is a need in the market, that need will eventually be filled. It's one of the major rules of finance.

So in other words don't be so skeptical, if enough people are willing to buy then they might be willing to make it.

swebb · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2002, 06:46:49 am »

Cool, I didn't realise it was lexan. I thought that was thicker. I suspect the sheets used on the mouse mats must be those thinner sheets mentioned on the web site. Any idea what thickness is used as this is what I'd be lookng for. Nice thin, slightly matted sheet to show off my artwork (when I do it) and also protect the artwork.

rampy · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2002, 10:49:24 am »

not say it isn't super thin lexan... but isn't it more likely to be clear vinyl (on the mousepads) or printed on vinyl...

just a guess/thought...

rampy

TazMan · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2002, 11:45:27 am »

Quote from: rampy on December 19, 2002, 10:49:24 am

not say it isn't super thin lexan... but isn't it more likely to be clear vinyl (on the mousepads) or printed on vinyl...

just a guess/thought...

rampy

Not saying these guys couldn't be fibbing - but they definitely say Lexan here
http://www.dspads.com/catalog/c_lexan.html
"Lexan

Birdtales · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2002, 12:10:45 pm »

This place sells rolls of what looks similar to what is being discussed but the price is out there. Of course you have to buy a 100ft roll.

http://www.polymerplastics.com/filmgraphic_lexantr.shtml

Silverwind · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2002, 12:21:53 pm »

What other types of material are mouspad surfaces usually composed of?

Could be an excellent CP surface for use with wireless optical mice

I believe I have a lexan mousepad at work.. and it feels sort of slick? I prefer a little more texture for a mouse surface..

wee beastie · « **Reply #13 on:** December 19, 2002, 12:30:03 pm »

it could be lexan. It's thinner and flexible, though (I'm looking at my mousepad now). It also is a little "murky." So, it will show artwork, but it won't look as good under the coating as the original, raw printout. Not bad if your pics are a little grainy, though. I would think the murkiness would cover it up.

I also remember there being a similar coat on my Hotrod (which I gutted). It had a clear/slightly murky laminate on it as well. I think if you look around this webpage, it tells you what type of materials Hanaho uses to make this. You might be able to order direct from Hanaho (just a sheet of this). I also remember reading that they are great to emulation fans. You could probably call them up and get the details

swebb · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2002, 01:02:56 pm »

Well Im confident Lexan is the material now and its spot on with what I require when the panel is finished. Lots of mouse matt companies use it by the look of it. Just need to find somewhere in the UK that will sell the stuff for something bigger than a Mouse mat.

Check this out for final proof :

http://promopads.com/hard_top_pads.asp

Silverwind · « **Reply #15 on:** December 19, 2002, 01:18:40 pm »

wouldn't that be beautiful if not only could a company provide a larger "mouse pad" to apply on your CP.. but also provide the printing of a custom image..

rampy · « **Reply #16 on:** December 19, 2002, 01:58:05 pm »

I guess I was wrong... but I'm very interested in possibly using this technique (regardless if it were lexan or vinyl) for my control panel...

rampy

PS no *shrug* yet, but stay tuned =P

SNAAAKE · « **Reply #17 on:** December 19, 2002, 02:54:27 pm »

it s'lll good but WHAAAT is the deal with this > >

"Lexan: 10 day delivery Vinyl: 3 week delivery"

anybody know why it would take 3 weeks for vinyl delivery?

eightbit · « **Reply #18 on:** December 19, 2002, 06:10:38 pm »

Sorry this is off topic but somebody has to say it-

Snake your sig is annoying and it chokes slow connections and slow computers. Especially when there are multiple ones on the screen.

I don't want to click to win $2, I want to read the messages.

Back on topic- It probably takes 3 weeks for the vinyl because either they have to make it or order it.

zr5-2002 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 19, 2002, 06:53:05 pm »

Quote from: eightbit on December 19, 2002, 06:10:38 pm

I don't want to click to win $2, I want to read the messages.

Speaking of, how do I win the $2, and if I can't why do you say so?

eightbit · « **Reply #20 on:** December 19, 2002, 10:05:44 pm »

Snakes sig says to click on the pic to win $2

zr5-2002 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 19, 2002, 10:10:13 pm »

Oh right on I agree with you........ I should have clarified that I was asking SNAAKE how to claim the prize, not taking issue with you.

SNAAAKE · « **Reply #22 on:** December 23, 2002, 03:25:09 am »

Quote from: Howard_Casto on December 19, 2002, 05:09:07 am

snaake i know you are young and thus haven't gotten the opportunity to take any college level financail courses yet so remember this free education.

I do not want anything from you...okay?

