[sdiy] silkscreening and other finishings

[Benjamin M. Woenig]

I've just found a company here in Adelaide Australia called
"Metalec", which do rack panels for industrial equipment. I
am about to release a limited quantity of modules which are
compatable with MOTM stuff (actually a 2unit standard rack
panel which has a similar layout to MOTM), I'll let on more
when everythings ready... 

Anyway, Metalec are going to do the one off prototype for
me for $200Aus (about $100US), which is all lettering/labelling,
holes, on a black anodized panel. Each panel there after will
be between $50 and $75Aus ($25 to approx $37US each).
I consider this (for Australia at least) to be quite reasonable
value for such a professional product.

All my attempts to labelling have been somewhat dodgy to say
the least. I tried Scotchcal(?) the 3M product which allows you
to print onto an aluminium sheet with a laser printer, and found
that drilling the holes and lining everything up was too tricky. The
label moved when i drilled through it, and trying to line up holes
was nearly imossible with trying to drill the label and the panel
seperately.

So for me, I don't have a problem with paying reasonable money
for a good product. The DIY route *possible* for decent looking
panels, but I just don't have the time/skills/equipment to do this.

~ben