Back lights panel

[grim cape]

I am very happy with the result of my back lights print in 3d (need AMS) I used the bambulab A1 printer with a 0.2mm nozzle, layer height: 0.14mm, and the result is very precise.

In my panel I will use orange leds for the light

[teal kiln]

Which color are the letters on the first layer? Is it white filament or translucent

[grim cape]

White pla

The letters are only 2 layer (0.14*2mm)

[glossy bobcat]

Wow! That is really beautiful with just a 3d printer? What is the height of the letters? 3.5 mm?

[grim cape]

the letters height is 3.5mm yes

[raw void]

Very nice work! I need to try this! 😄 I also have the A1 and im very happy with the printing. Your panel looks great 😄

[grim cape]

Thanks !

[grim cape]

I admit that I used this tutorial a lot, it would surely help you ! 😉 https://youtu.be/8UHj5JaxNYU?si=ppH2dtLJrmX8v0vj

[cloud crater]

Hi @grim cape for printing these do you need a multi filament printer? and it has to be 0.12 nozzle size to print these panels?

[glossy bobcat]

I think you can do it without the multi filament (AMS). You can print the letters first, and then when you print the rest, you use the “z-hop” option in your slicer. But your 3d printer has to be quite tuned and accurate for small letter. Please see here: https://youtu.be/X4vdF8BFs30?si=Cjbp66V5kYIGl-xY. Also, the nozzle size is 0.2 mm with a 0.12 layer height, I think.

[cloud crater]

I tried using a pause on my K1 Max so I can print two different filament on top of each other. When it printed the next layer, it was out by 3mm to one side. No idea why. Might have bumped the print head but I was very careful.

So this method for me is a no go.

Will check out the video. Maybe I missed some steps setting it up.

Also I need a 0.2 nozzle. I also tried printing small texts with 0.4mm. Its not very defined.

[glossy bobcat]

The print head might have bumped it if you did not see the z hop high enough when you printed the second filament. Yeah, please check the video and see if it works for you. You will definitely need a 0.2 mm nozzle for fine prints.

[cloud crater]

If using same printhead to do different colour, I would need to change the filament right. I think this is when the coordinates go out of whack. Hence I would need to be so careful feeding the new filament into the extruder.

A video of how its actually done would be of more help.

Saw the video. Just talking about the methodology. which I understand but physically printing it and changing 6 colour filaments is the challenge here.

[glossy bobcat]

Yes, you need to change filaments. Also, keep the bed temperature at the same level when you are printing (like 60 Celsius) when you are changing filaments so that the previous print sticks to the bed. This method is not good for multi colors, but might be good enough for 2 colors, like for panel backlighting

[grim cape]

I used a 0.2mm nozzle and layers height 0.14mm, yes I have the AMS

[raw void]

That is great! Thank you so mutch 😄

[grim cape]

before to print, don't forget to add small stand.

they forget to say it in the tutorial

[raw void]

I have an slightly different approach for my panels. I dont mount the components directly to the front-plate 😅 i design the frontplate, use the shell-option in fusion and then i design the back-plate wich then holds my components 👍🏼
How thik are your letters im your CAD-Software?

And how thik is your plate arround the letters? ☺️

[grim cape]

thickness of my letters is 0.28mm, and the plate arround my letters is 0.56mm

and the plate is 3mm

[distant musk]

I'm right now testing another approach. For small "Masks" yet, but should work for bigger front plates as well.
I don't have a Multi-MAterial-Printer and don't wanna go thru the hassle with changing filament during the print.
I use transparent PLA, the letters and circles are 0,4mm thick (2 layers). After printing i spay or paint the whole thing and when it is dry enoug i carefully sand of the top-most layer. Tada...

[grim cape]

Yes, someone told me about this method; could you show the result here?

[distant musk]

As said, it's only a small test right now, so not perfect.
But as soon as i made the small PCB (we are talking about e.g. Korrys or the "ON BATT" Display of ADIRS) then i will post a pic.

