How to do your own PE parts in 1 hour ;)

[Enzoenvy1]

Damn, that is so cool! I n all reality it doesn't seem that hard. I etched years ago but nothing this exact. All I need is,.........well,..........everything. Looks great, I will be the first and ask to buy a set. lol.

[D_LaMz]

lol this is great!

Now, go start a business!

[mikemechanic]

Great tutorial Gio. I have a few questions.

#1 Do have any suggestions on a CAD/graphic design program?

#2 I've scanned decal sheets for masking purposes in the past and always found that I could never get the image to print with the same dimensions as the original sheet. How do you make sure that the image prints off with the exact dimensions?

#3 Do you have a picture of the UV box you use (without the cardboard)?

#4 I was a little unclear as the where the double-sided tape goes?

Other than that thanks for sharing very well written with great pictures.

Mike.

[racer917]

what the ...

[NOMADGAMER]

do you take custom orders?

[klutz_100]

Brilliant stuff buddy

Your pictures makes it look so easy (then your Polita make it hard again j/k)

Seriously, great job

Originally Posted by mikemechanic

#2 I've scanned decal sheets for masking purposes in the past and always found that I could never get the image to print with the same dimensions as the original sheet. How do you make sure that the image prints off with the exact dimensions?

That's soooo funny that you asked that Mike.
I was going to email Gio with the EXACT same question today but I'll just tack on to yours instead

[gionc]

#1 Do have any suggestions on a CAD/graphic design program?

Two ways: if you need a service to etch you need an electronic CAD with Gerber languages or some graphic professional tools like Illustrator, Freehand or CorelDraw since they have to print on slide.

If you like I think to do the same home job like me you'll use everithing willprint on an ink-jet: also Word LOL. BTW I reccomend Adobe Illustrator (or similar) for the fine set-up you'lldo on line weight and CMYK colors, for designing tools I guess AutoCad (or similar) give more 2d options smoothing and cornering lines. Illustrator have some great tools like Boolean 2d operation and offsets that allow you to do the job quickly.

#2 I've scanned decal sheets for masking purposes in the past and always found that I could never get the image to print with the same dimensions as the original sheet. How do you make sure that the image prints off with the exact dimensions?

I guess it depends just o the scanner dialog and print dialog boxes: I have professional gears (since my job) but I guess also with cheap tools you'll have exactly the same size: at least you'll check everything in Photoshop as a postoprocessor: PSd help me ever to rotate right the scan, check X/Y sizes (to avoid strech) do optimizations. I'm used to scan images at grayscale, 1200 dpi (you'll have something like 1600% zoom level without aliasing).

#3 Do you have a picture of the UV box you use (without the cardboard)?

Yep: that before I tuned up it raising grass of approx 10 cm, but with an old tall scanner you'll do right from the start:





#4 I was a little unclear as the where the double-sided tape goes?

double sided tape keep togheter two slides: so I fixed the lower with tape, overlapped well, fixed with tape the top one in the lower side, folded it, placed the tape in the lowe slide and unfold teh top one, seem a joke but is really so easy to do, try with two piece of paper

[gtidude]

DUDE! that is just flippin awesome.
im a graphic designer.....now for my questions.
ok the same /similar process is used for printing books etc.
we also make plates, with positives..(acitate clear sheets)
we make the etched plates from aliminium and not steel will it still work? i know its abit softer than brass or steel

[drunken monkey]

just so there is a frame of reference for relevent costs and achieveable results, in the UK (london) there's a place that can do Custom Photo etch for you that i've used before on an architectural project.

4Dmodel shop etching

[gionc]

Originally Posted by gtidude

DUDE! that is just flippin awesome.
im a graphic designer.....now for my questions.
ok the same /similar process is used for printing books etc.
we also make plates, with positives..(acitate clear sheets)
we make the etched plates from aliminium and not steel will it still work? i know its abit softer than brass or steel

Dunno know if alu need a kind etching agent: the only thing I know is that should be hard find thin strong alu boards: I guess it will start from 0.3-0.4mm, so details you'll do are at least more than 0.4-0.5mm.

[gionc]

FORGOT A THING

I said something about minimum size doing the artwork: when I said 0.1mm plus 25% it it referred to my board thickness that was 0.1mm: so the minimum size of your details depend of the material thickness: if you're etching a 1mm board you cant (or acid would eat) do details smaller than 1 mm (plust something for safe)

[mike@af]

Originally Posted by gtidude

we make the etched plates from aliminium and not steel will it still work? i know its abit softer than brass or steel

Aluminum does not react well to the etchant/acid. It is very erratic. It needs a special type of acid, but even then it does not work well.

[mikemechanic]

Thanks for the answers Gio. I have Adobe Illustrator CS2, just need to learn how to use it. I got an old scanner around here somewhere. Looks like a little time, effort and chemicals and I'll be good to go. Thank you very much for sharing this with us. Thanks to you I am a better modeler and broke (lol)

Mike.

[coolchu]

woah what an amazing guide, awesome!

[Big Kahuna]

Awesome tutorial Giovanni.
I just need to get the light box and I can do my own etching.

Where can I get the UV Lamps from? Any ideas?
Regards
Nens