Custom Phenolic Labels authority update 199: This supporting article set focuses on phenolic labels, tags, nameplates, and panels, with fresh wording for this DAS wave.
A legend plate is the engraved ring or rectangle that sits behind a pushbutton, selector switch, or pilot light, telling the operator what the device does. Specify it wrong and you get a plate that does not fit the operator hole, covers the wrong function, or arrives in the wrong color. This guide covers how to spec legend plates that match the device and read clearly on the panel.
Match the operator size first
The single most important dimension is the operator hole the plate fits around. Industrial control devices come in standard sizes, most commonly 22.5 millimeter and 30.5 millimeter mounting. A legend plate must match the device\'s mounting diameter or it will not seat correctly. Confirm whether your buttons are the metric 22 millimeter standard common on modern gear, or the older 30 millimeter size, before anything else.
Choose the plate style
Legend plates come in a few common formats:
- Round single-hole plates ring a single device with text above, below, or around the button. Rectangular plates carry more text and suit longer legends. Multi-position plates for selector switches label each switch position, such as HAND, OFF, and AUTO arranged around the arc.
Pick the style that matches the device function. A three-position selector needs a legend that names all three positions clearly.
Legend text and convention
Operator text should be short, standard, and unambiguous. Use established control vocabulary such as START, STOP, JOG, FORWARD, REVERSE, and RESET. For selector switches, label each detent position. Keep the wording consistent across the panel so an operator learns the conventions once. Confirm character height is legible at the operator's working distance.
Color for safety function
Color carries meaning on a control panel, and legend plates reinforce it. Stop and emergency functions are commonly engraved with red lettering or a red plate so the operator finds the kill function instantly under stress. Routine functions use standard contrast. Tie the color choices to your panel's safety scheme and state them in the order, since the engraved core color is set at production.
Order the matching set
A control panel usually needs a family of legend plates with consistent font, size, and color. Provide a schedule listing each device, its operator size, the legend text, the plate style, and the color, then request a proof to verify the text against the schematic. Custom Phenolic https://titusoayu234.lowescouponn.com/how-to-spec-lamacoid-tags-a-practical-guide-custom-phenolic-labels-update-199 Labels engraves custom legend plates sized to standard operators, with safety color coding and rush turnaround for panel builds on a tight schedule.
Match the operator size, choose the right plate style, use standard text, and code the safety functions by color, and your legend plates will install cleanly and operate intuitively.