We're building 20 sets of bumpers...

[waialua359]

Our team bought an embroidery machine where one of the main purposes was to create numbers for our bumpers.
After one season never again for a variety of reasons, one of which you mention taking too much time.

We tried many other methods in the past.

The best IMO is heat pressing! If you can get someone to donate the numbers, putting them on takes very little effort and time.

[PayneTrain]

We got our bumpers screenprinted at a local shop the last few years (I think ~$30?) , but if recommend either heat press or the old 148 method of a rigid (water jet aluminum) stencil + sharpie. Both could probably be done in a bulk run of sorts and the students could even do the stencil thing by themselves.

[MrBasse]

We heat press our numbers. Vinyl runs about 2 buck for four sets of numbers. Cutting takes a machine that can do it, we use a vinyl cutter or our schools laser engraver. That takes around 10 minutes to cut all four sets. Pressing takes around ten minutes using a t-shirt press.

If you don't have the equipment it would be costly to start. But once you have that stuff you can make a lot of cool things with a laser, vinyl cutter, and heat press.

[rsisk]

Originally Posted by MrBasse

We heat press our numbers. Vinyl runs about 2 buck for four sets of numbers. Cutting takes a machine that can do it, we use a vinyl cutter or our schools laser engraver. That takes around 10 minutes to cut all four sets. Pressing takes around ten minutes using a t-shirt press.

If you don't have the equipment it would be costly to start. But once you have that stuff you can make a lot of cool things with a laser, vinyl cutter, and heat press.

Could you provide a link to the heat press vinyl you use?

[KrazyCarl92]

My old team did silk screen printing for the bumper numbers, which was donated by the same supplier that helped us with signage for the robot (as I recall).

This year the team I am working with does not have such connections established, so we plan to try using these white paint markers:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...t-PX-20-White/

I use them all the time at work, they mark on just about any surface, they dry in no time at all, and they're cost effective. Granted I haven't done it yet so it isn't tried and true, but I'd be surprised if the results were unsatisfactory. Will probably use some sort of stencil or projected image to get the numbers looking neat.

[rich2202]

This is what we use:
http://www.robopromo.com/product_p/rp-2006.htm

We are going to make this ourselves, but may decide to order it pre-made:
http://www.robopromo.com/product_p/rp-2015.htm

They also offer a service to put the numbers on for you. Given that we don't know exactly where we want the numbers, we will iron them on ourselves.

With shipping charges to Down Under, maybe your best bet is just to order the numbers, and get the rest locally.

[BrendanB]

Sarah one option to consider is getting all of the numbers screen printed on to a small piece of bumper fabric and then sewing that "badge" onto your full sized pieces of fabric.

You can do the same trick with paint using a stencil that allows you to swap out numbers for all of the different teams. I have heard of some teams who used spray paint in the past so that might be feasible way to get a lot of numbers painted without having to hand paint every number.

[Mr_I]

AndyMark has vinyl iron-on numbers that we've used for several years.

Take the time to iron the numbers on properly (i.e., don't rush it), you don't want the numbers peeling off during competition.

[JPBlacksmiths]

We just paint on in white paint using stencils. Just a question, why so many bumpers?

[Phoenix Spud]

Thanks everyone for your replies! For cost reasons, I think we're going to try the sail tape (Thanks SoccerTaco for the suggestion) for cost/timing. We'll let everyone know how it all works out.

Originally Posted by JPBlacksmiths

Just a question, why so many bumpers?

With the Robots in the Outback project, we will be going to 9 teams across NSW starting in 5 days. Given the reduced build season, having bumpers pre-prepared will reduce the workload for the teams. On top of this, we help a number of teams in low income neighborhoods who we will make bumpers for. Finally, we have our 2 teams (3132 and 5331). In total, it came to 20 teams.

[The Doctor]

I'm curious, why do you need so many?

[MrBasse]

Originally Posted by rsisk

Could you provide a link to the heat press vinyl you use?

Digi-cut material is nice but the easyweed is a little cheaper and can be found locally more often. I get my stuff from a local sign shop or from Coastal depending on how fast I need it.

http://www.coastalbusiness.com/easyweed.aspx

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by rsisk

Could you provide a link to the heat press vinyl you use?

I can provide the heat vinyl or more info, hit me up buddy!

[Jimmy Nichols]

We usually paint them on using a fabric paint and a template. To do 2 sets of bumpers takes a few days. Which includes the dry time in between coats.