Contoured exterior signage made of printed acrylic

Use this tutorial to learn how to make your own sign out of printed acrylic using your Trotec Laser and JobControl® Vision.

Preparation

Required Material
  • Printed Acrylic 8mm, 1200mmx600mm
  • 1/4 Sheet TroGlass Satins rose + Self-adhesive-Film
  • 1/4 Sheet TroGlass Color Gloss Fuchsia + Self-adhesive Film
  • 1 packet Signage Wall Mounts 20mm/20mm
Machines Used

* SP3000, 400W and Speedy 400, 100W
* 5" lens and 2" lens
* Acrylic slat table and vacuum table with acrylic grid

Naturally you can produce this pattern (depending on the size) with any machine from the Speedy Laser Engraver series.

Tip

Experiment with different textures and colors from the TroGlass range for different finishes for customers.

Print Cut Sign

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Step by step

Step 1

Step 1: Print and import design

Print the template on 8 mm acrylic and import our laser file into your graphics program. Send the laser contour for the shield with the following print settings to your Trotec laser:

Process mode Resolution Cut line
Vector Job 1000dpi None
Halftone Others
Color Optimized Geometries, Inner Geometries First 

Important: Make sure that in the Corel print window, the color black is already stored in the parameter selection with the process "register marks." This will help you recognize the registration marks  later in JobControl®.

JobControl Vision: Print and cut with the laser cutter SP3000
Step 2

Step 2: Laser process printed acrylic

Place the printed acrylic face-up on the acrylic blades in your SP3000. Cover the remaining working surface. The parameters may vary depending on the laser machine used and available laser power:

Laser Parameter Color Process Power (%) Speed (%) ppi/Hz
Registration Marks Black Reg Marks - - -
Cutting Red Cutting Co2 85 2.3 20,000
Laser Parameter  Passes Air-Assist Z-Offset Advanced
Reg Marks - - - -
Cutting 1 ON -2mm -
Arrange graphics nested to save material
Step 3

Step 3: Acrylic lettering

To achieve a special three-dimensional effect, the lettering of the sign is glued on colored TroGlass. We cut it with a Speedy 400. To do so, send the logos with the following settings to your Trotec laser.

Process mode Resolution Cut line
Vector Job 1000dpi None
Halftone Others
Color Optimized Geometries, Inner Geometries First

Tip:

If you attach the lettering freehand without a template, you can also save space by turning the letters and arranging them nested in order to save material.

Laser process acrylic lettering
Step 4

Step 4: Laser process acrylic lettering

Now place the respective TroGlass sheets on the acrylic grid cutting table in your Speedy 400, cover the rest of the processing surface and cut out the various lettering. The parameters may vary depending on the laser machine used and available laser power:

Color Process Power (%) Speed (%) ppi/Hz
Red Cut CO2 100 1 1000

 

Passes Air Assist Z-Offset Advanced
1 on - -

Tip:

We have set a framework around the word "Chicago." After the laser process, we secure the letters to the frame with tape so that the entire word can be glued in the perfect alignment.

Step 5

Step 5: Finishing

For finishing, peel off the protective film on the front of the acrylic shield. First, place the lettering loosely on the sign. If you are satisfied with the orientation, stick each letter one after the other on the acrylic shield. The lettering "Chicago" we place at the end, as soon as the word "jazz club" is fixed. The contour-cut sign made of TroGlass is finished, which you can easily attach to the wall using wall spacers.

Why is TroGlass suitable for this application?

This product line includes a large range of acrylic sheets in a variety of colors, each with different finishes and degrees of transparency. These and a range of other benefits make our "specially developed for laser" acrylic glass the number one choice for eye-catching and creative applications. TroGlass convinces with a very high weather resistance and optimal light scattering and is very easy to work with.

Inspirations for LED signs

Inspiration

  • Illuminate the sign from behind with an LED strip to make it visible even in the dark.
  • Create table numbers and name badges for staff to match exterior signage.

Speedy series
The ideal laser engraver and cutter for personalization.

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Questions about applications or settings?
We're happy to advise you from A for Air assist to Z for z-offset.

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