[SEL] New pages/brass plates

[Jerry Evans]

>Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 21:55:22 -0700
>From: "Dave Otto" <dotto at velocitus.net>
>Subject: RE: [SEL] New pages
>
>Hi Jerry
>Your tag work is real nice; I have done a little bit of tag work myself.
>Your prices are extremely reasonable for what is involved to make a nice
>looking tag. Because I don't have enough time to get my own projects
>finished I wouldn't even consider doing this on a regular basis.
>
>I did volunteer to make a small R&V tag for a friend because there are none
>available any where. I think my process is probably similar to yours. I take
>a high resolution scan and import it into AutoCAD. The picture is then
>scaled so it is the exact size of the original. This picture is then used as
>a drawing board to create the vector geometry.
>
>I didn't keep track of the time I have in the Falk tag but it was a bunch,
>just for kicks I kept track of the computer time for the R&V tag and I have
>right at 12 hours in it.
>
>Here is a picture of a tag I made for my little 3hp Falk that I have been
>working on. This is a prototype and I have tweaked the art work since I made
>this one. Now I just need to find time to make a few more.
>
>http://community.webshots.com/album/547640091vNkfnt
>
>Regards, Dave
>
>Dave Otto
>Boise, Id
>USA
>Dotto at velocitus.net
>http://community.webshots.com/user/otto1960
>
>P.S. If it is not a trade secret I would be interested to here what you are
>using as a mask, and etchant.

Hi Dave,
         Thanks for the comments. I looked at your tag - really nice.
         Your method is very similar to how I produce my artwork. The main 
difference is that I first edit the bitmap to end up with a clean black and 
white copy. I then use a CAS programme to "vectorise" or "trace" it and 
give me lines instead of pixels. I them take this into my CAD programme and 
enlarge it many times. The imperfections are then very noticeable. I then 
redraw the whole thing (using it as you describe as a drawing board) over 
this vectorised image and smooth everything out. Finally I reduce it to 
actual size and this is what I use to make my etching mask.
         The etching process is easy and no secrets - it is the same 
process used to produce printed circuit boards using Ferric Chloride. The 
masking system I use is also readily available but not normally used for 
this process and normally used in a different industry. I just developed a 
way to use it for this application and would rather not make it public 
knowledge.
         I will in due course write a page about making these tags.


Keep the revs up (or down)
AND REMEMBER ------ <snip><snip><snip><snip><snip><snip>
Jerry Evans
Near Johannesburg in Sunny South Africa.
Tel. (016) 365-5787 or 083 283 7191
Visit our website for old engines in South Africa.
www.oldengine.org/members/evans  

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