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#180831 - 25/09/2003 11:19 Casting of Buttons, Redux
maczrool
pooh-bah

Registered: 13/01/2002
Posts: 1649
Loc: Louisiana, USA
Well, it looks like Casting_Fool is lost in space. So we are about to put money down on another company (thanks Mach!) to have the casting done- either this week or next.

What colors does everyone want? Get your say in soon, because we order no later than next week.

Stu
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If you want it to break, buy Sony!

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#180832 - 25/09/2003 11:23 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
What colors does everyone want?
Milky gray, so they look like the original buttons when unlit. (If the new casting people can pull that off well, that is.)
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Tony Fabris

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#180833 - 25/09/2003 11:51 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: tfabris]
loren
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
I'd want a Dark gray, so the buttons look black when the lights are off, and smoke when on.
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|| loren ||

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#180834 - 25/09/2003 11:59 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: loren]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
Red for the wife's car. A bright yellow-green for mine. But I'm broke right now, so I couldn't buy them immediately, so don't make those colors specially just for me.
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~ John

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#180835 - 25/09/2003 12:00 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: loren]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
The four standard empeg lens colors, plus a smoke (in visible light) to match the VFD color when illuminated. I like the idea of having the colors being milky in daylight, but I am not sure how this would look / work in practice. Better diffusion through the buttons is highly desired.
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Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

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#180836 - 25/09/2003 13:42 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: pgrzelak]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
Yeah, this would be cool, I'd like sets like this. Of course I haven't found original green or red lenses yet...

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#180837 - 25/09/2003 13:51 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
genixia
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 08/02/2002
Posts: 3411
VW dash red please

(That'd possibly match the red used in Audi instrumentation too?)
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#180838 - 25/09/2003 15:26 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: genixia]
Lupo
member

Registered: 08/10/2002
Posts: 103
Loc: AC, Germany
VW red for me too
And the ones that look stock when unlit sound good to me too.
(Yellow would be nice, but I think I'm the only one with that choice )

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#180839 - 25/09/2003 16:44 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: pgrzelak]
Mataglap
enthusiast

Registered: 11/06/2003
Posts: 384
What Paul Grzelak said.

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#180840 - 25/09/2003 17:08 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: genixia]
Taym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/06/2001
Posts: 2504
Loc: Roma, Italy
I'd like to get them too. Audi/VW red as well.

Also, is there any way to get some silver/chrome ? I don't know if there's a way to do that on plastic... Of course I'd buy those in metal as well, would it be possible...

I did not follow this topic much. Shoudl I send money to somebody in addvance?
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= Taym =
MK2a #040103216 * 100Gb *All/Colors* Radio * 3.0a11 * Hijack = taympeg

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#180841 - 25/09/2003 17:50 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: Taym]
maczrool
pooh-bah

Registered: 13/01/2002
Posts: 1649
Loc: Louisiana, USA
Definitely will be a red.

There is a process called electroforming that deposits a copper "strike" followed by a finish plate or nickel strike followed by chrome onto nonconductive parts. I'm not sure that it would hold up to repeated use however. I've experimented with the process a little by gold plating a pine cone, but the results were only marginal. In short, it's probably not a good idea to plate plastic for this application. You can probably get a jeweler to cast some solid metal buttons and knobs for you if you really want them.

Stu
_________________________
If you want it to break, buy Sony!

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#180842 - 25/09/2003 18:36 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
No problem, glad that I could help.

I know we've discussed this but I'll throw it out here to see if anyone else is interested. I'd like the standard button colors with the smoke buttons to match the original but I'd like to have buttons with a phosphorescent tint (blue and blue green would work best but other colors are available) if its a viable option.

Also depending on what the caster says, a frosted effect may be a decent option also (via sand blasting after casting).

I'd also like to bring up the flexible button option here.

Finally, metal like finishes may be possible with something like this but the caster would have to decide if it's possible and worth the trouble. It's doubtful they would be illuminated if the powder was dense enough to give a metallic finish but it could, if it was only metal flaked. ( Hmm, frosted, glows in the dark, flexible with metal flake....if you can get a treble hook embedded in them I'll use them for fishing )

If any of these options are plausible, I would pay extra for them.

Thanks!

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#180843 - 25/09/2003 18:58 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: Mach]
tracerbullet
addict

Registered: 08/01/2002
Posts: 419
Loc: Minnesota
I'm sure you've heard it, but I'll say it again - THANKS! for doing this.

Just an idea, how about a poll to get started with? Unlike many other bulletin boards, I think the empeg owners would actually stick to their choices, understanding that if they check a color they would want, that they really shoould intend to buy it as well, lest you put a lot of work into something that doesn't get anywhere.

I'd like blood red as well If these become available, expect to see orders for light kits increase!

