Control panel faces

[DrStein99]

I am retrofitting my Bridgeport CNC and want to remake my own control panels. I can handle cutting the shaping the aluminum to fit the buttons. So I'm looking for a custom printed face or something (that can stand up to oil and filth) I can put overtop of the bare blank metal.

Does anyone know a cheap service or way I can do this? The machine isnt working yet so I can really use it for engraving or anything else.

-Erich Stein

[Al_The_Man]

What I do is use a local Lamacoid engraver, I send him a DXF or DWG file and he reverse engraves everything, this way there is no wear or ingress of dirt etc.
You pick the main colour of the overlay, and the legends can be any colour you choose.
See post #9 Photos requested of your installation
I will find a better example with multi colour.
Al.

[DrStein99]

So reverse engrave - is RAISED printing / outlines?

[Al_The_Man]

No, the front of the panel remains perfectly smooth, with no engraving, this is done on the reverse side, then the engraved portion is sprayed with the colour of choice and only this appears from the front.
The reverse engraving goes through to the front translucent layer, this is then filled with the paint choice.
Very effective and hard wearing.
You do not get legends wear off like silk screening, or filled with grease etc.
Al.

[DrStein99]

Oh so very interesting thanks, and what an interesting idea.

[Al_The_Man]

Another recent panel using this technique