[sdiy] Transparent spots on front panels - how to do?

[mskala at northcoastsynthesis.com]

On Sat, 27 Jan 2024, Scott Bernardi via Synth-diy wrote:

> You see some modules that have transparent areas on the front panel that are
> lit from behind.  How is that done? Is it possible on a regular DIY FR4 PCB
> panel?

I think most often it is regular FR4; the idea is just to remove copper
and mask on both sides, and use a bright enough light that it'll shine
through the board material, which is naturally somewhat translucent.  It
may help to use a thinner than usual board.  It may also help to negotiate
with the board shop to make sure they use a material that has the desired
level of translucency and doesn't, for instance, have built-in printing on
the bare stock.

A fancier thing to do would be to mill out part of the back of the panel
to make it extra thin at that point, or cut a hole all the way through and
glue in a lens or window of some other material.

-- 
Matthew Skala
North Coast Synthesis Ltd.