[sdiy] alternatives to Schaefer front panels for Canadians? Good software to use?

[Jason Proctor]

also, tick marks around knobs cost a fortune too.

we've been looking and so far have yet to find a good quality 
alternative for schaeffer/FPE.



>One quick recommendation for saving a cash in a Schafer panel is to 
>make sure that your text isn't overkill.  There are different fonts 
>that essentially differ in the number of passes the cutter makes per 
>line.  For small text, a single pass is usually sufficient...I seem 
>to recall that one of their fonts is a 9-stroke, at about 9 times 
>the expense!
>
>Imported HPGL might have similar issues.
>
>Byron Jacquot
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Danjel van Tijn
>Sent: Mar 11, 2006 6:35 PM
>To: SynthDIY
>Subject: [sdiy] alternatives to Schaefer front panels for Canadians? 
>Good software to use?
>
>I have some front panels ready fro a 1U effect unit. The panel will 
>cost me $100 for schaefer plus shipping. I think this is a little 
>ridiculous for a small CNC machining job :P Schaefer make it really 
>easy though, they have nice software with instant price breakdowns. 
>They also deliver fairly promptly. However, there has got to be a 
>chepaer way to do this!
>Anyone know of alternatives, especially canadian ones? The 
>alternatives will not likey accept .fpd files so what software is a 
>good standard (and cheap) for making pro front panels?
>
>I need some holes cut for pots/vu meter, and some text/scales etched.
>
>
>cheers,
>      Danjel