Engraving Lettering on a 3D Aircraft Switch Panel - How I do it.

I know I am lucky - I have access to lots of cool tools. This video shows how to engrave into a multi-layer paint surface. This lets you build custom engraved interiors - if you have access to an engraver. BTW, this technique works with mechanical engravers, too.

[@zakaroonetwork777]

For this type of panel…do you have a technique to rub in paint into the etchings?

[@immteam]

Excel! Good job and thanks for some ideas! :)

[@mxcollin95]

Cool little project! Thanks for posting!
If you don’t mind sharing, what cnc milling machine did you use to mill the aluminum and also what type of laser engraving machine was used?
I was just curious because I have a fairly cheap Chinese laser engraving machine that I bought a few years ago and never quite got around to getting setup but was thinking this might be the perfect little project to break it out for. It’s not strong enough to engrave metal per se but I guess in this case you’re just essentially engraving paint which it should be able to do. Anyway, this project looks like it’d be fun to try. 👍

[@1donagin]

I used a Tormach PCNC 1100 Series 3 mill, and a Cam-Five (rebranded Han's Yueming) CO2 100 W laser . The 100 watts is WAY overkill - you could do this with one of those little diode lasers. I have done interior placards with a K40 chinesium laser. You are correct - this is not engraving metal, it is engraving paint.