[sdiy] Panel Fabricating

[Matthias.Herrmann at jeppesen.com]

synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl wrote on 09/12/2008 02:13:36 AM:
> David,
> 
> This has been a burning question for me of late as well.  Being pretty 
new
> to this whole synth-diy scene, I'm building a Sound Lab Mini Synth Plus. 
 I
> wanted to do it up like a mini-modular.  I really like the format that
> Thomas White uses, and many of his FPD designs are available on his 
website.
> Hence, I did an FPD design in that format.  It's 5U tall by 7U wide 
(i.e.,
> about 8.75" x 12.25") and very nicely laid out in a pseudo-MOTM format.
> 
> Now, the bad news.  It would cost about $280 to have it fabricated by 
FPE.
> I figure the entire unit is only worth about half that much, so I 
started
> looking around.

there are about three things that make FPD panels more expensive than 
necessary (you might already know, though):

1. color fill of the engravings. think about a black panel. you won't have 
to color fill the engraving then, looks quite nice IMO (take a look at my 
soundlab: http://www.modular.fonik.de/Page2.html). you can even do the 
color fill by yourself (take look at my latest cabinets modules: i.e. 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fonik/2742809489

2. graphics. use hpgl rather than drawing scales and boxes in front panel 
designer. saves a lot of money.

3. count of test objects. use one object with multiple paragraphs for text 
in columns.