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Ken_McE
Flashlight Enthusiast
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The Coolwire people have one at:
http://www.thatscoolwire.com/forum/default.asp
but its pretty quiet there. What do you want to do with your sheet?
http://www.thatscoolwire.com/forum/default.asp
but its pretty quiet there. What do you want to do with your sheet?
You're right Ken.
Trying to make a running/dynamic sign board, flashing in sequence. I saw one flexible thin ad panel laminated with plastic sheet, its got a running sign (flashing in sequence).
Can I use sticker cutting machine to cut EL sheet ?
Got difficulty to cut the sheet properly. Any idea
Trying to make a running/dynamic sign board, flashing in sequence. I saw one flexible thin ad panel laminated with plastic sheet, its got a running sign (flashing in sequence).
Can I use sticker cutting machine to cut EL sheet ?
Got difficulty to cut the sheet properly. Any idea
billw
Enlightened
http://www.coolight.com has some inexpensive sequencers for EL wire
that should work OK for EL sheet as well, maybe (it looks like the
wire tends to use higher voltages and frequencies than some sheet,
which may result in shorter life. YMMV, depending on the sheet,
I guess.) Working with the wire instead of sheet may be more
efficient overall; since you can form it instead of cutting and
throwing most of it away...
that should work OK for EL sheet as well, maybe (it looks like the
wire tends to use higher voltages and frequencies than some sheet,
which may result in shorter life. YMMV, depending on the sheet,
I guess.) Working with the wire instead of sheet may be more
efficient overall; since you can form it instead of cutting and
throwing most of it away...
billw
Enlightened
Note that there is a relatively recent "thinner" EL wire available.
about 1mm diameter...
about 1mm diameter...
billw
Enlightened
The Lytec (Israeli) small wire claims to be 1.2mm, and the Elite2 (chinese) small wire claims to be 0.9mm. Thus "about 1mm."
Actually, I hadn't heard the chinese wire for sale before someone
mentioned Thatscoolwire. (aside from nasty comments without refernces from some of the Lytec distributers.)
Might have to try some
Actually, I hadn't heard the chinese wire for sale before someone
mentioned Thatscoolwire. (aside from nasty comments without refernces from some of the Lytec distributers.)
Might have to try some
Ken_McE
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2003
- Messages
- 1,689
>Trying to make a running/dynamic sign board, flashing in sequence.
Is this a poster/sticker where different parts light up at different times?
>Can I use sticker cutting machine to cut EL sheet ?
I am not familiar with sticker cutting machines. Mechanically an EL panel is just a sheet of plastic with some conducters in it. The EL panels I have seen have two leads going to them for the electrical supply. I understand that the panel as a whole is acting as a capacitor. When you cut your parts you would need to cut them so as to not break the electrical circuit.
I have no panels here to check, but seem to recall that if I hold one up to the light one lead goes around the outside edge and one goes into the middle. I also don't know if you risk causing a short if you make a ragged cut.
>Got difficulty to cut the sheet properly. Any idea
Are you doing one or two, or hundreds? For one or two I expect an exacto knife or scissors would do. You could also consider putting down a layer of uncut panels and putting cut out masks of any opaque material over them. The material does not have to be thick to be opaque. The whole panel would light up, but you would only see the shapes in the openings. You would then light the panels in sequence to get your running effect.
These people:
http://www.lightpanel.com/
make EL exit signs, although the panel is probably heavier than what you have in mind. I have spoken to them on the phone and found them helpful with EL questions.
If you are making large numbers of signs you might be able to get panels that either come precut or that have the interal circuit arranged so you can cut a particular shap without harm.
Is this a poster/sticker where different parts light up at different times?
>Can I use sticker cutting machine to cut EL sheet ?
I am not familiar with sticker cutting machines. Mechanically an EL panel is just a sheet of plastic with some conducters in it. The EL panels I have seen have two leads going to them for the electrical supply. I understand that the panel as a whole is acting as a capacitor. When you cut your parts you would need to cut them so as to not break the electrical circuit.
I have no panels here to check, but seem to recall that if I hold one up to the light one lead goes around the outside edge and one goes into the middle. I also don't know if you risk causing a short if you make a ragged cut.
>Got difficulty to cut the sheet properly. Any idea
Are you doing one or two, or hundreds? For one or two I expect an exacto knife or scissors would do. You could also consider putting down a layer of uncut panels and putting cut out masks of any opaque material over them. The material does not have to be thick to be opaque. The whole panel would light up, but you would only see the shapes in the openings. You would then light the panels in sequence to get your running effect.
These people:
http://www.lightpanel.com/
make EL exit signs, although the panel is probably heavier than what you have in mind. I have spoken to them on the phone and found them helpful with EL questions.
