Pictures were difficult because of the reflection off of the bare metal left after etching the top.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/pickdropper/Guitar%20Pedals/DMM3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/pickdropper/Guitar%20Pedals/DMM1-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/pickdropper/Guitar%20Pedals/DMM4.jpg)
This was built with the 3205 chips and sounds pretty good. It is the second one I've built. One of these days, I'd still like to give an MN3005 build a shot, but I may take a break from the Dirtbag for a while. It's a time consuming build.
Man that looks tidy and clean. The landscape layout seems to be the way to go with this build. (I've got a populated board that just needs pots, delay and compander ICs, and a case.)
wow, fantastic build! were you the guy who had access to a laser etcher or did you find a service?
I really like the way it looks
That looks great! Nice job.
Quote from: jtn191 on May 13, 2012, 10:50:49 AM
wow, fantastic build! were you the guy who had access to a laser etcher or did you find a service?
I really like the way it looks
I am the guy who is lucky enough to have access to the laser etcher. It's a lower powered one, so it will etch away the powder coat, but doesn't actually dig into the metal.
This enclosure is the only one that I've removed this much powder coat from. I like the fact that it etches really clean lines and that I don't have to mess with labels. The downside to removing as much of the powder coat as I did is that you really don't know what the metal is going to look like underneath (you can see random scratches in this one). This makes sense as it is probably assumed that the end user is going to leave the powder coat on, so it doesn't matter what it underneath as long as the powder coat adheres.
Love it. The clean lines and aluminum/white look is awesome.
Josh
Verah, verah nice!
That looks awesome! My brother-in-law has a lazer etcher so I've wanted to try it. I'm glad to know that it works well with powdercoating! Where did you get the graphics?
Beautifull build mate.
The lazer etching is epic.
Quote from: wolfingsworth on May 20, 2012, 04:04:11 AM
That looks awesome! My brother-in-law has a lazer etcher so I've wanted to try it. I'm glad to know that it works well with powdercoating! Where did you get the graphics?
I actually got it from this forum. If you can't find it through the search function, I'd be happy to send it to you.
- Dave
Quote from: raulduke on May 20, 2012, 06:41:10 PM
Beautifull build mate.
The lazer etching is epic.
Thanks. I'm going to be boxing up a 3005 dirtbag and I will probably try the etch on a black enclosure to see how that looks. I suspect ithe contrast may help it.
Wow this is clean man!! amazing...
-Kaleb
Quote from: pickdropper on May 21, 2012, 05:30:02 AM
Quote from: wolfingsworth on May 20, 2012, 04:04:11 AM
That looks awesome! My brother-in-law has a lazer etcher so I've wanted to try it. I'm glad to know that it works well with powdercoating! Where did you get the graphics?
I actually got it from this forum. If you can't find it through the search function, I'd be happy to send it to you.
- Dave
Awesome! Found it. Hopefully someday soon I will be able to get my hands on one of those boards!
Just now seeing this build and I love it! Stellar work :)
Thanks, Roctopus. I actually build a black one as well. I should add pics of that to this post.
Dave I've been waiting for you to do one where you remove a lot of powder coat!
I think it looks fantastic. I want that! ;D
I'd love to see one in black.
Quote from: fish22 on March 13, 2013, 04:55:01 PM
Dave I've been waiting for you to do one where you remove a lot of powder coat!
I think it looks fantastic. I want that! ;D
I'd love to see one in black.
Thanks Fish.
I think I have photos of the black one around here somewhere. Otherwise, I can another snapshot.
I do have to give credit to the anonymous person who did the artwork layout for this one. I believe this is the only time I've used somebody else's artwork, but I honestly don't think I can I
Can improve on this. Kudos to the person who did it. Lacesensor, perhaps?
wasnt me alas but it looks amazing.
Here is a pic of the black one.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/pickdropper/Guitar%20Pedals/DMM1-2.jpg)
Make me a case like that... looks great!
I want that one too.
Those are beautiful builds! Do you make the etch mask, then spray paint, then remove the mask?
Quote from: neiloler on March 14, 2013, 02:41:18 PM
Those are beautiful builds! Do you make the etch mask, then spray paint, then remove the mask?
No, I used a vector graphic and burned off the powder coat with a laser engraver.
It's a bit of a wild card when you remove this much material as the enclosure is often not pretty underneath. For these two builds, I ended up having to use polishing compound on the raw metal after etching.
Any job openings at your work?
I hear they have good benefits. Like laser engravers.... :D
Quote from: pickdropper on May 13, 2012, 03:14:23 PM
This enclosure is the only one that I've removed this much powder coat from. I like the fact that it etches really clean lines and that I don't have to mess with labels. The downside to removing as much of the powder coat as I did is that you really don't know what the metal is going to look like underneath (you can see random scratches in this one). This makes sense as it is probably assumed that the end user is going to leave the powder coat on, so it doesn't matter what it underneath as long as the powder coat adheres.
Do you know if it is possible to use liquid tin on the surface after you etch the paint off to cover up the scratches and imperfections? I've never used the stuff so I don't know what it would do to the powdercoat but it would look pretty cool if it is possible...
Quote from: Stomptown on March 14, 2013, 10:07:11 PM
Quote from: pickdropper on May 13, 2012, 03:14:23 PM
This enclosure is the only one that I've removed this much powder coat from. I like the fact that it etches really clean lines and that I don't have to mess with labels. The downside to removing as much of the powder coat as I did is that you really don't know what the metal is going to look like underneath (you can see random scratches in this one). This makes sense as it is probably assumed that the end user is going to leave the powder coat on, so it doesn't matter what it underneath as long as the powder coat adheres.
Do you know if it is possible to use liquid tin on the surface after you etch the paint off to cover up the scratches and imperfections? I've never used the stuff so I don't know what it would do to the powdercoat but it would look pretty cool if it is possible...
I've used liquid tin on etched boards and it doesn't clean up scratches. It is just used to tin raw copper.
If I was into powder coating, I'd be curious to see the results of polishing a box before powder coating and then etching after powder coating. I expect that it would look good, but not be very durable as there wouldn't be a mechanical bond for the powder to hang onto like that there is with a rougher finished enclosure.
Quote from: pickdropper on March 15, 2013, 03:33:29 AM
Quote from: Stomptown on March 14, 2013, 10:07:11 PM
Quote from: pickdropper on May 13, 2012, 03:14:23 PM
This enclosure is the only one that I've removed this much powder coat from. I like the fact that it etches really clean lines and that I don't have to mess with labels. The downside to removing as much of the powder coat as I did is that you really don't know what the metal is going to look like underneath (you can see random scratches in this one). This makes sense as it is probably assumed that the end user is going to leave the powder coat on, so it doesn't matter what it underneath as long as the powder coat adheres.
Do you know if it is possible to use liquid tin on the surface after you etch the paint off to cover up the scratches and imperfections? I've never used the stuff so I don't know what it would do to the powdercoat but it would look pretty cool if it is possible...
I've used liquid tin on etched boards and it doesn't clean up scratches. It is just used to tin raw copper.
If I was into powder coating, I'd be curious to see the results of polishing a box before powder coating and then etching after powder coating. I expect that it would look good, but not be very durable as there wouldn't be a mechanical bond for the powder to hang onto like that there is with a rougher finished enclosure.
I thought that might be the case. I do know that Mammoth will hand sand enclosures (if you pay extra) for the translucent colors so that may be an option as well. It won't be polished but at least the blemishes should be eliminated...