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#180844 - 25/09/2003 20:37 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
CHiP
enthusiast

Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 345
Loc: New Jersey, USA
yeah, what Paul said. I like the smoked color. I have a set of green ones (thanks paul) that look great.
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-CHiP

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#180845 - 26/09/2003 12:11 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
rmitz
member

Registered: 09/06/1999
Posts: 106
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
All the grey-scheme suggestions so far sound good to me, particularly the black-to-smoke one. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be possible to have the lit color match the green of the smoke lens, so I'm not worried about that.
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Fly me to the moon...

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#180846 - 26/09/2003 12:23 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: rmitz]
Lupo
member

Registered: 08/10/2002
Posts: 103
Loc: AC, Germany
Hi,
another idea that just came to my mind: Is it possible to mold buttons so that only the "surround" (border) is lit, and the rest is black or the original grey? But then still, one could paint its buttons by himself.

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#180847 - 29/09/2003 21:20 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
JrFaust
member

Registered: 07/02/2002
Posts: 193
Loc: New Richmond, WI
I'd like to get a set of red ones (GM red ) and a set of blue about the same darkness as the OE lens.
Oh translucent red and blue that is don't think I really needed to say that but just in case.
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Drive fast, Play it loud!!!
20GB Original Blue Lens MKIIa Rio SN 030102760, Blue Buttons.
20GB Original Green Lens MKIIa Rio SN 040103268 Grey Buttons.

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#180848 - 29/09/2003 21:31 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
elvis
enthusiast

Registered: 18/01/2002
Posts: 270
Loc: Arizona USA
BMW red please.
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Elvis

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#180849 - 30/09/2003 04:43 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
DBALKUNJR
member

Registered: 17/12/2001
Posts: 194
I'd be in for a set of red buttons.
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Dave

MK2 12Gb
MK2a 60Gb

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#180850 - 30/09/2003 04:53 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
talmou
new poster

Registered: 22/05/2002
Posts: 20
Loc: London
I would probably want 1 or 2 sets of smoke coloured.
_________________________
Jim MK2#090000841 MK2a#120001050

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#180851 - 30/09/2003 09:41 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: talmou]
julf
veteran

Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
<snore> <bzzz>...

Uh... Could someone repost the link to the pictures?

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#180852 - 30/09/2003 10:15 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: julf]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
The buttons in question haven't been produced yet. Brian was producing them once upon a time.

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#180853 - 30/09/2003 10:16 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: julf]
maczrool
pooh-bah

Registered: 13/01/2002
Posts: 1649
Loc: Louisiana, USA
In reply to:

Could someone repost the link to the pictures?




You me this?

Stu
_________________________
If you want it to break, buy Sony!

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#180854 - 30/09/2003 10:30 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Or perhaps this one? Amber, blue and smoke combinations...



Attachments
180724-trio.jpg (207 downloads)

_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

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#180855 - 30/09/2003 11:07 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: pgrzelak]
julf
veteran

Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ahh, yes, thanks!!

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#180856 - 30/09/2003 15:39 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: Mach]
maczrool
pooh-bah

Registered: 13/01/2002
Posts: 1649
Loc: Louisiana, USA
The parts went out today for mold making. Thanks Paul (pgrzelak)!

Stu
_________________________
If you want it to break, buy Sony!

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#180857 - 01/10/2003 05:34 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
speedy67
enthusiast

Registered: 18/12/2000
Posts: 342
Loc: South-West-Germany
I'd like a set of red, blue, smoke (VFD-Color when lit) and milky white (for the UV-LEDs) or what do you think would be the best for UV???
If available, original lens green and amber would be fine, too (if they're affordable )

cheers, Thomas
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cheers, Thomas new owner of the MK1 00123 MK2 12GB 090000815 (my first one) MK2a 040103735 (from 303) and ???

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#180858 - 01/10/2003 08:18 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
tms13
old hand

Registered: 30/07/2001
Posts: 1115
Loc: Lochcarron and Edinburgh
I'd like amber, to match my screen; milky or smoke would also be good.

Anything else that users can find in the dark would still be an improvement on the stock unlit buttons!
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Toby Speight
030103016 (80GB Mk2a, blue)
030102806 (0GB Mk2a, blue)

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#180859 - 07/10/2003 14:03 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
maczrool
pooh-bah

Registered: 13/01/2002
Posts: 1649
Loc: Louisiana, USA
I just got off of the phone with the caster. He says he should be making the molds on Friday of this week and will be getting samples out next week. I'll post some images of them when they come in.

Stu
_________________________
If you want it to break, buy Sony!

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#180860 - 07/10/2003 14:07 Re: Casting of Buttons, Redux [Re: maczrool]
RobotCaleb
pooh-bah

Registered: 15/01/2002
Posts: 1866
Loc: Austin
how hard would it be to get a glow from just the edges of the buttons and faint glow out the front?
ill try to draw up a picture of the idea

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