[raw void]

Thank you sir! 😄

[distant musk]

This is the very first quick'n'dirty test. Definitely not perfect and used the stolen the black nail polish from my wife. Unfortunately glossy.
I hope that with a mat spay color it will look better.

And this is only a small thing. For several front plates you would need hundreds of the small bottles of nail polish....no.
But it was available near me and my goal was to find out, whether it is possible in principle.

[grim cape]

How do you made the korry switch ?

[distant musk]

I took this one, which is in fact a remix. But as said there: easy and fast to print, easy to assemble: https://www.printables.com/model/1641230-remix-of-airbus-style-korry-button

[teal kiln]

yay thatx exaclly what i do. Two 0.14 layers are the best

[grim cape]

I expect to use led 5mm orange with a 220 resistor, do you think that will be good ?

They will arrange like this

(Red point = 1 led)

[glossy bobcat]

I like this method of using COB led strips for backlighting. That way, you don’t need to deal with resistors. https://youtu.be/vK5d8DvD1Lg?si=coy0_In5VVrfOoc6

[raw void]

If you have the opertunity to print multiple colors try to print the face down to the plate and make an black first layer with thin Text and the rest in tranclucent PLA. Comes out very nice 👍🏼

I made the black first layer only 0,4 mm thik

Its enough for good cover but you dont need mutch filament-changes

[distant musk]

My printer can't print with multiple filaments.
I tried to print some parts with the pause to change the filament and had no satisfying results.
Therefore i came to the idea with only one print in transparent, spraying and a little grinding.
For the first tests i must say that i'm surprised. Quick'n'dirty and not soooo bad.
Imagine how it would look like, when i bring more efort into the design and the painting? 🤔

[raw void]

I made my first Panels like this and it works totaly fine! I would try multiple layers bevor the grinding and use primer 😎👍🏼 your switches look great for the first attempt

[distant musk]

Can you suggest a suitable primer?

[raw void]

I used one from my local Store. The Name of the Company is "Dupli-Color". I think you should get it from Amazon. But you can take nearly every "translucent plastic-primer" you want. Just search for it. Improtant is, that it is translucent 🙂
I made one layer of the primer and then 2-3 layers of the color. Worked perfectly fine 🙂

https://www.amazon.de/DUPLI-COLOR-319686-PLASTIC-PRIMER-farblos/dp/B00BW6X148/ref=asc_df_B00BW6X148?mcid=0c8bbc1b3ff0369d9de4d3e6ce22d4da&th=1&tag=googshopde-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696875982456&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10970476208620295503&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061179&hvtargid=pla-1889226077002&hvocijid=10970476208620295503-B00BW6X148-&hvexpln=0

[fallen cedar]

Hi everybody!

I would like to share with you my guide on how I achieved good results with backlit panels. Only entry-level devices were used for this. In my case it is for 737 and bases on DIY737.
This may help some people with questions about what steps are necessary, what color to use, etc.

Kind regards
CptPeppy

[raw void]

Wow thank you! That is crazy cool!

😍

How happy are you with the laser-engraver? Its very affordable 😅

[fallen cedar]

I paid less then 400 Euros, it's small and has a housing. From my point of view enough.

[grim cape]

I think the brightness is not enought

[grim cape]

It’s very nice

[gusty yew]

yea it looks great. these always look too contrasty in photos, most often they look way nicer in real life

[surreal ivy]

If two color printing isn't working for you, how about making one thin black print with the lettering open, then a seperate print for the translucent layer? Then just glue the lettering layer on top of the traslucent diffuser.
I did some warning lamps that way several years ago and they came out looking pretty good.

[surreal ivy]

That panel looks terrific!

[grim cape]

Thanks!

[prime hornet]

this is really cool! 😎 two questions:

• you will have always two color changes per layer right?

• why using the primer after the filler? Does it play a role for the laser engraving later?

[fallen cedar]

Yes, due to the 'black frame' there are always two colors per layer.
I just used the primer to have a proper surface, but I think you can leave it out.

[grim cape]

Hello, thanks:

• Yes on the layers with the white and the grey.

• Sorry I don’t understand the question 😅

[coral zodiac]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9OMj-NarH4&t=2236s