Howard_Casto · « **Reply #23 on:** December 23, 2002, 06:24:37 am »

::)well

perhaps if you used less

$:-\$

emoticons and put some acutal

$:-\$

content in your topics instead of

then someone would know what you are talking about

$:-\$

and i have no clue what that last post was btw, it's obscure and distant and badly para-phrased

Howard_Casto · « **Reply #24 on:** December 23, 2002, 06:33:36 am »

hehe, Oh I know what got you got up your butt today. What's a matter can't take a joke? For the record it took you slightly longer to realize than I thought it would.

Lighten up and have a happy holiday and I honsetly do mean that.

rampy · « **Reply #25 on:** December 23, 2002, 09:07:47 am »

Quote

Eightbit,
are you on really slow connection?
everyone has cool sigs(1up,lilwolf,and others) so i figured i use something cool.It might look annyoing because you never played street(i am trying to guess) but this gif is pretty cool right?
if it bothers you so much i will remove it or somethin.
I dont even see where to problem is?how slow could your computer be?this file is really small too.

Snaaake, no offence but that sig image is the furthest thing from cool... its how the young folks say, "hellah lame"... I'm not trying to mean (but probably succeeding)... I'd rather see the sig go...

The sig is 130k which if you were on a dialup or an older PC just blows (1ups is around 50k - still a little hefty but more manage-able and it's easy on the eyes)

It also looks like shiat cause its being browser contrained/resized .. the actual image is 293x206... it would be smaller and look sharper if you resized it to fit the intended space in your sig instead of shoehorning it in... (just a suggestion, that's all ... you'll need to use an editor that likes animated gif to accomplish that though, I believe)

good luck with that snaaake...

rampy

PS I've gotta go get a check up from the neck up cause I think I agree a little with HC =P

(BTW eightbit/pj are there user themes available for Yabbse,. maybe a lite one with no signatures or the like? just a thought)

Smittydc · « **Reply #26 on:** December 23, 2002, 09:30:18 am »

slightly on topic: When I went to buy my lexan at home depot, they didn't have any pieces big enough so I ended up getting a sheet of stuff labeled "crystalite" -- hoping it wasn't simple plexiglass.

Turns out that the crystalite cuts, drills, and dremels without any problems, and seems to resist scratches quite well. Thought I'd pass on the experience...

Off topic: sig looks fine to me. If you've got enough free time to complain about it, you've got enough free time to wait for it to load on your slow connection.

rampy · « **Reply #27 on:** December 23, 2002, 10:31:35 am »

Quote from: Smittydc on December 23, 2002, 09:30:18 am

slightly on topic: When I went to buy my lexan at home depot, they didn't have any pieces big enough so I ended up getting a sheet of stuff labeled "crystalite" -- hoping it wasn't simple plexiglass.

Turns out that the crystalite cuts, drills, and dremels without any problems, and seems to resist scratches quite well. Thought I'd pass on the experience...

Off topic: sig looks fine to me. If you've got enough free time to complain about it, you've got enough free time to wait for it to load on your slow connection.

I've got a speedy-enough connection... was just pointing out that it was inconsiderate to others... and just annoying, in general... which i par for the course.

Thanks for the tip on "crystal lite" ... hopefully who ever asks for it by name doesn't get sent to the soft drink aisle (yeah I know HD doesn't have a soft drink aisle...)

happy holidays,

rampy

TazMan · « **Reply #28 on:** December 23, 2002, 11:25:13 am »

Hey, wasn't this originally about thin lexan / vinyl for control panel overlays

(sorry Howard for the emoticon)

I have left messages for about 3 or 4 mousepad factories - they are all shut-down for the holidays. I'll let y'al know if I can get my hands on any rolls of this stuff (cheap)

Speaking of sigs, is mine annoying / too large also? ** fight the urge to steal a rampy style shrug ** must not do it....... ** shrug ** oops

SNAAAKE · « **Reply #29 on:** December 23, 2002, 02:33:58 pm »

Quote from: Smittydc on December 23, 2002, 09:30:18 am

Off topic: sig looks fine to me. If you've got enough free time to complain about it, you've got enough free time to wait for it to load on your slow connection.

There you are....thanks man...I honestly dont see where the problem is but i wish i had like a 200mhz computer to figure out what the problem was

.
maybe a dial up modem too just to add to the experience.
AND why you put sigs?Because its fun

rampy · « **Reply #30 on:** December 23, 2002, 09:44:31 pm »

Quote from: SNAAAKE on December 23, 2002, 02:33:58 pm

Quote from: Smittydc on December 23, 2002, 09:30:18 am
Off topic: sig looks fine to me. If you've got enough free time to complain about it, you've got enough free time to wait for it to load on your slow connection.

There you are....thanks man...I honestly dont see where the problem is but i wish i had like a 200mhz computer to figure out what the problem was .
maybe a dial up modem too just to add to the experience.
AND why you put sigs?Because its fun

The problem is that it's annoying, inconsiderate, and shows your ignorance when you are lifting some elses animated gifs that you can't even resize it or optimize a little...

