[sdiy] Custom Aluminum Shops?

[brianw]

Front Panel Express is great. They'll even let you supply the material and drill or engrave (which I did once when I realized that I needed to add to an initial design). Prices are very reasonable, although you might have to get creative (e.g. choosing anodized panels means that you can engrave lettering without paying for paint, which can get expensive for a lot of letters). I have used them many times when I lived in Seattle and could drive to their shop.

Last time I checked, though, Front Panel Express was not very affordable for making (rack mount) enclosures. I couldn't find a good price at the time. Perhaps their pricing has changed. Seems like you might save a lot of money by sourcing a blank enclosure elsewhere, and then have Front Panel Express drill and engrave to customize for your application.

Brian


On Sep 7, 2024, at 11:59 AM, TERRY SHULTZ wrote:
> Hi Chris,
> 
> We have used Neal Feay in Santa Barbara area https://www.nealfeay.com for our most complex and exotic panels 
> 
> And you guys might want to look at Front Panel Express. I believe their tools are free for design and layout.
> 
> Just my 2 cents.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Terry
> 
> On Sep 7, 2024, at 1:01 AM, loss wrote:
>> thanks for all the responses. 
>> 
>> At the moment I am trying to do non-hammond style enclosures
>> 
>>  (but getting some pre-drilled powder coated hammond style boxes is always useful too so thanks for that Tim--AND OMG those drill jigs look like such a good idea! def gonna try that)
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> in response to those who sent me aluminum bending places-- do you also use them for powerdercoating and silkscreen? 
>> 
>> It might be too much to ask (or it might not exist these days) but I am dreaming of finding a place I could get them to do metal., powder AND silkscreen (or that new printing process for the graphics.... )
>> 
>> 
>> a man can dream :)
>> 
>> thanks
>> 
>> On Fri, Sep 6, 2024 at 7:40 AM Dan Snazelle wrote:
>>> Hello All
>>> 
>>> Feel free to contact me off list if this is too esoteric but I was wondering if anyone has contacts in the USA or Canada for places that can do runs of custom aluminum boxes even better if they can also do powdercoating/etc.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> All my old contacts circa 5 years ago seem to have gone under. 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> thanks