Custom Aux Switch Buttons

[WILDHOBO]

I’d also like to know how difficult/expensove/space-required it is to get into laser etching. If anyone would like to share, I’d be interested.

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[MassAppeal16]

Count me in if you decide to start making these! Very nicely done!

 

[stoneknives]

It has always bugged me that the only way to rename the factory Aux switches in my JTM was to put a sticker on them (I used black DYMO tape w/white letters). Once the labels were stuck on the text on the buttons was no longer visible at night… and frankly they looked like crap. I searched all over for somebody who offered custom laser-engraved Aux switches for the JT & JL’s, but couldn’t find anything, so I decided to tackle the project myself.

I removed the buttons from the switch housing, carefully sanded & re-painted them, laser engraved the new text, and reassembled. It was a lot of effort, but I think they came out pretty good.

-Mark

Nice work

 

[bill61]

I’d also like to know how difficult/expensove/space-required it is to get into laser etching. If anyone would like to share, I’d be interested.

We had one at work. It was a LaserVal. Around 15 years ago they sold for $50K. I’m sure they are much cheaper these days. The foot print was about 30” x 36” and around 30” tall for the cabinet. And there was a computer tower along with it. There was a filter system (important if you don’t want to breath fumes) that was a stack of five filters and about 2’ x 2’ and about 36” tall.

 

[Flyin6]

Wow! They look great! Nice job. If you start doing it as a side business, let us know!

X2

 

[RCott77]

Gooks great, very nicely done!!

 

[Free2roam]

Find a wrecked Gladiator. Pull the switches send them over. Then just start doing a swap out. For people who want them.

 

[djthumper]

I wonder how hard it would be to 3D print.

 

[Reddout99]

Excellent work

 

[msiminoff]

...you're telling me when the Infotainment system senses 12v coming from the trail cam, the screen automatically switches to the front cam feed?

My trail cam functions the same as yours... I have to select the "cargo cam" from the on screen menu and then my FRT CAM aux button sends power to the camera. The configuration in Z Automotive's instructions has the front camera powered on any time the Jeep is on.

That’s outstanding. If you’d consider letting me pay you to do mine, send me a dm. Such nice work.

Thank you for the compliments and especially to those of you who commented that you'd be interested to have me engrave buttons for you! At the outset of this project I’d really hoped to be able to offer custom switches as a product/service, but now that I’ve been through the process I don’t think it can be done economically… my process is too labor intensive, and unfortunately just not as simple as drop the switches into the laser engraver and push start. The entire switch assembly needs to be taken apart to get to the bare button caps (without damaging any of the components). The paint and existing text has to be sanded off by hand (yes, I tried bead-blasting... no dice), then the buttons needs to be re-painted with several coats automotive lacquer. Once the paint has dried the buttons are held in a custom fixture in the laser engraver and precisely aligned so that the text is in the correct spot (the illuminated "window" on the buttons is quite small and there's only room for 6-7 characters). After engraving the buttons get cleaned & clear-coated, and then the whole switch assembly gets put back together. This doesn't include the labor that went into designing & printing the engraving fixture and creating the artwork for the engraved text.... Oh and the $45K laser machine (I have a 100W CO2 laser from LaserPro, but this job could probably be done with a <$1K diode laser engraver).
The only way I see to make custom buttons economically would be to have access to blank button caps which I could quickly engrave and sent out to folks for them to install themselves (this is what OTRATTW does). To get the bare buttons I'd probably need to design & build an injection molding tool... and these buttons are a double-shot part (top is white plastic and bottom is black plastic), so thats an expensive tool. I'd guess $50K or more. Another option would be to 3D print the buttons (I have a printer), but given the very thin geometry on the back of the buttons, I don't think they're a good candidate for that process.

All that said, if any of you is interested to pay what it costs for me to do the work then I welcome you to DM me and I'll be happy to give you a quote (which I suspect will wind up being considerably more than anybody would be willing to pay for 4 laser engraved buttons).

Cheers!
-Mark

 

[msiminoff]

I wonder how hard it would be to 3D print.

The geometry on the back of the button caps is complex and thin, not ideal for 3D printing, but it may be worth a shot. I have a Bambu X1C w/AMS, which can do multiple colors. I'll take a stab at drawing up a sample button cap and see how it looks.
Even with a 3D printed part there would be a lot of hand finishing to get them to look as good as the factory buttons. I'd probably have to charge $100 per button.
-Mark

 

[BillyP]

The geometry on the back of the button caps is complex and thin, not ideal for 3D printing, but it may be worth a shot. I have a Bambu X1C w/AMS, which can do multiple colors. I'll take a stab at drawing up a sample button cap and see how it looks.
Even with a 3D printed part there would be a lot of hand finishing to get them to look as good as the factory buttons. I'd probably have to charge $100 per button.
-Mark

Only $100 per button….people will pay. That’s cheap for just about anything we buy for our Jeeps.
Just Empty Every Pocket!

 

[webduelist]

I would love to have some heated seat buttons that look like the Factory ones with the 3 Stage LEDs for after market kits rather than some cheap rocker switches.

 

[msiminoff]

I would love to have some heated seat buttons that look like the Factory ones with the 3 Stage LEDs...

I don't think that is possible with the factory aux switches

 

[HazMatFool]

Dang! You're hired!

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