How to reproduce these machine tags?

[Pete.]

Is there anyone here who can reproduce machine plates like threading/lubrication charts? I suppose these were done by acid etching which I'm pretty sure I could do if only I could find a way of putting the acid-resistant mask onto the surface of the plate.
These particular ones appear to be either aluminium, or some kind of tin or zinc alloy. I'm not bothered about what base material is used but I'd like to be able to get or make new plates for my lathe resto.

Any ideas welcome.

 

[Richard.]

You can permanently etch stainless steel with these transfers that last for many many etches. The machines are expensive but can be done with simple 12/24 v supplies.
You buy the transfers and solution and just wand it on in seconds
Has to be stainless mind.

 

[Hopefuldave]

Have a look at PCB etching, photoresist films and the like - print the label on transparency sheets, expose (UV) the film stuck to the blank label, develop and etch - might be wise to practice a bit!

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[Pete.]

I assume that you're talking about zero-depth letter etching, such as seen on cutting tools etc Richard? I'm particularly after the rasied lettering acid relief etching that the manufacturers originally used.

Dave H - is that something I can print to on my inkjet/laser printer? Sounds like just the job!

 

[Richard.]

I assume that you're talking about zero-depth letter etching, such as seen on cutting tools etc Richard? I'm particularly after the rasied lettering acid relief etching that the manufacturers originally used.

Dave H - is that something I can print to on my inkjet/laser printer? Sounds like just the job!

Yes mate electro chemical etching
Not what your looking for obviously.
Very handy if you’ve got lots to do very quickly. Can be done from a 12v battery charger

 

[awemawson]

You used to be able to buy an aerosol spray of photo-sensitive etch resist for making PCB's - I'd be surprised if it isn't still available


.... here you go :

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/proc...43D3139382D39363531267374613D3139383936353126

 

[awemawson]

Then there is the 'iron on a photo copy ' method

Print a dense image using photocopier technology, where the carbon black is actually plastic coated and fixed with a fuser element. Place the printed sheet onto your metal, and carefully iron it, re-melting the carbon black & plastic. Peel off carefully leaving the (reverse) image bonded to your metal which you can now etch.

 

[awemawson]

Or you can spray paint your metal all over, and burn off the etching parts using a laser engraver (you can use mine) then etch

 

[Pete.]

Then there is the 'iron on a photo copy ' method

Print a dense image using photocopier technology, where the carbon black is actually plastic coated and fixed with a fuser element. Place the printed sheet onto your metal, and carefully iron it, re-melting the carbon black & plastic. Peel off carefully leaving the (reverse) image bonded to your metal which you can now etch.

This is the same as using a laser printer right?

 

[graffian]

I cut my name out of shim using iron on laser print and elctrolysis. It was just to see if it
worked, I planned on making a new brass name plate for a motorbike engine. I didn't have
any acid to etch it that's why I tried electrolysis.

The difficult part of using laser prints for pcbs is getting the paper off. I am told the shiny paper from the
back of labels is good. but I have no idea how you get it through a printer as it's so thin.

 

[awemawson]

Yes a laser printer will do it as the print technology is the same as a photocopier. Iron on good and hot, then chil it before peeling carefully

 

[awemawson]

I cut my name out of shim using iron on laser print and elctrolysis. It was just to see if it
worked, I planned on making a new brass name plate for a motorbike engine. I didn't have
any acid to etch it that's why I tried electrolysis.

The difficult part of using laser prints for pcbs is getting the paper off. I am told the shiny paper from the
back of labels is good. but I have no idea how you get it through a printer as it's so thin.

I vaguely recall that you can buy sheets of 'transfer paper' specifically designed for this purpose, but it's a few years since I played making PCBs

I have a complete mini production bubble tank set up in the workshop with a heated developer, etch and tin plate tank all with rinse stations in between. Not used in in years!

 

[daleyd]

https://www.nyccnc.com/make-ink-fill-brass-machine-plates/

It’s American and slightly annoying but this seems to be similar to what your after?

 

[frank horton]

look at Stationary engine forum.......loads of places makeing them to order, 1 off's as well..not to expensice.......

 

[Burdekin]

@Wallace?

 

[Wallace]

@Wallace?

I can shallow engrave a plate leaving the letters high, takes a while though.

 

[God mode restorations]

Interesting thread this is Pete. I was going to ask a similar question regarding the screw cutting plate on my empire lathe. The black paint has almost disappeared .

 

[AndersK]

You can emboss easily in thin ali or ss.
The pattern can be timely to make though...

I've had an idea to 3D print templates for embossing but have yet to try it.
If you have a jpg you can load that right into the printer and just specify size and height.
Put the template in a press, lay the metal above, put a rubber or urethane plate and finally a thick steel plate and just press.

Will be like this, but this is from a hand carved pattern:

 

[Pete.]

I think there's enough height in your lettering to bring that one back to excellent condition Spencer, just by painting it and scraping/emerying the top. My lettering has barely any depth to it at all.

 

[Maker]

I'm interested to see how you get on with this Pete, I need a new thread/speed selector for my lathe (Just a small strip with 1 to 9 along it). I was thinking I'd use brass and etch it in ferric chloride.