Using decals for visual enhancement

[ercox7]

Does Alibre have a "decal" feature ?

 

[Ken226]

Does Alibre have a "decal" feature ?

No. Unfortunately, I am not aware of anything like that.

I have seen older threads referring to creating labels as separate parts, using a very thin extrude, then adding them to the part in an assembly.

I have been intending to play with that idea to see what happens, but havn't done anything yet.

 

[Ken226]

It looks easy enough for simple labels. It's just a matter of how much effort you would be willing to invest. I created the 1-2-3 gear labels using the above mentioned method. It took a few minutes.



The numbers, borders and inside region are different faces. , I applied a different face color to each, to allow for selecting different colors in Keyshot.




And one for the lower F/R lever:






Edited to add:

Still playing around with this idea. The "project" tool in conjunction with a really thin raised feature, and different face colors allows for a decent simulation of a wrapped vinyl decal:

 

[OTE_TheMissile]

I have seen older threads referring to creating labels as separate parts, using a very thin extrude, then adding them to the part in an assembly.

(and yes, we still regularly get phone calls from customers angry that their flagstand broke off when they tried to drag a 6' American flag down the interstate at 70mph )

 

[HaroldL]

...
Still playing around with this idea. The "project" tool in conjunction with a really thin raised feature, and different face colors allows for a decent simulation of a wrapped vinyl decal:

I should have tried that with this label I created for my tool chest model. I made it as a part with extruded text in order to follow the contours of the lid..

 

[Ken226]

I should have tried that with this label I created for my tool chest model. I made it as a part with extruded text in order to follow the contours of the lid..

View attachment 37208

That appears to have worked quite well!

I've been using a thickness of about .0005" for these labels, about the thickness of a single coat of Cerakote.

I think an average sheet of notebook paper is .004". Creating labels is actually a bit easier than I expected.

 

[HaroldL]

I just tried it and found that Wrap is missing from the Part Ribbon in Sheet Metal.
I'm sending this to Support and hope this is just an oversight and can be fixed real soon.

Top ribbon is Part modeling in sheet metal.
Bottom ribbon is the part modeling ribbon.

 

[jfleming]

That appears to have worked quite well!

I've been using a thickness of about .0005" for these labels, about the thickness of a single coat of Cerakote.

I think an average sheet of notebook paper is .004". Creating labels is actually a bit easier than I expected.

Most vinyls are between 3 and 6 mils or .076-.152" thickness.

 

[Ken226]

Most vinyls are between 3 and 6 mils or .076-.152" thickness.

Are you certain of that?

I was using " in place of the correct double prime symbol, to indicate inches. 6 mils is .006 inches. Which is .152mm

A vinyl decal .152" thick would be quite thick indeed. But .152mm would be about right.

Didnt an airplane crash once due to such conversion errors while fueling? :0

 

[jfleming]

Are you certain of that?

I was using " in place of the correct double prime symbol, to indicate inches. 6 mils is .006 inches. Which is .152mm

A vinyl decal .152" thick would be quite thick indeed. But .152mm would be about right.

Didn an airplane crash once die to such conversion errors while fueling? :0

That was typo on my end, but yes, 2 mils, (vehicle wraps), 3 mils (outdoor signage & "stickers"), 21 mils (powersports graphics)

 

[Cator]

Hi @ercox7 ,

in my model that I submitted for the contest I used Insert image to insert reflective decals.

Not very fast however it gives great results!

 

[jfleming]

I never saw that model in the contest????

 

[Cator]

I never saw that model in the contest????