[sdiy] advice on cutting slots for sliders in aluminum.

[Theo]

Ok My 2 cnts
My method works best for a row of sliders.

1) Cut out (punch with a drill) a big rectangular hole where the sliders
will be.
height= slider throw, and wide enough to fit al sliders comfortably site to
side.

2) Finish the edges of the hole if it will stay in sight or don't when your
gona cover it up???
Ok, more on this below.

3) Now get 1 cm or 1,5 cm wide anodized aluminum strips at a hardware store.

4) Cut the strip into pieces a bit longer then the height of the hole.

5) Now you have a the choice
a) Mount the strips over the hole or
b) mount them under the hole.
Personally I think under looks best.
Don't forget to leave some room between the stripes for your fader ;)

For mounting the stripes you can use some (super) glue.
Don't worry, the glue has to do only half the work, so it will hold ;)
The sliders get mounted with a screw to the front plate.
So when mounted behind the front the stripes will be clamped between the
front and the slider.
Or when mounted in front of the front the stripes will be clamped between
the front panel and the screw of the slider.
In the latter case you  _have_  to use a  _non-countersunk_  screw,
preferably with a wide head.

I came up with this method when I had to do 12 channel mixer.
For a mixer there is even no hole to cut out :)
Take to panels, one high enough for all the potties and stuff.
and a small one (a piece of L profile) that will become the wrist support.
Mount the panels on a frame and keep enough opening between the panels for
the sliders.
Next mount the stripes of Alu under the opening, and you're almost finished.
You may want to use some wider stripes at places where there would be no
slider.

Cheers,
Theo




From: harry <harrybissell at prodigy.net>


> The way I've used is...
>
> Draw the layout on the panel
> Centerpunch holes very close together
> Drill holes smaller than the finished slot
> Saw through the holes with a Coping Saw
> File to finished size with a jewelers file
>
> Swear NEVER AGAIN to repeat the above...
>
> Use round holes and REAL pots... In some years
> you will want to replace the pots. Rotaries are
> easier to find than sliders.
>
> H^) harry  (has only ONE diy module with sliders... and that one SUCKS
!!!)
>
> patchell wrote:
>
> > cacofone wrote:
> >
> > > I'm doing some initial design work while purchasing parts and etc.
I've
> > > gutted an old tape deck (old Teac that happens to have some dolby
noise
> > > reduction IC's in it) that would be about the appropriate size of what
I
> > > want. I don't really want to do it very modular, mostly wanting to
make my
> > > own personal synth and wanting it to be at least semi-portable for
live
> > > shows. I've decided that for certain things I want to use sliders (for
> > > example, I want at least 2 VCO's, perhaps 4) and I wanted to use
sliders
> > > for the mixing of the VCO's, the frequency, and probably for the
> > > cutoff/resonance as well. I just like sliders better. It's obvious how
to
> > > drill a hole for a pot, but how about those perfect rectangular slots
for
> > > sliders...
> > >
> >
> >     Rectangular slots will have to be made with a punch.  In general,
punch ==
> > expensive.  Of course, a punch is the easy way.  Now, looking over at my
ART 2408
> > mixer (a.f.p.o.s.), the slots for the sliders are round at the top and
bottom.  A
> > slot like this can be made fairly easy with an end mill, but again, this
is not a
> > cheap solution.
> >
> >     Now, if you have about $1000 to burn, I would recomend you get a
mill/drill
> > (this is a drill press on steroids).  Now, others have reported that
they have
> > successfully done this with a drill press.  You will need to get an X-Y
table for
> > the drill press to do this easily, if that is the case.
> >
> >     Back before I could aford such tools, I would draw a line, pick a
drill of the
> > proper width, and drill a series of holes that I would then file out.
Tedious,
> > but it gets the job done.  Again, if you have a drill press with an X-Y
table, it
> > makes this job a lot easier.
> >
> >     Sorry I don't have a good solution.  This is one of the reasons I
gave up on
> > sliders.
> >
> > >
> > > Looking for advice to make it nice looking, something easy, and any
tips. I
> > > know it'd probably be a good idea to use a program to draw it out on
first,
> > > any suggestions on that?
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance,
> > > Joshua
> > >
> > > Pulse 8 / nKode / cacofone [aim:goodtimetribe]
> > > http://www.goodtimetribe.com - Good Time Tribe
> > > http://www.mp3.com/stations/d-r-e-a-m DREAM Radio Station
> > > http://www.mp3.com/pulse8 http://www.mp3.com/nkode
http://www.mp3.com/cacofone
> >
> > --
> >  -Jim
> > ------------------------------------------------
> > * Visit:http://www.silcom.com/~patchell/
> > *-----------------------------------------------
> > *I'm sure glad Merry Christmas comes just once a year
> > * -Yogi Yorgensen
> > ------------------------------------------------
>