Custom Pushbutton & Selector-Switch Legend Plates
How do you order the right legend plate?
A legend plate identifies a push button, selector switch, or other control operator. Order it using the operator manufacturer and part number, required cutout and anti-rotation features, approved wording, and available panel space. A nominal 22 mm or 30 mm operator size alone does not specify every plate dimension.
Will any 22 mm legend plate fit a 22 mm operator?
Do not assume it will. Verify the manufacturer's operator dimensions, cutout, locking or anti-rotation features, plate thickness, and surrounding panel clearance. Send the operator part number or drawing with your order so the finished plate can be reviewed against the actual hardware.
What wording should be engraved on a control legend plate?
Use the function name approved by the panel designer or operating standard. Confirm spelling, abbreviations, switch positions, and any required color conventions against the current drawings. The engraving shop reproduces the approved wording; it should not infer a control's function from its location.
Download the label ordering template
CSV label schedule · Excel label schedule (ZIP)
Keep one row per distinct label design and use the quantity column for repeats. Unzip the Excel file to access instructions, a blank order sheet, and clearly marked examples. Replace example wording with your approved project data, preserve leading zeros, and confirm the source revision before uploading.
Order custom engraved legend plates for pushbuttons, selector switches, pilot lights, and emergency-stop controls. Send the approved operator list and component drawings with your required text, dimensions, colors, material, and quantities. CPL engraves in Kennesaw, Georgia and ships nationwide to panel builders, contractors, and facility teams.
Pushbutton and pilot-light legends
Identify the panel and operator reference for every plate. Supply the approved function or equipment wording, exact line breaks, and any required symbol artwork. Separate repeated designs from plates with different legends. The panel designer supplies the function and wording; the engraving shop should not infer what an unmarked control operates.
Selector-switch positions and orientation
Show which legend belongs to each switch position and how the plate will be viewed on the installed panel. Include the manufacturer and part number, outside plate shape, opening, retaining arrangement, and any anti-rotation detail. A function list without the position layout may not define the engraving correctly. Check the proposed layout against the current control drawing before release.
Emergency-stop identification
Include the approved emergency-stop wording, symbol or language requirements, dimensions, and specified background and text colors. Provide the actual component drawing and surrounding panel clearances. Confirm the required identification with the responsible machine designer or project team. An engraved legend plate does not establish the control’s safety function or certify the machine or installation.
22 mm and 30 mm fit details
These dimensions refer to nominal operator sizes, not every outside plate dimension or retaining feature. Do not assume that any plate described as 22 mm or 30 mm fits every operator with that nominal size. Send the manufacturer, part number, plate thickness, opening dimensions, slot or keyway, and available panel space so the proposed plate can be reviewed against the hardware.
Replacement legend plates
Send a straight-on photo, measured outside dimensions and opening, and the operator part number or drawing. Identify which appearance details must match and confirm the current function text. A photo helps show the layout, but it does not replace measured geometry or establish what the control does. Request a proof for the affected design before releasing a replacement set.
Material and exposure
Standard plates use multi-layer engraving laminate, commonly called phenolic or lamacoid. Specify any required manufacturer grade and describe heat, sunlight, moisture, cleaning chemicals, and the mounting surface. Confirm the proposed stock, thickness, color pair, and attachment for the actual conditions. A trade name alone does not establish an outdoor, chemical, flame, or dielectric rating.
Organize the panel-build order
Use one row per distinct plate design, with a quantity for identical repeats. Keep the panel ID, operator reference, manufacturer part number, text, physical specifications, and controlling drawing revision together. Add assembly or packing groups and confirm the requested sorting with the quote. For a complete faceplate spanning several operators, send a dimensioned overlay drawing rather than treating it as one generic legend plate.
Pricing, proof, and delivery
The quote depends on quantity, material, dimensions, cutouts, engraving detail, preparation, and requested grouping. Include the receiving location and required date. Confirm what the proof covers, check the complete set against the approved records, and resolve unclear entries before production. Stock, capacity, packing, and delivery arrangements are confirmed for the actual order.
Send your operator list and drawings for a custom legend-plate quote.
