How to make a 4D laser cut number plate

Intro

4D laser cut number plates are the latest and greatest craze in the car scene, and for good reason! 4D number plates add an extra level of depth and style to a car. With their sharp laser cut edges and unique presence, it's clear to see why these are popular. This knowledgebase article will teach you how to make a 4D laser cut number plate.

Step by step:

1. Taking the acrylic and reflective that you produced following our previous guide (see here if you've not done this step yet), place it securely into your purpose built number plate jig.
2. Gather the letters and digits required for the registration you're making. Don't forget to double these if you are producing both a front and rear plate.
3. Looking at the guidance on the top of your jig, match the registration format to the registration you are producing. For example, UP14 TES would use number 2, matching XX10 XXX. This will be your starting point.
4. Position the slider so that the left side is directly on the line below the relevant number (2 in our example). Peel off the protective film from the rear of the character and place it carefully onto the plate through the open section of the slider. Ensure you place it correctly, using the bottom of the slider to align the character. As long as you're sure of it's position, press down with a bit of pressure.
5. Lift the slider off the jig and reposition it on the right of the character you just placed, placing the left side of the slider firmly against the first character. Place the next character in the open section, just as you did on the first character.
6. Repeat the process for each character as necessary. When you come to the point where you need a larger space (33mm as opposed to standard 11mm), use the extra spacing bar to increase the gap. This would be between the 4 and T in our example registration. Continue as normal after you have made this larger space.
7. Upon placing the final character onto the plate, remove it from the jig and hold it up. You should inspect the plate carefully to ensure characters are consistent in their vertical positioning, forming a neat line, and ensure there are no other notable issues.
8. If there are any issues with the placement of the characters, you can attempt to remove individual characters by bending the number plate where the incorrect character is, then prying up the digit. This will be extremely difficult, and nigh on impossible with our 4D 5mm characters.
9. If you are pleased with the result of the first plate, and the customer has requested a pair of plates, produce the second number plate following the same strategy.
10. When you have finished both plates, or the single plate if the customer has not requested a pair, you should apply extra pressure to the letters and numbers to ensure that the pressure sensitive adhesive is fully activated. If you have a height adjustable roller, set this to the optimal height for the plate and letter combination, and roll them through. There should be plenty of resistance as you roll them.

Important notes:

• The 4D characters we sell come with a protective film on to ensure no scratches can occur on the surface of the letters during manufacturing or delivery. We advise leaving this on for the customer to remove.
• If you don't have a height adjustable roller, you can apply pressure to the characters in alternative methods, some more unorthodox than others. You can, for example, place the number plates on the floor (ideally protected by a microfibre cloth) and then stand upon them. Distribute your weight across the plate to ensure all characters are affected.
• One method of removing the 4D letters and digits from the number plates once they are stuck on, is to hit the plate against a solid surface with the characters facing down. This will shock the adhesive and potentially release it. However, doing this risks damage to the acrylic plate itself.