Pinball Name Plate

Darren Wright

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Springfield, Missouri
I'm thinking about doing a name plate out of aluminum, polish it and flood the engravings with paint for the pinball cab.

Logo2.jpg

We'll see how it comes out, may actually do some corner decorations using aluminum too.
 
My new bits and some aluminum plate I ordered arrived. The plate is 3003 aluminum, .125" thick. I ran all operations at 50 ipm with 15 ipm plunges taking off .007" per pass, used soapy water for lubricant (Brent's suggestion). Bits used were 1/8" 60* single flute v-bit and a 1/8" single flute end mill, also recommended by Brent.
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Stuck it up with some masking tap to see how it looks, still need to clean up the edges and polish it, then flood the engravings with paint and clear coat it.
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Very happy with the way it turned out though.
 
Thanks all, pretty impressed myself. I had tried some aluminum years ago, but the machine just couldn't move the bit fast enough and wasn't as rigid as it is now, so things didn't work out so well. I do want to try maybe doing some finish passes next time I do these as a faster pace to see how the finish comes out. I'll also be sacrificing a plastic shoe box to help contain the water and mess next time. ;)
 
I did a quick face sanding and polish of the plate and lacquered it this afternoon, then got it mounted. After mounting it, I realize it wasn't quite what I was looking for. I had painted the outer edge all the way around and the contrast wasn't quite right
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So a little acetone and fresh lacquer, I had it looking the way I was intending.
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The nameplate came out looking great. I agree with you on the black edge. This project is all kinds of levels of cool. :thumb:
 
Well i had my heart set on blue ,lol goes to show you cant please everyone all the time. I dont like black as a color in general. But the painted nameplate does look cool as Vaughn says on many levels.:thumb:
 
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