Legend plate sizing and ordering checklist
The 22mm or 30mm dimension describes the nominal operator mounting size, not the outside dimensions of every legend plate. Match the plate to the actual device.
| Material | Multi-layer engraving laminate, commonly called phenolic or lamacoid. Send any specified manufacturer, series, or true-phenolic requirement for review. |
|---|---|
| Thickness | Common engraving-stock options include 1/32, 1/16, and 1/8 inch. Confirm the thickness and color combination with your quote; availability varies by stock. |
| Color and finish | Specify background and engraved-text colors separately. Black/white, white/black, red/white, and yellow/black are examples on our color chart; confirm the selected stock for your environment. |
| Exposure | Tell us whether the piece is indoors or outdoors and list heat, sunlight, moisture, and cleaning chemicals. Material and mounting limits must match the installation. |
| Operator fit | Send manufacturer, part number, nominal operator size, and the cutout or anti-rotation drawing. |
| Plate layout | Specify outside width and height, text, number of lines, and reading orientation. |
| Batch sorting | Include panel ID and operator reference for each row so the finished plates can be grouped for assembly. |
Example: legend plate order row
Illustrative order data. Confirm fit against the device manufacturer drawing.
| Panel / operator | CP-01 / PB-01 |
|---|---|
| Text | PUMP START |
| Nominal operator | 22mm; attach manufacturer part number |
| Colors | Black background / white text |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Cutout | Use the supplied component drawing |
Prepare a complete operator-legend quote
Keep the control drawing revision and component part numbers beside the exact engraving text. Include the plate dimensions, cutout, thickness, colors, material requirement and quantity for each design.
Use the fit and ordering guides below, and confirm grouping, the requested proof and receiving date with the quote. Approved source data and measured geometry govern the order.
Request a custom legend-plate quotelegend plate sizing and ordering guideOEM and panel-builder identificationcomplete control-panel overlaysspecify the engraving materialgrouped and revised label schedules
Frequently asked questions
Are 22mm and 30mm legend plates interchangeable?
No. They refer to different nominal operator sizes. Check the device manufacturer and part number, outside plate dimensions, and anti-rotation features before ordering.
What text can be engraved on a legend plate?
Send the operator function, equipment reference, or position text exactly as approved on the drawing. Include line breaks and any symbol artwork. We review the text for the available plate area.
Can you match an existing pushbutton legend plate?
Send a photograph, outside dimensions, opening dimensions, and the operator manufacturer or part number. Those details are more reliable than the nominal operator size alone.
Can plates be supplied in panel assembly order?
Include the panel ID and operator reference in the source list, and request grouping by panel or assembly sequence with the quote.
How are legend plates mounted?
The mounting arrangement depends on the operator and plate design. Provide the component drawing and specify whether the plate is retained by the operator or requires another attachment method.
What affects the price of legend plates?
Quantity, material, plate size, custom cutouts, engraving detail, and sorting affect the quote. A BOM with one row per plate helps define the complete order.
What should I specify for legend plates exposed to heat, cleaners or sunlight?
Describe the actual exposure and send any specified manufacturer grade with the quote request. Include temperature, sunlight, moisture, cleaners and the mounting surface, along with the plate thickness and color pair. Standard engraving laminate is not automatically suitable for every outdoor or washdown application. Confirm the proposed stock, color and attachment against the relevant material documentation before approving production. The material guide explains what to provide. Calling a plate phenolic or lamacoid does not establish its environmental rating or service life.
material guide · nameplates guide
Can I review a proof for a set of pushbutton and selector-switch legends?
Request a proof with your order and confirm what it includes. Check every operator reference, function, switch position, line break, color and orientation against the current control drawing. Verify the outside shape, cutout, anti-rotation detail, thickness and any mounting holes against the component specifications. Resolve unclear wording or dimensions before releasing the set. A proof shows the proposed engraving and layout; it does not determine the safety function of a control or certify the completed panel.
nameplates guide · schedule guide · bulk guide
Plan the complete identification package
Use these connected guides and services to confirm the material, code reference, mounting method, and order details: Legend plate sizing guide, Engraved label mounting options, and Engraved nameplates and tags.
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