The legalities are over!

Because I had kept all the files on this job, I was able to create the new text portion of the sign in the exact spot where I needed it. This allowed me to punch through the texture of the original sign background, so the texture would be perfectly in sync with the old portion of the sign. Not being able to conceal the edge led me to putting a small raised border around the new inset piece. If you can't hide it, make it a feature!

Our Techno cut out the whole section in around 45 minutes with a 1/4" ball nose cutter. This included the text and border cleanup toolpaths.

The final piece fit in like it had been cut on a cnc router! :) A Techno cnc router that is!
I only used urethane glue in the 4 corners, just incase it goes through another name change............

The lighting at the time of install really hides the subtle brickwork texture, but as the day progresses, it really starts to pop. Although it's hard to see in the picture!
The install went amazingly fast. It actually took longer to get it out of the van!
It really is an eye catcher as you drive past it. It looks just as good at night under the lights on the posts as well!
8)
JWO

Oh Those Crazy Lawyers!

3 years ago, if you remember, we did a sign for a law firm in Oshawa. A city about 40 minutes from the shop.

Well, I do believe that since that time, one of the lawyers has become a judge, and they needed the sign changed to reflect the new name! I knew at some point the name might change, but was kinda hoping it wouldn't!

Our sign was in remarkable shape! The only issue I could see in terms of weathering, was the small chains on the justice scales. They had started to rust a little! I actually don't mind the real patina left by nature!
Luckily, I keep almost every file I have ever created, so doing a name change on a sign like this isn't an impossible task. The biggest challenge would be crossing my fingers that it fit under the gantry on our Techno. The original sign was cut in layers to allow for the welded steel frame inside. But now, the layers are all one piece!

Clearly this issue was not of any concern when the sign got to the shop! As I had all the original computer files, I was able to scribe in the sign outline into the spoilboard. This gave me something to manually line the actual sign to. Insuring that everything would be straight, and where it should be. It's a bit freaky running a finished painted sign back under the cnc, for obvious reasons...........

But the worry was for not! There were no mishaps, and everything worked out fine!
8)
JWO

More for the Lawyers!

No, I'm not getting divorced!

The Lawyer sign we did was a huge success. They really liked it, especially as we made the justice scales in full, as opposed to just creating a relief.

They have asked us for some more signage, for names and hours and stuff. They also wanted to see some other finish options. So I worked on the weekend drawing up a sample piece for them to decide on. It will also look good hanging in the shop when we get it back. A win-win for us.

I have no information on their hours, so I put in ours! I decided that in order to keep a constant design element throughout the signage, I would use the laurel portion. It didn't take long to draw up the shapes in Aspire, as well as add the texture to them. I used my weathered bronze texture for rendering it, to see if I liked it.
Once it was modeled, I sent the files to our Techno cnc for machining. This is why I LOVE our Techno:
The plaque is 11" high X 12" wide, I cut it with a 1/16" tapered ballnose cutter for the detail and ran it at 300ipm. for a grand total cutting time, including bit change to a 1/8" for cut-out, of 65 minutes!  Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

I was so intent on getting it done for today, I forgot to take progress pictures along the way, remembering at this stage. Basically a hammered brass finish, with a couple of glazes for weathering.

This was the result when I was done. I think they're gonna like it alot. The polished brass highlights add alot to it.
We'll just wait and see what they say!
8)
JO