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Title: Design & have built custom front panels Post by: WA1HZK on February 14, 2006, 04:00:37 PM This looks interesting:
www.frontpanelexpress.com Free software to design panels & have them made. If precision metal work is not your thing maybe this will help. I'm going to try it on a project soon. Just figured I would pass it on. WA1HZK Title: Re: Design & have built custom front panels Post by: K1JJ on February 14, 2006, 05:46:06 PM This is timely for me too, Keith.
I'm about to make up six, 19" wide, front panels at one time. Have you determined what the pricing is like for a sample panel you intend to have them punch out? I didn't see anything about that except requesting a quote. Could be a real efficent way to go if they are reasonably priced. Let us know. T Title: Re: Design & have built custom front panels Post by: WA1GFZ on February 14, 2006, 09:49:00 PM I have a friend who is really into Battlebots and he told me there is a pile of guys out there who machine metal cheap. He uses a couple guys for stuff he can't do.
You can spend days making a panel with a file and drill. I found the trick is to use an eye loop when center punching holes. It is very easy to be off. My High School Shop Class center punch is hanging in but eyeballs need a little help. Title: Re: Design & have built custom front panels Post by: Vortex Joe - N3IBX on February 23, 2006, 10:30:37 PM The software looks pretty kewl and could be a real time saver.
Many thanks for the link! Joe Cro N3IBX Title: Re: Design & have built custom front panels Post by: WBear2GCR on February 24, 2006, 11:27:42 AM I may be missing something but I downloaded their software, and was unable to see any way to put dial markings in an arc around a control (knob)! I saw something for a curved cut out, but not for text/position markings... Big deficit if this doesn't exist. _-_-WBear2GCR |