Spray Painted & Laser Etched Silicone Rubber Light Guide for the Aerospace Industry

One of our Aerospace customers designed a molded silicone button light guide that is painted black over white with laser etched graphics.  We subcontract the clear silicone molded part and handle the painting and laser etching in-house.

Because of the silicone substrate, we use a special silicone ink for optimal adhesion.  We apply the white ink to meet a particular light transmission level which we measure using a custom light fixture and a photometer. Next, we apply the black ink over the white ink and then laser etch the parts using our Ytterbium Fiber Laser. This process is used to remove the black ink only, exposing the white graphics.  Our highly trained staff then scrutinize the parts for imperfections and touch them up. Finally, we plasma treat the parts to promote coating adhesion, and apply the final clear matte top coat of silicone to improve durability and appearance of the finished part.

For more information on the complex fabrication processes and materials used on this product, see the table below or contact us directly.

Spray Painting & Laser Etching Project Highlights