November 28, 2004

I found a thing on the web called PhotoEZ, which is basically a silkscreen type stencil maker. With PhotoEZ, it seemed like the way to go, because it’s a plastic mesh with the chemicals already applied. I jumped in headlong and ordered up a high resolution starter kit for about $42. The kit only had two sheets in it that were 8.5" x 11". Tonight when I got home, I started messing around with it. Seems like the best thing will be to get some transparency film for the printer, lay out exactly what I need, and expose away. Then use it to silkscreen onto the panel. I’m going to buy some paint and make a sample to see how it turns out. Looking at the mesh, it’s so fine, you can’t even see the holes in it, so I’m expecting to be able to get some great detail and some sharp lines. I’ll let you know how they turn out.

I also found out who can laser engrave a panel, but it might be expensive. Aero Northwest are the people, and their stuff looks top notch. I might enquire with them about how much my panel will cost. Based on the prices of some of the placards a friend ordered, I think it may be cost prohibitive. Plus, I’d have to send a big fat panel with a glovebox attached, and I don’t think they could handle the glovebox part of the equation!