Frac-rack Panels

crazeydazey · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 2:26 am Post subject: Frac-rack Panels

Could anyone tell me where I get blank panels from, I assume they can be bought, or do I have to buy a sheet steel and cut it to size (I hope not you can have someones eye out with that stuff).

I hear frac-rack mentioned a lot but after a google search found nothing for buying blank panels..

please help..

Cheers

Daz

bugbrand · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:05 am Post subject:

www.paia.com - though I think the price has risen (quite a bit) recently.

And maybe www.blacet.com too.

crazeydazey · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:22 am Post subject:

great stuf, found em on paia and they are still not a bad price, excellent.

thnx bugbrand

for my next trick I need to find out the cheapest way to get my panel designs on to the panels (I thought about screen printing, but that doesn't actually work out that cheap).

fonik · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:29 am Post subject:

another possibility would be to let schaeffer make them for you...

crazeydazey · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:38 am Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:44 am Post subject:

no import function, only hpgl files could be imported... Sad

doctorvague · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:33 am Post subject:

crazeydazey · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:59 am Post subject:

thnx doctorvague, I think I may look locally and see about getting some cut (i just don't fancy cutting it myself)

and I will look through the forum for some ideas on putting my layout onto the panels.

I would like to use schaeffer, but I find designing the panels much easier in photoshop, though going back to my earlier comment about them been too expensive, I think by the time I've spent momey on what ever method I use to make the panels, I bet I'm not far off that cost anyway so I might try and get my head round the Front panel designer and see what happens.

ps drv I've just watched your video on your for the DIY peoples post...

It's mental

(in a nice way)

fonik · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:22 am Post subject:

crazeydazey · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:37 am Post subject:

cheers fonik

I don't know what hpgl is though, I've only just started playing with front panel designer.. sorry for been dumb Embarassed

fonik · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:43 am Post subject:

crazeydazey · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:50 am Post subject:

cheers again..

I'll look into hpgl and photoshop (i'm sure there will be something out there somewhere)

Also I suppose if I don't fill in the engraving I suppose I could paint it myself (my look tacky, but I suppose I'll find that out with trial and error)

fonik · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:57 am Post subject:

crazeydazey · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:59 am Post subject:

cool you'll have to let me know what happens.. Very Happy

doctorvague · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:33 am Post subject:

This is my first attempt at a front panel design. I use Adobe Illustrator myself because I'm comfortable with it.

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

The knobs are just setting on the front panel. It looks better than the photo shows, but inkjet printing on paper just won't get black enough.
I want to get some IdMark for the front panels -
I'd recommend reading this thread if you haven't already:

http://www.electro-music.com/forum/topic-17398-25.html&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=idmark

HTH
Phil

Wild Zebra · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:24 am Post subject:

Looks good dr. I'll have to take your advice going to a machine shop. In my first attempts I've been using plexiglass, as there is a huge box at work at my disposal, but when it's gone. Diggin your quote, I just can't quite get enough of Don.

amos_joseph · Joined: May 09, 2005 Posts: 50 Location: Lincoln, NE

doctorvague · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:55 am Post subject:

fluxmonkey · Joined: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 708 Location: cleve

crazeydazey · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:07 am Post subject:

the ID Mark looks pretty cool, but it just looks they do letters, so I guess you couldn't do the dials???

I also like bbobs idea.

I've got a lot of good ideas from this post, thanks guys.. Very Happy

doctorvague · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:47 am Post subject:

Here's the site I would definitely have a look at:

http://www.sdiy.org/xyzzy/panels/

It appears you can certainly do any graphics you want with ID-Mark including ticks, etc depending on things like printer resolution and print quality of course.
See the above note about Raster vs vector above e.g. Photoshop vs Illustrator also.

Phil

crazeydazey · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:42 am Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 10:57 pm Post subject:

crazeydazey · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:13 am Post subject:

wow, that looks pretty cool.

You'll have to let me know the results..

fonik · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:01 am Post subject: