Laser Engraving TW faceplates-A Photo Guide!

[candh]

Lonely Raven,

Very Nice.

I 'm trying to figure out the kanji you used on that faceplate. I'm assuming it's Chinese (not Japanese) or a combination of characters that has a hidden unique meaning.
Literally it says....

Asa (linen) Ichi (one) Que (long time)

What that means is anyone's guess...lol?

My gears are turning....I may have a "burning desire" for your services. I'll PM you later.

ChrisL

Hemp Forever. I like my C-Rex speaker with the hemp cone.

My 'hanko' in Japan was Ma-a-ku (for Mark) and the 'fortuitous' kanji they chose were: hemp/linen (Ma), Asia (ah), and forever (Ku). I shortened it to ma-ku and used an 'ichi' for the dash character.

Gotta be difficult eh?!? Just can't stick with the regular boring katakana...lol. How long were you here for?

[mdroberts1243]

Gotta be difficult eh?!? Just can't stick with the regular boring katakana...lol. How long were you here for?

I was there in the early 90's for almost three years and then did a lot of business trips subsequently up until about three years ago. Still miss the sushi/sashimi and izakaya.

I got a kanji name for the hanko as you still needed a hanko to buy a car back then.

Hemp forever... pretty auspicious characters and a decent theme for amps!

[lastwinj]

should be able to do that aluminum and stainless as well with that laser....

or am i wrong?


was looking at getting a versa laser, but a setup would run about 10k....

germ

[Lonely Raven]

should be able to do that aluminum and stainless as well with that laser....

or am i wrong?


was looking at getting a versa laser, but a setup would run about 10k....

germ

No, laser will only reflect off metal unless it's coated with something. So if it's anodized or coated with a chemical that goes from clear to black when hit by the laser, then I can etch it. Otherwise it's just a microscopic light show.

[drhulsey]

...No, laser will only reflect off metal...

Then you have to be careful of what the beam will hit– like your EYES Your retina wouldn't look good with "STDBY" etched on it

[Lonely Raven]

...No, laser will only reflect off metal...

Then you have to be careful of what the beam will hit– like your EYES Your retina wouldn't look good with "STDBY" etched on it

I think that was the *second* question I asked the guy who setup the laser.

Since it's focused by the lens at a distance of 2", anything past that is just unfocused, scattered photons and harmless. That's why you don't need any special glasses to use this machine.

And if the lid is opened, the laser cuts out...so no cutting off of fingers, though it has plenty of power to do that.

The installer told me a story of the early days where one of the techs was working on a machine (they didn't have any safeties back then) and he reached for the work piece as the laser sent out a burst. The laser poked a hole completely through the meat of his thumb. In one side and out the other. He said it didn't hurt the first day, but it was seriously painfull for about a week afterwards, and because it cauterized (sp?) the wound, it never healed up right. Instant scar tissue.

[Lonely Raven]

UPDATE!

A little work done for Riff Raff here in the forums:

[img:800:531]http://lonelyraven.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p269216539-4.jpg[/img]

If he likes my mock up in Cherry, I'm going to make him a few sets in white acrylic for cabinet lettering.

Makes me wish I had a logo of my own!

[Fredaxis]

That's very nice Eric.
This gives me some more ideas, I may send you some veneer along with the faceplates in order to realise my logo.

Is veneer ok with your machine?

Have you got news about the fit of the faceplates on Allyn chassis?

Fred.

[Lonely Raven]

That's very nice Eric.
This gives me some more ideas, I may send you some veneer along with the faceplates in order to realise my logo.

Is veneer ok with your machine?

Have you got news about the fit of the faceplates on Allyn chassis?

Fred.

I haven't heard from Allyn yet. I'm sure he's just busy.

Veneer is OK. In fact, I can do any woods up to 1/4" and *possibly* 1/2" if I do multiple passes. Right now, my biggest issue is the cost of materials. I'm a couple hundred in the hole right now.

Hit me with any ideas you have, I do have some exotic veneers I picked up to play with, but they'd need to be glued down to a thicker board for me to make anything usefull out of them. Or inlaid into a faceplate or badge cutout or something.

I have lots of idea, I just need time to work them out.

