[sdiy] Talking of panels.... (was: Small drill press recommendations)

[Julian]

> I think Julian can cut any marks and any fonts with his machine, OTOH

> But who drills the holes...

I think thats a question to me... : )

On stock panels, the customer.  The machine marks out where the holes are to
go, but id rather supply the panels without drilling, for the reasons
mentioned in my last mail.
If i have to mess about doing tool changes etc. i spend more time on the
panels than is economic.

I suspect people would rather have cheap undrilled panels, than more
expensive drilled one (although i may, of course, be wrong)

For very complex custom jobs, requiring lots of holes, i would get the
machine to cut the holes, but, for somthing like an Oakley panel, there are
only a few, and its easy enough to do them by hand.

> and please have the exact measurements to order any frontplates in correct
> sizes (No, Imperialistic measures, please?) .

The MOTM / Oakley stuff is in 5u x 1u, 2u, 3u, etc.  With all the caveats of
my previous mail, any panel can be supplied.

1u is 1.75 inches or 44.45mm
2u is 3.5 inches or 88.9mm
3u is 5.25 inches or 133.35mm
4u is 7 inches or 177.8mm
5u is 8.75 inches or 222.25mm

Google will now give conversions if you simply format the query as "5 inches
to mm" etc.

Again, the machines work area is 300mm x 700mm, so, as soon as i get the
clamping sorted, any size up to this is possible.


> Am I correct? Do You consider those friends over the pacific as possible
> customers?

Again, im not 100% certain who/what youre asking : ) but...

My price on oakley panels (undrilled) is currently about 50% of
FPE's drilled price in both the USA and Germany, the only difference
being that i dont have a dollar account, and have a huge dislike of paypal
(but am set up with google checkout - virtually the same, but... [uggh, if i
start complaining about paypal, ill be here forever!])

I keep a euro account, but, other than that, I have no predujice as to where
my customers may come from : )

Julian