If you are making large numbers of signs you might be able to get panels that either come precut or that have the interal circuit arranged so you can cut a particular shap without harm.
mezzman
Newly Enlightened
also try out the folks at Cool Neon, they supply a good range of raw EL wire and sequencers.
http://www.coolneon.com
http://www.coolneon.com
The Chinese are making everything now, EL wire, sheet, tape, El drivers, etc. Some are making good quality products, not all.
I want to make this kind of EL panel :
http://electroluminescence-inc.com/ELsheets.htm
I manage to get one sample. They print the pictures & colours on tranparent film, put el sheet behind it. Then bonded or laminate them together. Simply back lighting. In some area the el sheets are cut into 2mm wide.
With this stuff, your imagination is the limit
I want to make this kind of EL panel :
http://electroluminescence-inc.com/ELsheets.htm
I manage to get one sample. They print the pictures & colours on tranparent film, put el sheet behind it. Then bonded or laminate them together. Simply back lighting. In some area the el sheets are cut into 2mm wide.
With this stuff, your imagination is the limit
PhotonWrangler
Flashaholic
I've got one of their American Flag flexible badges. There's a company in the US that's marketing them along with a t-shirt with a slot cut through it to pass the power cable through. Their name escapes me at the moment...
billw
Enlightened
> The Chinese are making everything now
My perception is that a lot of this is because the Chinese simply
ignore US (and international) intellectual property laws. :-(
Nichia and Lumileds tip-toe around trying not to be sued by each
other, while china ships $0.20 white LEDs via eBay. Sigh. Of course, I have SOME sympathy since the IP situation in the US and
elsewhere is clearly so out-of-control as to have become 'silly',
but in other cases ... For instance, the Lytex EL wire seems like
it has several aspects actually deserving of patents, and I have
little doubt that the chinese knock-off wire infringes on those
patents, and substantial doubts that they've licensed anything from
Lytec...
My perception is that a lot of this is because the Chinese simply
ignore US (and international) intellectual property laws. :-(
Nichia and Lumileds tip-toe around trying not to be sued by each
other, while china ships $0.20 white LEDs via eBay. Sigh. Of course, I have SOME sympathy since the IP situation in the US and
elsewhere is clearly so out-of-control as to have become 'silly',
but in other cases ... For instance, the Lytex EL wire seems like
it has several aspects actually deserving of patents, and I have
little doubt that the chinese knock-off wire infringes on those
patents, and substantial doubts that they've licensed anything from
Lytec...
LED-FX
Enlightened
Wtach out with cutting EL material, it dosn`t like moisture and will act as a magnet to it.
If you cut EL, tape/sheet/string make sure all the edges are sealed by laminating the finished item or using heatshrink and silicone on string etc.
EL material is formed with an electrode at the back, usually aluminsed mylar and a transparent electrode at the front,clear mylar coated in Indium Tin Oxide, ITO, same stuff is used for heated windscreens.With phosphor sandwiched inbetween.
Functions like a capacitor,if you increase frequency impedance falls and it glows brighter with a penalty in lifespan.
Adam
If you cut EL, tape/sheet/string make sure all the edges are sealed by laminating the finished item or using heatshrink and silicone on string etc.
EL material is formed with an electrode at the back, usually aluminsed mylar and a transparent electrode at the front,clear mylar coated in Indium Tin Oxide, ITO, same stuff is used for heated windscreens.With phosphor sandwiched inbetween.
Functions like a capacitor,if you increase frequency impedance falls and it glows brighter with a penalty in lifespan.
Adam
LED-FX
Enlightened
Im guessing that sign cutter probably wont due to thickness of material, but possibly something heavy duty, may.
Steel die cutting or possibly laser cutting might be cost effective.
The ones you reference, would guess, are screenprinted:
http://www.dupont.com/mcm/pdfs/ELProcessingGuide.pdf
Original developer of EL string is Elam from Israel
http://www.elamusa.com/
HTH
Adam
Steel die cutting or possibly laser cutting might be cost effective.
The ones you reference, would guess, are screenprinted:
http://www.dupont.com/mcm/pdfs/ELProcessingGuide.pdf
Original developer of EL string is Elam from Israel
http://www.elamusa.com/
HTH
Adam
LED-FX
Enlightened
Would look further into screenprinting, sign cutting stuff out of sheet might be tricky, for detail.
Don`t think the screen ink system is cheap , but neither is slicing large sheets of EL.
Most screen systems are photo exposure nowadays, and it allows all colour overlays to be handled in the process.
Adam
Don`t think the screen ink system is cheap , but neither is slicing large sheets of EL.
Most screen systems are photo exposure nowadays, and it allows all colour overlays to be handled in the process.
Adam
Just received a couple el badges from China supplier, 7 cm in diameter. Took of all the casing, looked at the el panel, complicated /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif
Definitely using a cutting machine.
Tricky to make, but very challenging
Definitely using a cutting machine.
Tricky to make, but very challenging
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