How Do You Make a Button Machine?

button-making-2.jpg




If you are interested in making buttons, you might be wondering how to make them. Fortunately, there are several ways to do it. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, consider a button maker. These machines can be set up and start making buttons automatically, whereas previous button makers required you to remove the parts and attach them separately for each part. While there is a learning curve, you'll soon be able to make two buttons, and eventually thousands of them.


One of the best tips for selecting a button making machine is to make sure that a heavy duty machine is actually needed before purchasing one. If you are only making a couple of buttons for an event that is not a big deal it could make sense to borrow or lease a machine. This issue can be resolved by buying a child's button maker, and accepting the limited functionality while still making only a handful of buttons. By investing a little time, a person can cut costs and make the same product.


Ink jet inkjet printers have high resolution for tiny buttons


Ink jet printers are used to form color filters in LCD and plasma displays and conductive traces in circuits. For more information about inkjet technology, see the Hutchings and Martin eds., Inkjet Technology for Digital Fabrication, published by Wiley. In addition to printing buttons, inkjet printers can be used to produce other types of printed materials, such as color filters and conductive traces.


Compared to laser printers, inkjets have better quality output. However, even the highest-resolution laser prints can display cross-hatching patterns, reducing the perceived resolution. Laser printers are faster and can print up to 28 pages per minute in color. Also, because of their dry printing process, laser printers do not create rusty buttons. Laser printers can also be expensive, but they yield more prints per cartridge than inkjet printers.






 


Plastic button parts can be problematic


While buying a sewing machine, there are many advantages to having your own custom-made button machine. However, if you're planning to create one on your own, you'll want to avoid plastic. Plastic button parts will reduce the value of buttons. Also, if the dies are interchangeable, you'll end up damaging your machine. So, it's best to stick to only one button size for your button machine.


To avoid this, you'll want to make sure that the dies are well-lubricated. Older button makers will grind if they're not lubricated. Silicon grease is inexpensive and easy to obtain. Silicon grease is a good option for the die carrier plate and base plate. Another inexpensive option is lube sticks. Use these to grease the plastic parts of your button machine.


Graphic software options


There are a number of different types of graphic software for making buttons. You can use Microsoft Word, Corel Draw, or Adobe Photoshop. Both of these programs come with a learning curve. Whether you're creating a logo or editing stylized art, Corel Draw is the program for you. It also has tools for enlarging vectored images and handles a variety of button sizes, including pinback buttons.


If you're an amateur, you can use free graphic software like Gimp. You can even make simple buttons by adding a jpg file to text. Alternatively, there are plenty of artisans and arts and crafts junkies who create custom pinback buttons. Using stickers and ink stamps can also be a good option. Other organic materials such as cotton can also be used to make buttons. And if you're looking for a fun project, you can experiment with pressing a rag or piece of cloth into a button.


button-making-1.gif




Cost of a button maker


There are many factors to consider when evaluating the cost of a button maker. The price range depends on the type, shape, and materials used in the manufacturing process. A button maker with all-metal parts is usually more expensive than one with plastic parts. If you want to create a large number of buttons, a high-quality machine is essential. However, if you don't plan to use the button maker often, it is better to choose a cheaper model and save money in the long run.


A low-cost circle cutter can be a good choice for small-scale button printing. This tool has interchangeable plastic centering templates for 1" buttons, and can be modified to fit other sizes. It comes with a metal cutting plate that protects surfaces from crushing paper as the rotary blade cuts through the paper. A replacement blade is only $7, which makes this machine more affordable than die-cut graphic punch devices. Another bonus is that the machine is made in the U.S.A.