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More Free QuickStart Labels. And still more ... — Parallax Forums

More Free QuickStart Labels. And still more ...

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
edited 2012-07-12 23:07 in General Discussion
Inspired by Matt's excellent work here, I set about to see if I could make something a bit smaller, but still readable. Here's what I came up with:

attachment.php?attachmentid=94007&d=1341631632

It's laser engraved, cut from 5-mil maroon-colored Formica, and hugs the QuickStart receptacle tightly enough to remain at surface level. (One of the problems I always have with legends printed on the PCB is parallax (not ParallaxTM). If you're not looking straight down, it's easy to associate a legend with the wrong receptacle entry.)

Anyway, I'll make enough of these to send three each to ten forumistas free of charge, shipping included. Just email me your postal address, and I'll get a set on its way. BTW, when Formica is laser cut, a fine black ash residue is left on the edges of the cut that you will have to wipe off. A rag soaked with isopropyl alcohol is all it takes to get most of it.

Also, I've attached a PDF for anyone wanting to duplicate this label.

-Phil
qs_label.jpg
489 x 483 - 240K
pdf
pdf
quickstart_label.pdf
8K

Comments

  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-07-06 20:37
    Excellent, Phil!! These look great!

    I'll pass on your offer since I took advantage of your earlier generous offers.

    I need to see if our nearest FabLab could print these up on their laser printer.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-07-06 20:39
    mindrobots wrote:
    I'll pass on your offer since I took advantage of your earlier generous offers.
    No need to pass. You're caller number one. I'll get three of them off to you tomorrow.

    -Phil
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2012-07-06 21:14
    Message sent! Would love to have them!

    OBC
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2012-07-06 21:20
    Email sent Phil! Thanks!
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2012-07-06 21:25
    Thanks Phil!
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-07-06 21:30
    Thanks, Phil!!
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-07-06 21:47
    Here's a photo of the labels being cut:

    attachment.php?attachmentid=94011&d=1341636447

    I've noticed a very odd phenomenon when cutting Formica. The IR cutting beam creates a very bright incandescence as it's cutting, with a narrow yellow flame that trails the cutting path. The weird thing is that the incandescence is tightly focused in the direction of the trailing flame. You can actually see the light beam rotate as the cut goes around a closed path. I have never seen this happen in any material besides Formica and have no idea what the physics behind it might be. Perhaps the trailing plasma/flame has a greater-than-one refractive index and forms some kind of lens?

    -Phil
    qs_labels_cutting.jpg
    648 x 486 - 58K
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-07-07 00:29
    I tried to to convince myself I didn't need these since I have your very nice labels.

    attachment.php?attachmentid=94013&d=1341645815

    I find I just can't turn down free stuff.

    I'm interested to see how often I use this new version. They sure look like it'll be easier to see which hole goes with which label (not that the printed version is hard).

    Thanks, I'll send an email in case you don't still have my address from the other two times you've sent me free stuff.

    Duane
    QsLabels120707b.jpg
    456 x 312 - 60K
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-07-07 08:50
    Four sets remaining...

    -Phil
  • pogerttpogertt Posts: 33
    edited 2012-07-07 08:55
    E-mail sent
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2012-07-07 09:30
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) wrote: »
    Here's a photo of the labels being cut:

    attachment.php?attachmentid=94011&d=1341636447



    -Phil

    Email sent

    Sooo.....I'm guessin' these aren't Lead Free. :)
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-07-07 10:03
    That's platinum. Lead's too light to keep the Formica flat. :)

    These are going fast. 'Only two sets left ....

    -Phil
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-07-07 10:11
    Down to one set...
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-07-07 10:13
    Going ... going ... GONE!

    -Phil
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2012-07-07 10:51
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) wrote: »
    That's platinum. Lead's too light to keep the Formica flat. :)

    These are going fast. 'Only two sets left ....

    -Phil

    They use platinum for fishing lures now? :)

    Jim
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-07-07 20:27
    Okay, I decided to try some paper labels. The local drugstore carries inexpensive art supplies for student projects, and I scored a large sheet of blue posterboard for 79 cents. The neat thing about this posterboard is that it's blue only on the surface; the interior is white. This means that it should laser-engrave very cleanly, and that's just what transpired. Here's a photo of one of the laser-engraved and -cut labels installed on the QuickStart:

    attachment.php?attachmentid=94032&d=1341717917

    Since it's made from heavy paper, it made sense to panelize enough of them to fit a #10 envelope:

    attachment.php?attachmentid=94031&d=1341717916

    So I'm going to offer six of these 4x6 panels for free. The first six people to email me a postal address, who haven't already taken advantage of the Formica labels (sorry), will get them.

    Commercially, these labels would be a losing proposition. Each panel takes ten minutes to engrave and cut out. At a typical laser-cutter charge of $2.00/minute, that works out to $20.00 per panel or 83 cents per label. That's considerably more than the perceived value of any paper label. So it makes more sense to make them from a more expensive, robust material, if one is wanting to sell them.

    Anyway, if you haven't already done so, take advantage of this offer. It probably won't be repeated. :)

    -Phil
    paper_qs_label_panel.jpg
    730 x 272 - 71K
    paper_qs_label_installed.jpg
    485 x 427 - 50K
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-07-07 20:39
    Nifty trick with the poster board! They look sharp but you're right about the cost/value.

    I imagine printing and die cutting something like this would have significant setup costs.

    Good stuff, Phil, you've done the prototyping....someone else can do the production work! :0)
  • dgatelydgately Posts: 1,633
    edited 2012-07-08 08:56
    email sent...

    thanks for the offer, Phil!

    dgately
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-07-10 10:48
    Phil,

    My set of Formica pin cozies arrived today. Excellent work! One of the best add-on features for the Quickstart I've gotten my hands on!

    Thanks!
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2012-07-10 11:36
    Got mine today! Thank you Phil!
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2012-07-10 13:01
    Got mine today also. Quick ship from the left coast!

    Neto!

    Thanks a bunch Phil!

    Jim
  • John AbshierJohn Abshier Posts: 1,116
    edited 2012-07-11 07:39
    Mine arrived yesterday. Thanks.

    John Abshier
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2012-07-11 12:39
    Mine made it too...
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2012-07-11 12:45
    I only have two Quickstart boards, and because of Phil's generosity, he sent use each three labels.

    If anyone missed the offer, and needs one, give me a PM.

    I'll ship it out for free.

    Jim

    EDIT: I should have mentioned free US shipping only.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-07-11 13:29
    Jim's a tend setter!!

    I'll share the Good Spirits from the Pacific NW too!

    I'll forward one along to the first PM I get with a US mailing address. (Free Forever shipping included too!)

    I can't see having three Quickstart board projects productively under development at the same time.

    Spread the good!!
  • pogerttpogertt Posts: 33
    edited 2012-07-11 15:16
    Thanks Phil.

    I think I like the matte finish better than a shinier surface that might be too reflective.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2012-07-12 23:07
    Got my red batch labels today. These are great! One or two of these should accompany every quickstart.

    Thanks Phil!
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