[sdiy] Inexpensive (relatively) Synth Front Panel Manufacturing...

[Carbon111]

Find a local sign company that engraves control panels for boats and 
watercraft. Big panels can be had at a fraction of the cost of FPE. 
There's usually a *massive* assortment of typestyles and metals 
available as well.
Before I became Machine Shop Lead at my current job, I spent two decades 
running a sign company - control panels for electronics, boats and test 
equipment were one of our specialties. They were dead-cheap to make and 
we had a LOT of competition. Polycarb jobs like the ones on the DSI 
Evolver can be had as well if you've got artwork prepared - ask if they 
can do "Gerber Edge" or "overlays".
Mom-and-pop operations will be less expensive than big commercial 
companies but won't have as many options. Search around, especially near 
yacht basins and boat yards. The yellow pages are a great start - look 
under "signs" and "engraving".
Oh, one last thing...always get a quote in writing first.
My .02
Best Regards, James
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http://www.carbon111.com