Edge lit signs?

[dvmike]

I have a potentially valuable customer who wants multiple edge lit ,LED signs for advertising his paints.

I've played with the idea very little with mixed results.
Any ideas you folks are willing to share will be appreciated !
I am a novice in acrylic/plexi glass and need all the knowledge .:/

Any and all LED ideas and advice are welcome as well !

[knight_toolworks]

I and others have posted several edge lit signs. they are not hard to do and the leds are not very expensive. I use superbrightleds.com but there are others.

[dakers]

google signcomp edge lit.
they have extrusion for your application if you want to use extrusion.
http://www.signcomp.com/pdfs/1150133751.pdf

[dakers]

Instructions

Things You'll Need:



LED strip lighting
Clear or translucent acrylic sheet about 3/8" thick
Base
Power supply




1
Determine size of sign. Be sure that the base will accommodate a sign of the desired size.
2
Cut a groove into the material that comprises of the base. Wood either painted or stained can accommodate this easily. Colored acrylic can also be used as the base. Just make sure that the base is an opaque color before laying the LED strip lighting.
3
Lay LED strip lighting flat in groove. Run wiring and connectors to the power supply. Electronics (http://www.ehow.com/electronics/) suppliers are a good source for LED strip lighting. Check the local phone (http://www.ehow.com/how_5094589_make-edgelit-led-signs.html#) book or search the web (http://www.ehow.com/internet/) for a supplier.
4
Cut acrylic sheet to size and cut design (http://www.ehow.com/how_5094589_make-edgelit-led-signs.html#) into the sheet plastic. Paint features at this point if desired.
5
Place sign into base. It should fit snugly, yet be able to be removed as needed.
6
Plug in sign. Test to verify proper functioning.



Read more: How to Make Edge-Lit LED Signs | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/how_5094589_make-edgelit-led-signs.html#ixzz1FXiJEODC) http://www.ehow.com/how_5094589_make-edgelit-led-signs.html#ixzz1FXiJEODC

[dakers]

here is a good link to a previous forum discussion about led edge lit signs

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12130

some other links


http://www.centsiblelighting.com/edge-lit-signs.php

site below has video about making them


http://www.signsalive.net/edge-lit-signs.htm

http://edge-lit-sign.com/

http://carmanahsigns.com/

[dakers]

I defer to Steve Knight. looks like he has done all the homework.
interesting topic. thanks, i love to research things i have never done.


http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12130

[dvmike]

Thanks to you guys for your input !!!
I'm working on a couple of signs right now .
I'll throw some pics up for critique and suggestions when I'm done.

Again....Thanks !