I'll shut up now... I'm also still interested in the real part of the thread re: mousepad covering materials and hope the eralier poster gets some good info after the holidays from the manufactures...

rampy

rampy · « **Reply #31 on:** January 02, 2003, 10:48:55 pm »

Quote from: TazMan on December 23, 2002, 11:25:13 am

Hey, wasn't this originally about thin lexan / vinyl for control panel overlays (sorry Howard for the emoticon)

I have left messages for about 3 or 4 mousepad factories - they are all shut-down for the holidays. I'll let y'al know if I can get my hands on any rolls of this stuff (cheap)

Speaking of sigs, is mine annoying / too large also? ** fight the urge to steal a rampy style shrug ** must not do it....... ** shrug ** oops

BUMP... hey any luck with this Taz (I realize it's only been 1 day post new years but didn't want this thread to be forgotten despite the sig sillyness in the middle )

rampy

TazMan · « **Reply #32 on:** January 02, 2003, 11:21:13 pm »

Quote

Quote

BUMP... hey any luck with this Taz (I realize it's only been 1 day post new years but didn't want this thread to be forgotten despite the sig sillyness in the middle )

rampy

Funny you should bring it up...

I talked to one distributor today (the biggest) they checked and said they aren't "allowed" to just sell the sheets / rolls of Lexan or Vinyl - why?

He didn't know. I do know it is applied with some sort of heat seal process. So, I checked back with distributor # 2, only to find out that distributor #1 bought them out Dec. 27th

Anyhey, so I still have a few more that I am waiting to hear from, I will call them tomorrow and see if I can make any headway... at least try and get where they buy it from.

Keep your fingers crossed

Howard_Casto · « **Reply #33 on:** January 03, 2003, 03:09:01 am »

Interesting, we are getting somewhere now. So in regards to this "crystal-lite"..... Is it flexible? I have an idea for something, but it needs to be able to attach to some extreme curves. This is something that melamie can't do.

Smittydc · « **Reply #34 on:** January 03, 2003, 10:09:33 am »

The crystalite I found at home depot was in rigid sheets, just like the plexi and lexan.

You might look into epoxy resin sheets -- some artist friends have used it to make some beautiful polyurethane type coatings on curved surfaces without as much mess.

TazMan · « **Reply #35 on:** January 03, 2003, 05:32:41 pm »

Well....my other suppliers are closed until Monday - must be nice, eh?

Anyhey, did some more checking. I found a place that does the wide format printing, mounts 15 mil Lexan (pebble or smooth finish) to the front and applies an adhesive back laminate to the back. They also will trim it to the size of the artwork submitted. The holes (buttons, joysticks, etc) would be left to us to cut out... as Rampy would say..... *shrug*

I gave them specs based upon one of my panels (27 x 14) and they gave me a price of $63.25 - looks like if you lose the adhesive laminate on the back you could shave off 17.85 form that - taking it down to $45.40 for those dimensions. Production time is 48 hours plus shipping.

If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll post their info.

ps - GO BUCKS!

dhansen · « **Reply #36 on:** January 03, 2003, 07:40:51 pm »

You bet! Post it!

Doug

TazMan · « **Reply #37 on:** January 04, 2003, 01:38:45 am »

Quote from: dhansen on January 03, 2003, 07:40:51 pm

You bet! Post it!

Doug

The place I have found that does offer the printing mounted to lexan (like a mousepad) is http://www.presentech.com .

Hopefully next week I'll be able to get in touch with someone and least get a supplier name out of them for just the Lexan sheets / rolls.

GO BUCKS!

Howard_Casto · « **Reply #38 on:** January 04, 2003, 08:53:18 am »

I noticed they will also mount printings behind lexan and cut to profiles.... in other words they could make your cpo, cut it to size and seal lexan over top of it.... it's about the same price too 6.50 per square foot, which seems reasonable to me considering all they are doing to it.

A VERY cool place.... did you notice that they will mount to dry erase laminate? How cool would it be to have a cp you can write codes on and then erase when you are done?

TazMan · « **Reply #39 on:** January 04, 2003, 09:43:49 am »

Quote

[
A VERY cool place.... did you notice that they will mount to dry erase laminate? How cool would it be to have a cp you can write codes on and then erase when you are done?

I agree. Plus they have quick turn-around.

Looking over their site, they can print just about on anything and mount it, etc. - Thinking sideart - laminated with an adhesive backing. Might get kind of pricey to have them cut something like that out though. Hmmm..... ya know what, I have got a place here in town - kind of like a Kinkos (printed my marquees and overlays) - that has a 60" wide format Encad and a monster laminator. I wonder if he has anything in stock (lexan, et al). If he does, being local, he could print the pieces, I could cut them / trim them myself (contour of the side art ) and then have them laminated. I will give him a call on Monday and see what they offer also.


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