[sdiy] Plexiglass panels

[Scott Juskiw]

I make all of my protoype panels from plexiglass, but I wouldn't use 
it for the final product (I prefer metal). As others have said, it 
flexes, it breaks easily, it's not as easy to drill nice holes as 
you'd think, and it scratches easily. And with clear panels, everyone 
can see all the ugly stuff you'd rather try to hide.

>Citat Paul Maddox <P.Maddox at signal.QinetiQ.com>:
>
>>  joseph,
>>
>>  > I'm in the middle of designing a modular system for
>>  myself and was
>>  > wondering if I could use plexiglass for the front
>>  panels instead of the
>>  > traditional metal, making the whole case and all out of
>>  it would be nice.
>>  > Any issues with grounding or hum I should be worried
>>  about.
>>
>>  I thought about this but had problems.
>>  If the plastic is too thin, it will bend and flex
>>  everytime you
>>  patch/unpatch and might 'break'.
>>  If its too thick, (ie strong enough handle the patching)
>>  then most
>>  commercially available pots/switchs won't mount because
>>  the threads on them
>>  aren't deep enough.
>>
>>  I even toyed with the idea of using 'translucent' plastic
>>  so I could back
>>  light it.
>>
>>  Paul
>>
>>
>My experience is the same as Paul's.
>
>Add to that, the fact that plexiglass is difficult to drill
>holes in. You can get special drill bits, but even with
>them i found that i frequently ended up with cracks, and
>"not very circular" holes.
>