Add Decals to Plastic Prints Also DSO138 Oscilloscope Case

This is how I add text / Icons (Decals) to my 3D Printed Parts (Plastic).

Supplies

Thing's needed:

• Something 3D Printed.
• Laser Printer.
• Acetone, a very week mix.
• Magazine Paper, very thin with a satin finish.
• Small Syringe or Pipette / Dropper to apply the acetone.
• Scissors.
• Disposable Tissue.
• Sticky Tape.
• Oh, obviously a computer with software to design you decals.

If you are to build my DSO138 Oscilloscope Box with Battery Modification:

• 1 x 1200mAh Li-Po Battery. (Approximately 11mm x 27mm x 57mm)
• 1 x MT3608 Step Up Boost voltage converter. (approximately 17mm x 37mm with rounded corners.)
• 1 x Micro USB Lithium Battery Charger Module Charging Board With Protection.
• 1 x Toggle Switch. (6mm dia. shank.)
• 1 x 2 pin JST 2.54mm plug.
• 8-12 x M1.7x6 flat nosed self tapping screws. (I usually get these by the hundreds)
• Wire and soldering tools.

Step 1: Prologue

Usually I will search the net to see if some instruction has been done before. If it has, then there is no need to repeat it.

This acetone process has been done before, I don't know who was the first, but, I do believe in giving credit where it is due. I first saw this process done for making a PCB. I came across this video: DIY PCB Toner Transfer (No Heat) & Etching - YouTube.

It gave me the idea to go further with it. I'm not making a PCB. So lets continue.

To demonstrate this process I will be using a case I made for my DSO138 Oscilloscope.

The process is not a lot different, its the use on plastic I have not seen it done on.

Also I wanted to add a rechargeable battery to the DSO138 so that I didn't have to keep plugging it into an external power supply.

So I guess this is two instructions in one.

I hope people find it a useful idea.

Step 2: Plastic Parts

There is not much to instruct with the plastic parts.

You can use something you have printed.

Or. Print what I am working on here.

So here are the files for my DSO138 Oscilloscope Case and some images to show which way up to print them. The images also show the settings I use to print them.

Note!

There are two options for the Back Cover:

1. With the Battery Modification.


2. With no Battery.

So, Number of prints needed:

1 x Front.stl.

1 x Back_With_Battery.stl or Back_No_Battery.stl.

4 x Washer.stl.

4 x Button.stl.

1 x Button_R.stl. (this looks the same as Button.stl but has a small notch in it. It is for the reset position.)

3 x Slide.stl.

If doing the Battery Modification:

1 x Charger_Retainer.stl.

1 x Battery_Retainer.stl.

Step 3: Affixing Laser Printed Decals

The easiest thing to do is Watch the Video.

I will do a recap for those who don't like my Yorkshire accent.

About the Magazine Paper, I cant say exactly which magazine to use, all can do is describe what I am using.

It's the sort of magazine that you find on a table in the reception of the dentist or doctors surgery. One where all the pages have colour on them.

The magazine that I am currently cutting up, has RichList2019 written at the top of the pages.

The thickness of the paper is approximately 0.045mm (0.0015")

Step 4: Video Recap 1 (Design and Print Decals)

The first thing to do is design and print a preview of the decal(s) you want to put on your project.

If you are doing my DSO138 Oscilloscope Box, I have attached a file of the design I have made. I have exported the file to SVG format so that it can be opened with most vector graphic applications.

When you print the image, it must be Mirrored.

Notes!

• It is best to keep the design less the A5 in size, if you want to do bigger, brake it down into small pieces. the way a laser printer works, it uses static electricity to transfer the toner to the paper. The more paper, the more static electricity it needs.


• As we will be adding a sheet of magazine paper on top of the preview paper we print, this increases the overall thickness of the paper, increasing the amount of static charge needed. We can tell the printer to give more electric charge by altering the setting to heavy satin/matt paper. Some laser printers may give more control and allow increasing the amount of toner.


• Most Laser Printer are designed for printing text, when you start to add large areas of black, some may get patchy.


• One good thing about modern laser printers, is: When you replace the toner, you are also replacing all the other important bits.

Step 5: Video Recap 2 (Reprint Onto Magazine Paper)

Once you are happy with your design, attach some Magazine Paper (cut slightly over size) over the Preview Print.

Send it through the printer again to print the image onto the Magazine Paper.

Step 6: Video Recap 3 (Cut Magazine Paper in to Manageable Sizes)

First I cut the magazine to the size of my project.

This gives me edges I can use to align the Decals.

Then I cut this into smaller manageable pieces.

Step 7: Acetone (Nail Polish Remover)

Not a lot of acetone is required.

I have not tried it with neat Acetone, What I have works.

I don't know if any of the other chemicals in the Nail Polish Remover do anything to aid this process, so if it does not work with other brands please leave a comment, or if it does work with other brands for that matter.

The mix = 2:1

2 x Nail polish remover.

1 x water.

To apply the mix to the decal, I use a small 1mL syringe.

For this project I mixed 2mL Nail polish remover and 1mL of water and it was enough.

There is a stronger version of this nail polish remover, but using strong stuff just melts the Decal.

Step 8: Video Recap 4 (Affix Decals)

This bit should become easy with practise.

The file I attached also has some "Test" text under my project decals. It is good practice to do a few test samples before doing your main project.

Its best to watch the video, I have done some screen shots to jog the memory.

