Using Locators??

[Andy Gorman]

I don’t understand the question, but you can use them where you like.
Of course, using locators on a letter or panel without returns means you can see the locators when looking from the side.

[Nathan]

Andy – I have a customer who wants some cut out lettering attached to a piece of flat Dibond. I have used locators on trays before, the nut & bolt sits on the back of the tray within the return. What I am unsure of is how can I attach a locator to a flat substrate without using a screw as this would stop the substrate from lying flat on the shop fascia. I hope I have explained myself a little better.

Thanks
Nathan

[Andy Gorman]

Yes, I see. That’s an awkward one.

I suppose I would get the shortest self tapper I could and then maybe stick some circles of maybe 5mm thick where the locators are going to sit (on the face) to make the panel a bit thicker to take the screw length.

What material is the substrate? If it’s acrylic or foam you could glue the letters on with some acrylic rod, rather than use locators.

Edit: Just noticed you are using Dibond. Ignore the sentence above, as I don’t know of a glue that sticks to dibond, but there must be one.

[Andy Gorman]

I’ll just keep posting daft ideas as they come to me. 🙂

Can you fix the locators from the back of the panel? Countersunk holes with a small nut and bolt? The bolt would have to be just the right length so it didn’t interfere with the stud.
I’m sure you can get small countersunk bolts.

Maybe…..

[Martin Cole]

Scuse me stepping in here,
but surely if the Dibond is going straight onto the shop fascia as you say, then just use plastic locators screwed through Dibond and into the fascia behind.

This is if the letters are flat cut or moulded.

Or am I missing something here 😕

[George Elsmore]

butting in here also i had this scenario once and used plastic locators dropped a small washer in the cup and pop riveted from the back pulling the rivet onto the washer worked a treat if you know what i mean Harry 😕

[Nathan]

Thanks for the ideas, I’ll have a play around and see what method works out the best.

Nathan