Laser Engraved Switch Panels Using A K40 Laser

Using my K40 laser, I was able to make professional looking switch panels. This particular switch panel is going to be installed in our Class A motorhome. I'll have another video detailing that project.

Settings: Raser Engrave 4mA @ 100 mm/sec., air assist OFF. Cut 10mA @ 4 mm/sec, air assist ON. Your settings may vary, so experiment on a small piece before starting a large project.

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[jpnope]

This was the most comprehensive overview of this topic I could find. Very nice work. Thank you!!

[tseckwr]

good job explaining your process ending in the final result. This will save other interested folks a few trial and error steps. thanks

[ropeany]

The Way I cut my new control panel for my K40 was to take a piece of 3mm clear acrylic and then painted one side of it black. Then I engraved it from the side I had painted. You'll want to flip your image file of your panel cutouts and lettering so it will read correctly from the other side. Then to make the lettering stand out I simply spray painted the back again in another color ( fluorescent green in my case) and it's all set. The nice thing doing it this way is that the front is nice and smooth and can be easily backlit if you want it to be without needing a diffusion layer added to the back.

[makingcookingfixing]

Thank you for your video. Really nice switch panels! I like the wood ones as well.

[DustinWatts]

This vieo was super useful! I was a low of The Warthhog project videos but I am really looking for making a 19" rack front pal and this seems just right. Thank you!

[todddecker]

Excellent video. I have been looking for a way to make more professional looking control panels for my electronics projects and toying with the idea of purchasing a laser engraver. You've convinced me that a laser engraver is the way to go. Thanks.

[mxcollin]

Great video thanks for sharing! Really appreciate all the good info. 👍

[rickdel]

Wow, great video. I really have no interest in making panels right now, but the video was so informative I watched the whole thing and subscribed. Thanks!

[ThisIsMe-ps]

Thank you for a great video. Thorough, concise and helpful.

[IamSpectre]

That Trotec plastic is available in a wider range of colors and thicknesses fron Johnson Plastics who sell Rowmark plastics in 1, 2, 3 layers in a multitude of colors and gauges that are engrable or for laser.

[soundrecordistwales]

Useful video, thanks. What font and sizes are you using there and how small can you reasonably go before the method with that material doesn't work too well? Thanks!!

[mrnotnomis]

I used the trotec to create a control panel on the K40. I don't have a laser guide, so I wanted to be able to do the vector cutting and the raster cutting witout moving the piece. The only complaint I have about the matieral is that my control panel was bigger than the one here with a dozen switches, 10 fuse holders, a USB outlet, a 12 v outlet and even a 1/8 audio input. With that much hardware, the thing is floppy and needs additional support in the middle. Smaller panels are definitely the way to go.

[squirralien]

I think a thin maybe 2mm clear over the top of the black panels would be great and protect them from scratching or other damage.

[sunday.nobody]

awesome! Thanks for sharing, this was super helpful

[caswal]

Masking tape over the plywood while engraving protects it from the smoke residue and keeps the engraving crisp.

those panels look ver nice. im gonna make a new switch panel for my sailboat with halo switches, and want to get it laser engraved and backlit. hope they will look as good as that, only think is my panel will be allot bigger, so must find someone that can laser a bigger panel. allso gonna mount my vhf and batterymonitor on my panel.

[paulmanhart]

Translucent, not opaque. But oth😮good job. Have you tried aluminum?

[andreandrade]

Hi, great video. Would you mind sharing where I can get those switches with a built-in LED? I been looking for that model for a while, I'm having some trouble finding it.

[joecachia]

Would the final product/material work using a diode laser like an Xtool D1Pro?

[pierres.]

What is your power setting for engraving? I have spray painted white 3mm Acrylic Opal with Gray Spray Paint and when I wanna engrave it, it leaves black letters. Tried different settings eben down to 5mA/200mms.