Any luck with short run anodized aluminum nameplates?

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emrr

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Apr 12, 2006
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Location
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Anyone had any done who can comment on cost, experience with specific vendors, etc? I am thinking about making some replacement dial plates (escutcheons, as they're called) for some Gates tube amps like this:
Gates_SA-94_front.jpg


thanks,
 
If you can use white on black anodized aluminum you should be able to get these made by someone with a medium power (40-60 watt range) laser engraver.
 
I had some large name badges laser engraved on black anodized aluminum which came out really nice, and quite cheep. The only issue that you might have is your rounded corners. The aluminum stock was thin enough to cut cleanly with my heavy duty paper shear, so I had a large panel engraved and did the individual parting myself. My corners are square though. I assume that you would need to pay much more (die cutting, waterjet, milling, etc.) to get the rounded corners.

http://www.vtlaserworks.com/

He has the thin black aluminum in stock. BTW, the above link doesn't work with Firefox.

-Chris
 
Cool, thanks for the comments. You can't tell, but the lettering on the Gates plates is natural aluminum, which tends to look white at most angles.

Once had to cut out a replacement Gates plate from a scrapped larger panel that had identical markings. Had decent success with the rounded corners using a file. Be nice to have some show up drilled, rounded, and done though.
 
They look like "FotoFoil", a division of Miller Dial:
http://www.millerdial.com/nameplates.shtml

They used to sell kits for small projects and complete systems.
We used it on Auditronics boards. Was also used on Fender amps.

Another odd link:
http://www2.hazard.com/msds/f2/bbs/bbsfj.html

And there is/was MetalFoto or MetalPhoto, used on awards, etc.
Had a slick, shiny finish but was HARSH!!! Used chromic acid (skull&crossbones smiley needed).

Em
 

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