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Making a piece of Plexiglass illuminate
RandyT:
I also stated "holes in the panel material", not in the acrylic, etc. That means openings in whatever your control panel material is (wood, metal, etc...I don't believe you specified)
RandyT
BORIStheBLADE:
Now I understand .
I found this place about 5 minutes from my house. I'm going to go in there and talk to them tomorrow.
http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/category.php?bid=24&
Afterburner:
I think you want an edge-lit panel for what you are attempting.
You don't have to polish the edge. You can take a small torch (or lighter if you prefer) and clear up the edges all you want. I've done this on several projects.
Usually I just cut the plexi on the table saw. Sand the edges with 120grit paper to smooth off any edges. You don't need it super smooth either, just a couple or three quick passes is fine.
Then take the torch and carefully run the flame along the edge. It melts the surface just enough for the material to run together and flash. You are left with a crystal clear edge.
By the way, this also works for screw holes or countersinks as well.
I'd try a string of mini-LEDs along the edge, or maybe several edges.
Another effect you might give a try....
Mask off areas you want to remain clear. Then sandblast the panel. You get a very nice frosted look on the exposed areas. This is nice because you get clean edges between the frosted and clear portions of the panels. And if you print off decals or other complex patterns to use as the masks, you can end up with some really nice looking designs.
I did this for a friend. He wanted a nice looking panel on a gun case. He was a former US Marine and wanted their emblem on it. I got a nice hi-res image of the emblem and printed it out on decal paper. I carefully cut it out and applied it to the plexi. Sandblasted the whole thing, removed the decal, and it looked great. Wish I'd had a picture of it.
Kevin Mullins:
For those that haven't seen this thread yet in the project announcements..... this is a perfect example of the edge lit etched acrylic control panel art effect that I was trying to describe earlier. (I could visualize it in my head anyways)
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=75411.0
BORIStheBLADE:
--- Quote from: Kevin Mullins on January 13, 2008, 02:00:47 pm ---For those that haven't seen this thread yet in the project announcements..... this is a perfect example of the edge lit etched acrylic control panel art effect that I was trying to describe earlier. (I could visualize it in my head anyways)
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=75411.0
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the link.
Its kind of what I'm going for except not seeing the plexiglass.
All this stupid test I was trying to do and realized I don't need to illuminate the plexi.
I put one of my marquee's over a clear piece of plexi and got the effect I wanted. I ordered a piece of plexi 12"x36"x3/4" and once I finish my CP overlay I'll throw up some pictures.
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