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How are scope front panels made?

F

Funky

Jan 1, 1970
0
I've got a Crotech scope that looks as if it's front panel has been screen
printed on aluminium or maybe it's a pasted thin aluminium sheet.

The Hameg looks like it has various plastic panels very nicely put together.

And a Thurlby multimeter seems to have one single plastic sheet, but nicely
printed and coloured.

So, what methods are used by manufacturers to create front panels for their
test equipment, as used by say Tek, HP, Thurlby etc.

Funky
 
J

John Fields

Jan 1, 1970
0
I've got a Crotech scope that looks as if it's front panel has been screen
printed on aluminium or maybe it's a pasted thin aluminium sheet.

The Hameg looks like it has various plastic panels very nicely put together.

And a Thurlby multimeter seems to have one single plastic sheet, but nicely
printed and coloured.

So, what methods are used by manufacturers to create front panels for their
test equipment, as used by say Tek, HP, Thurlby etc.
 
J

Jim Yanik

Jan 1, 1970
0
...which can again be done by screen printing, but I have heard of
ink-jet printable textured mylar so you can make your own.

STeve

IIRC,TEK uses Lexan adhesive backed front panel overlaying an aluminum
substrate.
 
S

Spehro Pefhany

Jan 1, 1970
0
Or polycarbonate (Lexan), but whatever.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
 
T

Tim Wescott

Jan 1, 1970
0
Funky said:
I've got a Crotech scope that looks as if it's front panel has been screen
printed on aluminium or maybe it's a pasted thin aluminium sheet.

The Hameg looks like it has various plastic panels very nicely put together.

And a Thurlby multimeter seems to have one single plastic sheet, but nicely
printed and coloured.

So, what methods are used by manufacturers to create front panels for their
test equipment, as used by say Tek, HP, Thurlby etc.

Funky

There are a gazillion ways to do this (maybe 1.1 gazillion). You've found
three. Each method will be a tradeoff between ease of design, ease of
manufacture, ease of repair, durability, price of tooling, price of
materials, etc. Each manufacturer will do this the way that makes the most
sense to them. I would be quite surprised to find a cheap import scope to
have the same face as a top of the line Agilant or Tek, because the former
is designed for cost cost cost, and the latter two would be designed to look
good out of the box and to last forever (one hopes).
 
S

Steve

Jan 1, 1970
0
John said:
Used to be, years and years ago, everything was engraved and filled.
That gave way to direct silkscreening of the panel, and now I think most
everything is reverse printed on adhesive-backed Mylar overlays.
....which can again be done by screen printing, but I have heard of
ink-jet printable textured mylar so you can make your own.

STeve
 
R

Rob

Jan 1, 1970
0
Steve said:
...which can again be done by screen printing, but I have heard of
ink-jet printable textured mylar so you can make your own.

STeve

Steve - do you know a brand name for this product (ink-jettable mylar)?
Is it any different to the usual clear film / overhead media?
Thanks
rob
 
M

Mac

Jan 1, 1970
0
...which can again be done by screen printing, but I have heard of
ink-jet printable textured mylar so you can make your own.

STeve

Mylar and polyester sheet are essentially the same thing. (I write this
for the benefit of the O.P.)

--Mac
 
C

Check It Out

Jan 1, 1970
0
Funky said:
I've got a Crotech scope that looks as if it's front panel has been screen
printed on aluminium or maybe it's a pasted thin aluminium sheet.

The Hameg looks like it has various plastic panels very nicely put together.

And a Thurlby multimeter seems to have one single plastic sheet, but nicely
printed and coloured.

So, what methods are used by manufacturers to create front panels for their
test equipment, as used by say Tek, HP, Thurlby etc.

Funky

It's really Keebler Elfin Magic.
 
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