Sign Making Machinery
Sign-making machinery boasts the newest technology, with even traditional methods enjoying modern advancements in engineering. The humble sign, silent and deceptively simple, is a paradox of ancient principles, often executed by methods that were unheard of until the late 20th century. Sign making is an age-old craft dating back to the beginning of recorded history, and is an industrial marriage of old-world hand craftsmanship and cutting-edge machinery.
Vinyl Cutters
Before the 1980s, many signs were hand painted by seasoned sign artists. As the personal computer was introduced to the public, computer aided design (CAD) language and pen plotters were developed. Plotters were originally used in the accurate rendering of building plans, maps, and engineering drawings. In the early 1990s, the pen plotter was modified with a swivel blade, and used to cut adhesive vinyl. This invention revolutionized the sign industry, allowing sign-makers and non-artists alike, to produce signs quickly and inexpensively.
Vinyl cutters cut shapes and lettering into vinyl, and the excess background material is removed by hand. Wide strips of masking tape are applied to the surface, which allows the lettering to be peeled off the backing strip intact. The masking tape and lettering is applied to the sign surface with a plastic squeegee, and the masking tape is removed, revealing the lettering.
Digital Printers
Digital printers have been in use for indoor sign making since the mid-1990s. With the development of more durable printing materials, colorfast and fade resistant inks in the early 21st century, digital printers have become a formidable force in sign making machinery. Similar to a monster home ink jet printer, digital sign printers are largely responsible for producing billboards, vehicle wrap signs, murals, wall signs, displays and other signage. Digital printing technology also allows printing on fabric, and rigid materials of most every type.
Depending on the material used and its particular application, digital printed signs sometimes require the addition of a clear top laminate, which enhances color fastness, and protects against moisture and abrasion.
Screen Printers
Screen printing, also known as silk screening, is one of the oldest printing production processes, and is still widely used today. Screen printing's ability to print on most any surface with colorful, durable inks, made screen printing the production signmaker's method of choice for hundreds of years. Up until the invention and subsequent improvements in digital printing machinery and inks, screen printing was responsible for billboard and display printing, as well as general sign work. For large quantity work, screen printing is still a viable method in sign production, as it can reproduce even the most complex images accurately, and at speeds that far surpass digital machines.
In small shops, screen printing is done by hand, or with the aid of semi-automatic presses. Large format, semi or fully automated machines are used for large volumes. Job set-up takes time, making screen printing expensive for shorter print runs, but when set-up charges are amortized over a long production run, screen printing is quite economical, and is unmatched for durability right off the press.
CAD Engravers
Engraving is another ancient sign-making art that has benefited from technology. CAD controlled engravers come in a number of forms, and use metal engraving bits or lasers to engrave lettering and designs into any engravable material. Stone, metal, glass and plastics are common engraved materials, and are used for durable signage and markers.
CAD Routers
Routers are distantly related to engravers, but warrant their own category due to the scope of work which they produce. Traditional CAD routers use metal routing bits, which can engrave, but are commonly used to cut through material to form shapes and lettering. The cut forms are applied to sign-backing material with adhesives or by mechanical means. 3D routers are used to create three-dimensional signage in wood or plastic materials, hand or spray painted, and give the look of beautiful hand carving, at a fraction of the cost.