[mdroberts1243]

Have you got news about the fit of the faceplates on Allyn chassis?

Fred.

I just held up my Ceriatone faceplate against Allyn's express chassis (I have a couple of those for future projects). The holes all lined up perfectly, except Allyn has a smaller diameter hole for the input jack (switchcraft) compared to the plastic jacks that Nik favours.

The overall plate size is compatible, with perhaps 1/32" difference in length which could just be manufacturing tolerance.

[Fredaxis]

Thanks a lot mdroberts!

So, Eric, now we know!
During the week end I'll prepare my plates and template for the backplate, some veneer and my logo template.
I'll contact you via email for your adress.

I fact, Allyn or Nik, you have a standard faceplate!

[Structo]

If using veneers, could you hold it down with tape?

[RiffRaff]

UPDATE!

A little work done for Riff Raff here in the forums:

[img:800:531]http://lonelyraven.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p269216539-4.jpg[/img]

If he likes my mock up in Cherry, I'm going to make him a few sets in white acrylic for cabinet lettering.

Makes me wish I had a logo of my own!

I think it turned out awesome and ordered a bunch
Great work Eric can't wait to see the finished product
I think "Lonely Raven" or maybe just "Raven" would be a great amp logo

Tim

[Lonely Raven]

Have you got news about the fit of the faceplates on Allyn chassis?

Fred.

I just held up my Ceriatone faceplate against Allyn's express chassis (I have a couple of those for future projects). The holes all lined up perfectly, except Allyn has a smaller diameter hole for the input jack (switchcraft) compared to the plastic jacks that Nik favours.

The overall plate size is compatible, with perhaps 1/32" difference in length which could just be manufacturing tolerance.

I heard from Allyn, and he's saying that my template for Ceriatone is off 1/16th on the pots, but looks OK on the switches and pilot. I have no idea what the discrepancy is since all dozen or so faceplates I have fit my Ceriatone perfectly. I've test fit each and everyone one on my chassis, especially the few I've made for people here.

I trust Allyn knows how to measure, probably better then I do so I'm worried about this discrepancy. It looks like I'll have to work out some details with him before I say I can do Allyn chassis for sure.

I'm a picky bastard, and I won't say something I'm not 100% sure of. So I'm making up another faceplate for Allyn with some suggestions from him and I'm sending them out in a couple days.

Mean time, I'm going to double check my template and make sure nothing was knocked askew by clumsy mousing.

If using veneers, could you hold it down with tape?

The veneers I have are like 1/42" and the more burled/curly they are, the less likely they are FLAT. I have some really beautiful ones I got in a sample pack, and I'm looking forward to learning to use the laser for wood inlays!! Unfortunately, because I don't have a heated shop, I can't work on gluing the 1/42" sheets to some thin stock in order to make some mind bogglingly figured faceplates...but when it warms up, that is a plan of mine.

I think it turned out awesome and ordered a bunch
Great work Eric can't wait to see the finished product
I think "Lonely Raven" or maybe just "Raven" would be a great amp logo

Tim

Thanks, Tim! I'm just waiting on the plastic stock to show up and I'll be cutting out your finished product ASAP! Since I was putting an order in for White stock, I put an order in for Black and will be working on some other logos, just for fun!

I do have a logo for myself...but it's a low rez digital image, and it's 12+ years old. I can't find the original artist (been looking for about 7 years now) to make me a hi-rez version, so I'm probably going to hire out a graphic artist or tattoo artist to update my logo for me. It's the "burning bird" logo that's on the front page of my photography gallery. www.lonelyraven.zenfolio.com

[Lonely Raven]

Some updated photos from Riff Raff's logos:

[img:800:532]http://lonelyraven.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p704358886-4.jpg[/img]

[img:800:532]http://lonelyraven.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p628363019-4.jpg[/img]

[img:800:532]http://lonelyraven.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p661461252-4.jpg[/img]


I put a double stick tape on the back that's made specifically for posting letters on signs. So they will stick for the long haul. The laser just cuts right through the plastic and the double stick tape. I'm sending Riff Raff the base material to use as a template so he can easily install the letters spaced exactly as the logo image he sent me!

[img:800:532]http://lonelyraven.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p827225404-4.jpg[/img]