1. Be sure you have an area of the Magazine that can be held in place.


2. Align and hold/fix the Decal in place.


3. Apply a few drops of acetone (watered nail polish remover) until the paper becomes opaque/transparent.


4. Rub lightly over the top of the Decal, in a direction away from where it is held so that it does not move.


5. When the paper is no longer opaque/transparent and feels dry to the touch, (The Acetone will have evaporated but the water will remain.) lift of the paper.


6. Press firmly over the Decal with a tissue to dry it off.


7. If there are remnants of the original ink from the Magazine Paper, add a little acetone (watered nail polish remover) and wipe it away, trying not to wipe over the Decal.

Step 9: My Attempt

This is how mine turned out.

Obviously refinement and practice will improve the end result.

I hope that applying Decals to 3D Prints was of interest to some.

I will now continue with the assembly and modification to my DSO138 Oscilloscope Case.

Step 10: A Little Change to the Main Board

My DSO138 Digital Oscilloscope is a cheap version from China.

You can buy the ready assembled, or with some parts needing assembly.

Either case they come with assembly instructions.

One of the instructions is to: Make a small loop of wire and solder it to the two solder points of "J2".

This is a loop of wire on which you will be able to attach your probe to get a square wave test signal.

I have placed a standard 2 pin 2.54mm header in stead.

I have also done this at he ground test point.

To get the loop needed I have made two dupont connectors with wires attached and plugged them on the headers.

Step 11: If Fitting the Battery Option

If adding a rechargeable battery to the DSO138, then the white power socket will need moving to the rear side of the PCB.

Before removing the socket to move it, it is best to mark which pin is the positive terminal.

Marking the positive terminal will save confusion when fitting it on the reverse side of the board.

Step 12: Front Part Assembly 1

Lay the front part of the case face down on your work surface.

Place the sliders and buttons in the relative holes as shown in the photo.

Note, the reset button is slightly different and has a notch which faces up.

Step 13: Front Part Assembly 2

Fit the Assembled DSO138 Oscilloscope into the front section of the case.

Take care while doing this that the slide switches a aligned correctly, do not force it in.

The wires on the headers may need a little help lining up, I use some narrow tweezers to guide them through the holes.

Use 4 x M1.7x6mm Self tap screws with washers to hold the board in place.

There is a small amount of lateral movement to align the screen before tightening the screws.

Note!

It's only plastic, take care tightening the screws.

I usually drive the screw back and forth when fitting screws for the first time in plastic, driving the screws back and forth creates some friction (Heat) which softens the plastic.

Step 14: Back Assembly (No Battery)

If Not fitting a battery, just fit the back piece (No Battery version) in place with four M1.7x3mm screws.

If fitting a Battery continue on.

Step 15: Treat Li-Po Batteries Nicely

I just love Li-Po batteries, one of the best things to come out since sliced bread.

BUT, you need to treat them nicely.

The Number One rule to a lasting Li-Po battery is: Do NOT let the voltage fall below 3 volt.

Let them drop below 3 volt and they become bin fodder, dead no use what so ever.

There are other rules like don't over charge, but my number one is the one above. Most batteries sold will have protection against this happening, but there are situations that can arise that may bypass this protection.

I only mention this because I learned the hard way. Ended up with a few dead batteries.

So when it comes to using a Boost or Buck, I think of the Joule Thief.

So my number two rule when using a Boost or Buck and a Li-Po battery is put a switch between them.

My box is designed for the 1200mAh Li-Po Battery like the one shown.

Step 16: The Charger Module

I will be using the 18650 Lithium Battery Charger Board Protection Module.

The 18650 batteries are a bigger capacity than the battery I am using and as I will be making this a permanent fixture so to speak I want something I think will last longer.

This board has the charging circuit on it, but it also has battery protection. (battery protection to handle a 18650.)

One of my issues I have had with a couple of the 1200mAh batteries is the MOSFETs have failed. So I am going to remove the ones built into the 1200mAh batteries, since this board has better ones (hopefully).

Removing the protection circuit inside the battery can be optional.

Step 17: The Boost

The manual for the DSO138 Digital Oscilloscope states 8 to 12 volt power input (Not to exceed 12 volt). So I am going for about 10 Volt.

To do this I will be using an MT3608 Step Up Voltage Boost.

As I have mentioned, I have had these drain Li-Po batteries (bypassing the protection) so the the on/off switch will go between this and the battery.

Step 18: The Circuit

The Circuit is quite simple.

I have made a fritzing of the circuit.

You will notice there is a diode in the circuit, this is to safeguard the battery circuit if; Any external power is used.

The battery is charged from the USB on the Charger Board.

Step 19: Fitting the Battery and Charger

I hope the picture show how it all goes.

The long retainer is held in place with two M1.7 self tappers in the ends.

Note!

The circuit shows a loose wire to a loop. This loop goes through two small holes in the top of the back case. This wire comes directly from the positive side of the battery.

I have added this wire so the voltage of the battery can be checked with the probe. Remember my first rule about the longevity of Li-Po batteries. Never let them fall below 3 volt.

The adjustment screw on the MT3608 should be accessible through a slot in the plastic when all components are fitted.

I have set the voltage to10 volt.

Step 20: Finish Up

The last thing to do is plug the power into the Oscilloscope and screw the front and back together, using 4 x M1.7 self tapping screws, two each side.

I also add 4 small rubber pads to the bottom to finish it off.

Step 21: All Working Fine

Check it all works OK.

To check the battery voltage level, set the oscilloscope to DC and have it in text mode. Hold the probe on the battery wire on top of the case and read the Vrms voltage shown.

BTW, The reason I have fitted the GND loop, is: Some where to put the ground clip when not in use. :)