LEVER Sign

[EricSchimel]

I made a giant 16 foot long sign the other day:

IMG_20180808_154334-01-01.jpg

It's backed with LEDs that I got from Hafele. It's got a touch on/off/dimmer switch hidden on the back as well. This was it on during the day in full sunlight. It was pretty dramatic at the party it was used at overnight.

I cut this on my ShopBot using PVC for the front letters, MDO for the back panel, and scrap MDO for spacers. The letters and the spacers had dowel holes in them for perfect alignment:

IMG_20180726_182704.jpg

The toolpathing was all done with www.getfabber.com. I worked with the client on the SketchUp model you see below. Then when I got to the shop I just selected the parts I wanted to cut. After putting material on the machine I was able to go from 3D model to toolpathing in just a few seconds.

2018-08-11 at 9.55 AM.jpg

The full gallery is here. Let me know if you have any questions!

[joe]

Erik,

Excellent sign.That kind of sign isn't too difficult to make and gets lots of praise. Keep up the good work. Show us more.

[EricSchimel]

My name is spelled with a "C" at the end Joe.

Signs are pretty easy to do, especially ones like this. The main reason I posted this build is that I've used a totally new method for creating the toolpaths:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Cmrg-lkkY

This workflow I've created really allows one to work on a design in 3D and go right to CNC fabrication eliminating much of the fuss of manual toolpathing.

I'd be interested to see what your CNC guy/gal thinks of using this method over their current methods.

[curtiss]

Erik & Joe,

So basically the standoff distance is about 1-1/2 inches ?

What type of hardware do you use to hold the letters ? are they part of the electrical connection ? Do they just snap on and off to the background ?

Favorite LED lights & transformer you like for small sign ? Perhaps you have a photo that shows more of the wiring details or a diagram... thanks

[pro70z28]

Nice looking sign Eric.

[EricSchimel]

You are correct Leds the total thickness of the sign is 1.5". The back panel is .5", the spacers are .5" and the PVC letters are in the front are also .5"

The hardware is pretty simple, I just drilled dowel holes partially through the back of the PVC letters and all the way through the back panel and the spacers. The dowels were 1.25" long and .25" diameter. Installation was just pressing the dowels in the hole and pressing the letters on the front. I glued them and screwed them through the back.

For the lighting I used Hafele Loox:

https://www.hafele.com/us/en/product...ze=59&PDP=true

These systems are really easy to work with. In my setup there are two transformers that power the letters. There's about 75 feet of LEDs here. The two transformers are tied together by one touch dimmer switch. All of the connections are plug and play and pretty easy to do. On larger projects like this I tend to use Hafele lights. They're really versatile, reliable. There's great documentation from Hafele, along with their tech support which is great. I do believe you need to have an account with them to order their stuff however.