The $2 Backlit Button Panel: Simple Method For Flight Sims and More

Need to backlit a button box, instrument panel or artwork? Here's an inexpensive method for making crisp backlit panels using a home laser printer, that look like they've come straight out of a professional lightbox. Recommended Glue: https://amzn.to/367mlay

This is a simple, effective way to quickly make a full-colour flight simulator instrument panel or button box that is backlit using a home printer. It takes some careful work to get printed panel that backlights well, but this method is very low-cost, and produces crisp results limited only by the resolution of your printer.

Recommended Spray Glue (low soak-in suitable for paper): https://amzn.to/367mlay
Arduino Mega: https://amzn.to/3t3fB5F
Mini Toggle Switch: https://amzn.to/3uV3xFY
16mm SPST Buttons, easy Panel-Mount: https://amzn.to/3sEIswK

0:00 Intro
0:02 Beauty Shots
0:47 Warthog Project Laser Engraver
1:55 Initial Test Washed Out
2:04 No Backlighting with Foamcore
2:48 Materials Plexi Acryllic
3:14 Lightbox
3:55 Better Paper
4:10 Registration Black
4:47 Printing the Back-Side Mask
6:32 Spray Glue Layers
7:51 Invert and Levels
8:08 Next Steps