Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Tubes Asylum ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

RE: Paint and Lettering

Posted by mr9iron (A) on October 22, 2014 at 23:27:25

In Reply to: Paint and Lettering posted by Triode_Kingdom on October 22, 2014 at 22:55:03:

Yes, you are correct on all fronts, I cannot really describe the pain staking effort it takes..

Many people have questioned me about silk screen. Here is the problem(s)..and I worked in a silk screen shop for a period of time..

Silk screen is a process meant for multiple numbers, you need to run at least 50 units to even be worth it, more like 100's to really make it beneficial. You would not spend hundreds of dollars to make a set up and test it's alignment only having one unit. A shop would be scratching their heads at this. To make silk screen is a complex and multiple stage process, they are not permanent stencils, then they need to be washed and discarded after your run, and new ones made. It is not intended for one- offs.

Now if you can CNC out a dozen or so chassis, and leave them in a flat state before bending, then yes now it is viable.

There is no home brew system that will get you good silk screen results bar some t-shirt kits. The UV curing tables and multi-thousand dollar screening gear, inks, and chemicals cost thousands. You cannot do this in your garage. Now you have to depend on another party to understand what you are trying to accomplish and what exactly this thing is.. Once it's out of your control, chances are a silk screen shop does not know what a Citation II is..you are headed for disappointing results. At least wiht my difficult system I control everything..

If the object being screened is not a flat panel you are screwed, the squeegee will leak 90% of the time.. the chassis are already folded less than perfect 3 sided surfaces with the back panel so small there is no aspace for an ink well to even start. You'd have to build another holding jig or mechanism for this.. super complex..

I predict on the horizon that the direct print to metal CNC printers, which can fit on a small table, will some day be affordable, and then we are in business, this is truly the cats meow for doing projects like this...right now at about 30K but just like 3D printing they will go down..

So such is the painful process that I have... for many years I researched and experimented, as flawed and spendy as it is, it's still the best method for low number one offs or custom work..

J

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Sonic Craft

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---