Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Labels for project enclosure — Parallax Forums

Labels for project enclosure

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2001-05-04 17:16 in General Discussion
I need to label some switches, LED's, jacks, etc on a black plastic
project enclosure. The surface os slightly textured, so I'm not sure
how well "stick-ons" will stay attached. I had thought about "rub-
ons", but the only ones that I could find were too large and they
were black.....

Any suggetstions?

Thanks,
Mike

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-05-04 01:14
    Mike,

    We just went through this process, with the added feature that our labels
    had to be "UL approved" meaning withstanding rubbing with isopropyl alcohol.
    After investigating many options, we finally adopted an excellent suggestion
    by Tracy Allen: go with a Brother label maker. They use "TZ Tape" in
    different colors and backgrounds. For a black plastic enclosure panel, we
    now use the gold letters on black background. The tape is multilayer, with
    a protective outer layer, and an excellent adhesive. It passed the UL
    tests, with no problems. The tape works fine in the low-cost hand held
    machines. But for production work, we went with a larger Brother printer
    that has a computer interface (also recommended by Tracy). It allows us to
    use wider tape, print our logos from image files, and store the files for
    later use.

    By calling Brother directly, we purchased a guaranteed, reconditioned
    printer for half the cost of a new one.

    Dennis

    Dennis O'Leary
    WSR, Inc.
    Pasadena, CA

    Original Message
    From: Michael [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=BVtAcDlppvYLumRSNZgBptcP2Ke9r3QJoUBuI-aoBnaszxo77dbhdWrvqbD3QlZ4kAzaP_BaVnWRBkueMutJ]mstone@g...[/url
    Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 3:55 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Labels for project enclosure


    I need to label some switches, LED's, jacks, etc on a black plastic
    project enclosure. The surface os slightly textured, so I'm not sure
    how well "stick-ons" will stay attached. I had thought about "rub-
    ons", but the only ones that I could find were too large and they
    were black.....

    Any suggetstions?

    Thanks,
    Mike




    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-05-04 14:13
    I agree. we use one here and the labels even hold up fairly decent outside. If
    you have the computer interface one and a paint program you can make just about
    any label you want.

    "Dennis P. O'Leary" wrote:

    > Mike,
    >
    > We just went through this process, with the added feature that our labels
    > had to be "UL approved" meaning withstanding rubbing with isopropyl alcohol.
    > After investigating many options, we finally adopted an excellent suggestion
    > by Tracy Allen: go with a Brother label maker. They use "TZ
    > Tape"..............
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-05-04 14:43
    I have a Brother TZ labelmaker also. Works great, but I wish I would have
    spent the bucks on the more expensive model that has the PC interface and
    prints multiple lines. There are a butt-load of different TZ tape colors and
    stuff available, but most office supply stores only stock the normal ones.
    The black on yellow is my preference for high-viz stuff.

    Original Message

    > I agree. we use one here and the labels even hold up fairly decent
    outside. If
    > you have the computer interface one and a paint program you can make just
    about
    > any label you want.
    > > We just went through this process, with the added feature that our
    labels
    > > had to be "UL approved" meaning withstanding rubbing with isopropyl
    alcohol.
    > > After investigating many options, we finally adopted an excellent
    suggestion
    > > by Tracy Allen: go with a Brother label maker. They use "TZ
    > > Tape"..............
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-05-04 17:16
    Hi Mike,

    Hey Dennis. I'm pleased you like the Brother tapes too. We use them
    here for our Stache labels (black on yellow
    <http://www.emesystems.com/stachedat.htm >) and also for other
    products. They even hold up well even in sunlight and weather.

    Mike, you mentioned that you have a textured surface. That might be
    a problem. One thing you can do to increase the adhesion is to heat
    up the label on the surface with a hair dryer and rub it down.

    For larger labels I print legends on mylar film and then laminate the
    ink side. Then use a transfer adhesive on the back. You can get
    some pretty thick, aggressive transfer adhesives.

    -- regards,
    Tracy Allen
    electronically monitored ecosystems
    mailto:tracy@e...
    http://www.emesystems.com


    >I actually have a Brother label maker at work. I had not thought
    >about using it, but I'll definitely give it a try.
    >
    >Thanks again,
    >Mike
    >
    >--- In basicstamps@y..., "Dennis P. O'Leary" <doleary@h...> wrote:
    > > Mike,
    > >
    > > We just went through this process, with the added feature that our
    >labels
    > > had to be "UL approved" meaning withstanding rubbing with isopropyl
    >alcohol.
    > > After investigating many options, we finally adopted an excellent
    >suggestion
    > > by Tracy Allen: go with a Brother label maker. They use "TZ Tape"
    >in
    > > different colors and backgrounds. For a black plastic enclosure
    >panel, we
    > > now use the gold letters on black background. The tape is
    >multilayer, with
    > > a protective outer layer, and an excellent adhesive. It passed the
    >UL
    > > tests, with no problems. The tape works fine in the low-cost hand
    >held
    > > machines. But for production work, we went with a larger Brother
    >printer
    > > that has a computer interface (also recommended by Tracy). It
    >allows us to
    > > use wider tape, print our logos from image files, and store the
    >files for
    > > later use.
    > >
    > > By calling Brother directly, we purchased a guaranteed,
    >reconditioned
    > > printer for half the cost of a new one.
    > >
    > > Dennis
    > >
    > > Dennis O'Leary
    > > WSR, Inc.
    > > Pasadena, CA
    > >
    > >
    Original Message
    > > From: Michael [noparse][[/noparse]mailto:mstone@g...]
    > > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 3:55 PM
    > > To: basicstamps@y...
    > > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Labels for project enclosure
    > >
    > >
    > > I need to label some switches, LED's, jacks, etc on a black plastic
    > > project enclosure. The surface os slightly textured, so I'm not
    >sure
    > > how well "stick-ons" will stay attached. I had thought about "rub-
    > > ons", but the only ones that I could find were too large and they
    > > were black.....
    > >
    > > Any suggetstions?
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > > Mike
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    >http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Sign In or Register to comment.