Something Cool for ADA Sign Makers

[Keith Outten]

Last weekend our System Administrator Aaron Koehl created a script for Corel Draw that provides a button on the tool bar for inserting Grade II Braille.

Aaron's script provides an input box to type in the necessary text and then creates Grade II Braille directly in the drawing. It is very slick and has already saved me a lot of time over the last couple of days on a project I am working on at CNU.

The braille interpreter program is public domain software but it is old and needs to be updated. Aaron mentioned that he could rewrite the interpreter and make some improvements. If there is anyone interested and would be willing to shuck Aaron a few bucks for his work when it is finished we might be able to persuade him to write the new program and distribute it here at The Creek.

Anyone interested?

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[Pat Kearney]

Keith, sounds interesting.

Just so I understand properly, I type a word in an input box in Corel Draw, it then appears as braille in the drawing, and I can laser engrave that? If that the case then I am definitley interested. What's Grade 2 braille?

How much do you think we need to chip in?

[Joe Pelonio]

I'm in for sure.

[Keith Outten]

Keith, sounds interesting.

Just so I understand properly, I type a word in an input box in Corel Draw, it then appears as braille in the drawing, and I can laser engrave that? If that the case then I am definitley interested. What's Grade 2 braille?

How much do you think we need to chip in?

Pat,

You get a button on your Corel Tool Bar that opens an input window. Type in the text or number you need and click the generate button, thats all it takes. Grade II Braille is required on all ADA signs by the Federal Government. It is a bit cryptic compared to Grade I Braille because there are abbreviations for things like ing and tion.

Aaron's script automatically formats the braille as 24 point and centers it in the drawing. Aaron has offered to edit his script so that Braille that is selected will be edited in the box automatically rather than having to delete the entry. If no braille is selected then a new entry is created. This would make it a bit easier to edit signs when you use a template which is how I make them at CNU. I am working on 118 door signs for our new library right now, the script saved me hours over the last couple of days and reduces errors.

The old DOS program that Scott found on the Net worked but it was slow and required me to cut and paste then convert the entry to artistic text then to braille then edit the point size. Lots of steps have been eliminated and the possibility of making errors other than spelling are gone forever

How much? I guess it depends on how many people are interested in the new program. We can spread the cost out among a large group is should be very reasonable. I will send Aaron an email and see if he has a number in mind.
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[Mike Ross]

Hi Guys, This sounds like a great tool and I would throw a few dollars in the pot.

Mike Ross

[Ron Thompson]

I haven't needed yet, but if I ever do ..........................

I'd be interested.

Ron in San Jose

[Scott Shepherd]

Yup, I'm interested, providing it's not 3 of us forking up all the cost.

[Ed Lang]

I have never needed to use such a thing, but would pitch in a bit to have the option if I needed it.

[Scott Challoner]

I'm with Ed. I don't have a current need, but I see myself moving more into signage. Can I make braille with my laser?

[Scott Shepherd]

Yes Scott, you can. Easier in some materials than others. Corian appears to be very easy, while acrylics are more challenging. It's not the easiest thing you'll do (or the most fun), but it's certainly something you can do. I do them in Rowmark materials. You'll earn your money on those days, gluing and inserting every single ball.

[Keith Outten]

Aaron came by my shop this evening and edited his script to add the features I needed, basically the ability to click on existing braille and edit it directly. Works even better than before

I told him about this thread so he will be posting something here soon.

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[James Rambo]

Is the braille that is produced with this 'to be' program what could be used in public places like hospitals and such type of buildings? (Sorry if this is a dumb question but I dont do braille now) If it can I would be in for it since I make a few signs for the hospital I work for every month.

[Keith Outten]

James,

Yes, this method of producing braille meets the federal guidelines for ADA signs. I use a laser engraver to make the braille holes in my door signs and get a perfect friction fit so I don't have to mess with glue. This is possible when you use Corian or plastic for your substrate and acrylic braille balls. The coefficient of expansion of the two materials being so close allows the no glue technique. If you were using wood as a substrate and acrylic braille balls you would need an adhesive.

I have engraved over 80 door signs at CNU in the last few days using Aaron's Corel Draw script and I have forty more to complete by tomorrow. I have been able to engrave all of the door signs using just one template editing it for each individual sign because I can edit the template faster than the engraver can produce them (an average 8 minute engraving time and about 3 minutes for cleaning with a brush afterwards). Now that I have a fast and accurate means of editing the braille I don't need to save hundreds of sign drawings, just the template for each building. I can start the engraver, edit the template for the next sign and brush the last blank that was engraved and be ready to replace the sign blank before the laser is finished. When all of the plaques are engraved I cut the letters from 1/16" thick plastic and start gluing in the letters and installing the braille balls. My system is based on volume or production runs and gets the time per door sign down to just minutes per sign which includes producing the plaques on my router. At $45.00 each daily production runs of 20 to 40 door signs are possible so it is profitable work . Material costs are less than $7.00 per sign.

I have been working for months shaving minutes and seconds here and there trying to get my time as low as possible per sign. I have refined my technique several times reducing the time per sign to 50% of the time required when I first started. I think I can get the time even lower by changing a few more steps and by routing the hanger keyholes on the ShopBot. I have been machining the keyhole hangers on my bench drill/mill on the door signs I have made so far. If I had a youngster to glue the letters and insert the braille balls I'm sure I could double my production rate and reduce my cost per sign even further.

Aaron's script is a painless solution to a tough task that I have to do almost every day. Saving me a couple of minutes per sign will produce big savings this year alone.

Aaron is willing to provide just the script which would be very affordable and it works perfectly. The free braille interpreter from NIB, although it is old hasn't been a problem for me.

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[Stephen Beckham]

Keith - I've only had one request to do a sign with Braile in it on Romark Plastic. I know she will be coming back, they were just inquiring - so I will need it eventually.

I know there are more opportunities in the local area so I'd offer it as an by line in a couple ads to get the word out that now a local guy can do it as well...

I'm in on the chip-in...

[Keith Outten]

Stephen,

The last time I looked at my local phone book there were hundreds of sign shops in my area but very few offered ADA signs so the competition drops considerably when you offer ADA work.

The goal is getting the word out that you are able to provide superior ADA signs, an alternative to the same old industrial looking acrylic signs that we have all grown used to seeing in public buildings. You can contact your local building contractors to let them know you are willing to provide a superior product for the same price they are paying for traditional ADA signs. Drop off a couple of samples to show them your product quality and in a short period of time you will have more work than you can imagine. Nothing better than a steady stream of profitable work to improve the bottom line.

I don't advertise, I respond to "Requests for Bids" these days and two jobs per year is all it takes to make me happy. Its true I work for CNU full time now but two commercial sign jobs is very close to my annual salary as a state employee and is only about 3 months work part time. I have invested serious capital in my shop and equipment over the years so it isn't as though you can just get your shovel out and fill your bank account. There is some hard work involved as well but the payback is very quick and the profit margin is the best I have ever seen. I wish someone would have told me years ago that this kind of work was so profitable and so plentiful.

I have also stopped engraving for the public altogether, haven't engraved a photograph in so long I doubt I could provide the service if I had to

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