Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

Posted on
Mon Mar 12, 2018 8:13 am
noel1983 offline
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Joined: Oct 17, 2014

Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

Hi all,
Has anyone found a good solution for how to etch/engrave/label switches.

I'd love something like CBUS eDLT but that's not on the cards so I need to find a way to neatly label my LWRF wireless 4 button switches that I use in numerous places.

Years ago I think I had some special printer paper that was going to stick on but I a) can't find it and b) have no idea how I found it in the first place.

Found this cool thread around laser engraving https://forum.universal-devices.com/top ... m-buttons/ but probably a bit pricey and I value my sight too!!

I really like a physical switch and if anything can see me using more of them as time goes on, Maybe I need a half way house possibly using cheap old ipod touches or similar as permanent 'switches' with small simple control pages.

Cheers all

Noel

Posted on
Mon Mar 12, 2018 8:22 am
Colorado4Wheeler offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

I know I've always paid a bit extra to get my KeypadLinc buttons engraved by Smarthome but I'm not sure how they do it in an affordable way. The only way I can think of would be decals, if you could print your own on a transparent background that could peel away and leave only the letters - that at least would be one method of getting what you are looking for.

A quick search on the Internet had a few interesting results:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Etching ... t-The-Use/
https://www.finishing.com/359/25.shtml
https://www.pinterest.com/AcrylicGiftwa ... n-acrylic/

As for the decal paper, you could try this Amazon search result and see if any of that does the trick.

You might also call around town, I bet there are people who do laser engraving in town.

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Posted on
Mon Mar 12, 2018 8:36 am
noel1983 offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

Cheers will do a bit more hunting. It's funny, posting on here gets my thoughts going and I start wondering ...what if etc.

Wonder if there's a way to make your own cbus style switches, some kind of display in the middle just with a browser showing small control pages, then buttons that are contextually aware of the page you're on. Lots more googling needed I think.

Something like this...http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/hardware ... -mqtt.html

Posted on
Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:08 am
Colorado4Wheeler offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

noel1983 wrote:
Wonder if there's a way to make your own cbus style switches, some kind of display in the middle just with a browser showing small control pages, then buttons that are contextually aware of the page you're on. Lots more googling needed I think.

For me that would be a lot of work for a project like that but it would probably be pretty cool. Of course you could also always get some Insteon KeypadLinc's and get the custom etched buttons for them too.

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Posted on
Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:12 am
noel1983 offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

Alas I'm in the UK so to try and integrate insteon I suspect would be a world of pain with different voltages etc

Posted on
Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:15 am
Colorado4Wheeler offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

noel1983 wrote:
Alas I'm in the UK so to try and integrate insteon I suspect would be a world of pain with different voltages etc

I didn't know that Insteon didn't have a UK line.

Here's something else I found: https://www.discounthomeautomation.com/ ... s-LV38A062

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Posted on
Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:17 am
noel1983 offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

I thought they were US only but have just seen they're in Europe as well.

I think finding someone that can etch is the way to go, in the short term I've ordered some of the decal water paper and we'll give that a go!

Cheers

Posted on
Mon Mar 12, 2018 10:16 am
jay (support) offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

Note: Insteon doesn't make a PowerLinc or USB dongle that Indigo can use outside of North America, so alas it can't use Insteon outside of North America. We've been asking for years for a USB dongle that uses Europe frequency but they've never really considered it AFAIK.

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Posted on
Tue Mar 13, 2018 3:39 am
colinpartridge offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

I use a printable adhesive white vinyl sheet for labelling my ZRC controllers, and for other switch plates I use Brother P-touch black on clear tape.
Attachments
ZRC remote.JPG
ZRC remote.JPG (155.18 KiB) Viewed 2453 times

Posted on
Tue Mar 13, 2018 3:55 am
noel1983 offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

Thanks Colin, that looks fantastic! I've just ordered some from Amazon, definitely easier than the water decals and having to lacquer them afterwards.

Pushing my luck, don't suppose you have the template word file or similar that you use to produce those that you'd be happy to share?!

Cheers
Noel

Posted on
Tue Mar 13, 2018 3:58 am
noel1983 offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

colinpartridge wrote:
I use a printable adhesive white vinyl sheet for labelling my ZRC controllers, and for other switch plates I use Brother P-touch black on clear tape.


Also thanks re the ZRC, I hadn't seen those before and have always had to be looking at LWRF wireless switches, I'll definitely be buying one of those...and probably more!!

Cheers

Noel

Posted on
Tue Mar 13, 2018 7:09 am
howartp offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

I’ve got three ZRC’s and likely more.

Ditto to request for template.

Can you link to the printable paper as well?


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Posted on
Tue Mar 13, 2018 7:45 am
noel1983 offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

I've got some of this stuff on the way, hopefully it's along the right lines.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BFPVU1Q/ ... TE_3p_dp_1

Any pictures or info on how you use the ZRC's very much appreciated

Cheers

Posted on
Tue Mar 13, 2018 7:48 am
colinpartridge offline
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Re: Labelling/Etching/engraving etc switches

Here's the link to the printable vinyl I used. https://www.photopaperdirect.com/products/A4-Matt-Vinyl-Self-Adhesive-Sticker-Paper.html. Here's a dropbox link to the SVG file for the button outlines.https://www.dropbox.com/s/a7qj3k9swujkmkx/ZRC%20template.svg?dl=0

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