I was just interested if someone on this site has had some experience creating architectural signage from sandblasted melamine. I'm talking raised letters and braille room signage.
I've manufactured a few but am having touble getting the right combination of masking material, blasting medium, air pressure, and orifice size.
Thanks so much for your assistance
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
There are companies that do it on all kinds of material "glass, aluminum etc.), the major drawback to doing ADA signs is making them compliant, the ADA Guidlines in review now states that the raised characters must have eased edges, and that the braille be domed or round. Sandblasting compliant ADA signage is difficult at best, then there is the hassle of even thickness of the letters, which must be maintained at 3/32" and the braille being between .025"-.037" painting the letters/and or backround, making sure the backround sandblasted area is not so texture as to interfere with the letters and braille. I can't say it can't be done, but you already have to have the intracate knowledge of ADA, ANSI, Grade 2 braille translation. I remember a company called "raysist" (sp) that made a sandblast resist, mostly for glass, but might work on malamine.
Rick
Posted by Dave Draper (Member # 102) on :
I have been doing a ton of research on CNC routers as of late as we are determined to put one in our shop in the next couple of months.
As a result of that research, I stumbled on a few engraving and CNC routers applications perfect for ADA signage. Sandblasting doesn't seem the right way to go about this. It might be wiser to just order the signs custom made from one who has the equipment already, unless you are really on a quest to figure this out. You know what they say: "Time equals money!" How much time does one invest learning before it outweighs the profit on the job?
