Sensata klixon rocker switch group buy?

[jetdriven]

Not only that but aircraft engravers won't engrave the covers. They told me they are made for hot stamp lettering and cannot be engraved.

[carusoam]

Certainly would be a challenging surface to engrave.

We have a person on board here that has flat surface engraving experience...

Nicely engraved Mooney key chains were shown a while ago.

It would take some creativity to hold the piece while the engraving goes on.

Thinking out loud,

-a-

[jetdriven]

Perhaps the plastic is too soft. Here is the text.

Byron,

In one word, no. Those rocker switches are hot stamped and can't be engraved easily. The old text would have to be machined or sanded off, then engraved. Here's where the real problem arrises, the switch plastic was made for hot stamping which gives them characteristics that are terrible for engraving. We've done other sets of these in the past and had lost money in all the time we had to spend making then look good. Even at $50 to $60 a switch wouldn't be enough money for us to take on this job. That plastic was made for hot stamping which we don't do.

Sorry for the disappointment.

Wayne

Wayne Cahoon

Aircraft Engravers

(860) 653-2780 ph

(860) 653-7324 fax

http://www.engravers.net/

[dcastor]

Not only that but aircraft engravers won't engrave the covers. They told me they are made for hot stamp lettering and cannot be engraved.

 

That's disappointing as I talked to them previously and while he said he was concerned about the type of plastic, he didn't indicate he might not be able to do it.  I had planned to send him one of my broken switch covers to experiment on and take measurements from.  I recently found a new vendor that is selling Klixon switches with the text already on them for about $270 each.  I've asked if they can offer us any sort of quantity discount.

[carusoam]

Engraving on a single color piece won't stand out like hot stamping would.

In this case ink could be laid into the etched surface.

Something else to consider...

(1) There are a lot of 'local' golf ball printers around transferring ink to odd shaped surfaces with photographic qualities.

(2) Consider UV ink curing.

Rubber stamp places ink characters on the surface, UV light cures it...

If it's not right, wash it off and try again, then cure it...

Yogurt cups are done this way at 600 pieces per minute.

(3) Laser etching is also a possibility. Depending on the chemistry a colored surface can result.

Test runs in a packaging lab gave me this experience...

The ink might be somewhat sensitive to the base polymer. The ink companies can give insight to that.

Packaging is often polypropylene and polystyrene. ABS would be chemically similar to some extent.

In general, I would expect the plastic was not selected by it's ability to be hot stamped. The plastic is usually selected for it's physical, electrical, and molding properties first and the decoration method follows after.

Best regards,

-a-

[Marauder]

Just get me plain white ones and I'll be happy. Maybe I am not too picky, but my Brother label maker is fine. My original lettering faded anyways. Sent using Tapatalk

[jetdriven]

Does anyone make a label maker that prints white letters on a black or clear background? I have a lot of small placards that could be replaced easily with one.

[N601RX]

The brother P touch will. I have the PT-2710. It will do anything up to one inch. I got a new one off ebay for under $30 several months ago. For rows of switches and breakers I have found it looks neater to make one long label instead of several short ones.

[Marauder]

Does anyone make a label maker that prints white letters on a black or clear background? I have a lot of small placards that could be replaced easily with one.

Byron -- look below my switches in the picture. Those are black background, white letters. You can also get a clear background with other colors for the lettering.

[dcastor]

Just get me plain white ones and I'll be happy...

Sent using Tapatalk

You said you aren't picky, but...I aim to please... You can get these switches in translucent (original equipment and according to Klixon it's supposedly green??) or opaque white. It looks like you've got at least opaque white switch in your picture already.

If you want opaque white, that is doable.

Dave

[Marauder]

The opaque white ones in my plane are original. The Nav one that is pure white is not a Klixon but a standard Piper rocker with a separate breaker attached to it. The gray one is a rocker that is attached to a relay and is used for the radio master.

Opaque is fine.

Sent using Tapatalk

[cnoe]

Does anyone make a label maker that prints white letters on a black or clear background? I have a lot of small placards that could be replaced easily with one.

Byron, I've got a label maker (Brother) that does the white print on black tape. You're welcome to use it any time. I've been working on labels too and will pick up another roll of the black tape for us both.

For all of you... Is there a best way to re-ink the existing engraving on my current (working) switches?

Chuck

[dcastor]

For all of you... Is there a best way to re-ink the existing engraving on my current (working) switches?

 

I tried fine point sharpie...it looked terrible, and (thankfully) it rubbed off almost immediately.

[BillC]

Chuck,

There is a paint that was designed for exactly what your looking for. It's called a paint crayon. It's an oil based paint that you can apply onto the switch lettering. Don't worry about smearing it onto the switch outside of the lettering. Then rub the switch face down onto a piece of clean paper placed on the edge of a table. Keep moving the switch face to a clean side of the paper until all the excess is removed from the unwanted parts . Only the recessed part of the switch will retain the paint. Let dry for a few days.

It worked well on my switches, but because the plastic was worn on the switches used more often, there wasn't enough of a ridge to leave paint behind and most of it rubbed off. If you can feel the depression of the letters, you may well be a candidate for this type of restoration.

I forgot where I bought the paint crayon, but it was mail ordered from an art supply house. Just google "paint crayon".

Good luck,

Bill

[Martin Wright]

Dear Mooney aircraft owners, I have also been looking for Klixon Rocker switches for my Rockwell Commander 114A and I believe Beech aircraft use the same switches.  I have registered with your site since I believe we have mutual interests with aircraft parts used in all three aircarft.  I have been quoted £220 + P&P for a 20TC4 5 amp switch and this is currently on order through a supplier in the UK (Order to be confirmed).  However, I will inevitably require other switches and would be grateful if you can advise me whether you have been sucessful in obtaining supplies at a more reasonable price and, if so, would you be prepared to supply to me?

 

Geoff Wright

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard Geoff.

If I remember correctly...

Much of the discussion was about replacing just the plastic switch cover which has a tendency to age and crack. Leaving a perfectly good 220£ switch with a broken $5 part.

There may be some good news, depending on the switch. Some people have used a commercial 3D printing source to make a similar plastic part. With appropriate decoration it worked well.

Hope this helps...

Best regards,

-a-