<html>
<body>
As a Canadian maker of synth panels, here is what I do.<br><br>
For my B series panels:<br><br>
I make up an accurate drawing for the holes and panel shape and send it
to a sheet metal shop that has a laser that cuts aluminum.<br>
Costs about $15-20 per panel<br><br>
<font size=2 color="#008000">
<a href="http://www.emachineshop.com/" eudora="autourl">www.</a><b>
emachineshop</b><a href="http://www.emachineshop.com/" eudora="autourl">
.com</a></font> would be a good place to start for
one-offs<br><br>
They cut them out and I pick it up and take it to another shop and they
paint it with baking enamel.<br>
Cost about $2.50 per panel in lots of 200<br><br>
Most paint shops will do a couple of parts but you might have to go for a
paint they have in stock.<br>
The paint I use costs about $150 a gallon and you have to buy the whole
gallon.<br><br>
I then do another drawing with graphics and text etc and send the file to
a local silk screen making shop.<br>
They convert the file to film and burn a screen. I use a 24x24 aluminum
frame screen so can get about 4-6 designs on one screen.<br>
screen cost and film about $150 but it will last for years.<br><br>
Then I get some epoxy ink that won't dry unless you heat it up to
350C<br><br>
Make a jig to hold the panel and get the squeegee out.<br>
Takes about 30 min to screen 10 panels.<br>
Stick them in my large toaster oven and cure the epoxy for 10
minutes<br>
and they are done.<br><br>
Now for one-off I would skip the silk screen and send artwork to a
company that can make a dry transfer.<br>
Chromatek is what we used to call it in the model making biz.<br>
It is like letraset. Like what these guys do
<a href="http://www.allout-graphics.com/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.allout-graphics.com/</a><br><br>
And then I would put a coat of clear enamel or something over top to
protect it.<br>
This should yield a very professional looking panel with reasonable
durability.<br><br>
Bruce<br><br>
<br><br>
</body>
</html>