Star Signs

Star Signs

Who is Star Signs?

Star Signs is a company that designs, fabricates and constructs customized signage products that is located in Lawrence, Kansas.

Product(s) & Services:

The products made by Star Signs range from a variety of signs, wall murals, graphics and wayfinding signage.  As well as creating these products they also provide repair services.  Typically repair contracts are on products that were created by Star Signs, but on occasion repairs are rendered on an item that was built by other companies.

Markets:

Star Signs’ services are provided for many different types of businesses, organizations and individuals. Some of these include schools and universities, businesses that range from startups to well established, sports teams and private individuals. Star Signs provides services that cover a single small project or a large sign that incorporates electrical lighting.

Materials:

A variety of materials are used in the process of construction.  For the construction of most signs, the light weight and strength of 90% aluminum provides a well-rounded platform for a strong, light and long lasting product.  Polycarbonate acrylic provides a variety of functions that include a translucent quality that can be colored to any request as well as shape while it is easily handed and cut to specifications.  Vinyl is also used for wall murals.  Vinyl is a flexible material that has the ability to be printed on with any desired graphic or text.

Forming Technologies:

To bend the sheets of aluminum to the desired shape a variety of tools can be used. Slip rollers and sheet metal brakes are the primary tools used to shape the metal.  To accommodate with the ADA or just to give signs a three dimensional shape, a photo polymer is used to for relief lettering or braille.

Cutting Technologies:

Star Signs uses a CNC machine to cut out desired shapes or lettering up to ½ inch thick. If the product specifications require a larger piece than their machine can handle, they generally subcontract a company like the P1 Group that utilizes other equipment such as laser cutters or waterjet cutters.  If a long straight edge needs to be cut a metal sheer is a fast and simple method.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joining Technologies:

To assemble pieces of the signs, metal is welded or bolted together depending on the specifications of how the sign is designed to look and what the customer wants. For the polycarbonate signage glue is used to fix the different pieces together.

Finishing Technologies:

Metal is sanded to provide a slightly scored surface for the paint to more easily attach to the metal. This process also provides a longer lasting and better quality final product.  After sanding the surface is washed thoroughly dried and primed to form a base for the final coat of colored acrylic paint. Another type of paint that can be used is powder coating. Powder coating is a very durable paint that is resistant to weather and physical abuse but is not flexible. After painting the surface area the powder coat covered metal is placed in an oven and baked for several hours at several hundred degrees. To apply graphics to metal, plastic or vinyl digital printing can accurately repetitively provide results.