Adhesive/tabbed overlays - C47 & WP43 (DM42), WP3xS, DB48X, newRPL variants!

[spiff72]

(07-26-2023 11:52 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  

(07-26-2023 03:08 AM)spiff72 Wrote:  [snip]

The trouble with this approach (tab attachment - no adhesive) is that while it may work on MY calculator, it may not work on all DM42 calcs. From what I have read here and on the other forum, the height of the opening on these slots is quite variable.

I'm including an imgur link to some photos of the glossy test sample for your reference (I would use the matte finish for the real deal once I get everything figured out). It's a little rough around the key cutouts because I haven't dialed in the cut pressure on the Cricut machine yet - it was set for the vinyl/laminate combo.

This overlay looks excellent, it should be even better in matte finish.

Regarding the slits, they are are all the same height. What varies is folks ability to estimate sub 1mm heights accurately, which unless done carefully can indeed be non-trivial to measure. Also, as you noted on your DM42, the default label can be tight or slightly raised at the edges, depending on the proximity of the adhesive underneath, which can lead to seeing the slits differently.

IMHO, inf you're going to use labels with an adhesive back, I would not attempt to also use tabs, as installing this would be a nightmare, and is almost certainly not needed. If removal of the vinyl overlay were to lead to partial separation of the original bezel, which I think quite unlikely, it can be easily restores with thin double-sided tape as is often used for phone repairs. I don't recall any reports of a DM42 bezel coming loose, though 1 or 2 users have reported removing them early on, and they noted this is harder to do than expected.

Continued good luck, these labels are excellent and are helping the community adopt these various machines for daily use in their new personalities.

Thanks - my second post has a link showing the matte overlay applied to the "old" printed vinyl and adhered to my DM42.

And I agree - there is no reason for the tabs on an adhesive backed overlay.

I already peeled off the one from the photo I mentioned above - as I was peeling it was pulling the stock faceplate away from the calculator - it appears to me that the stock faceplate may be applied with adhesive only along the top and bottom edges of the faceplate, leaving the middle "floating". I will post a photo I took of the process showing the stock faceplate pulling away in the center later tonight.