good supplier for front panel material?

darkomen · Joined: Jun 21, 2010 Posts: 40 Location: USA

I'm looking to buy aluminum sheets to be cut for some panels. I've found this company called onlinemetals.com, and I'm wondering if anybody's bought anything from them before? They can cut to a custom size, and it seems pretty cheap, too cheap to be true kind of (which is why I ask for past experiences).
http://www.onlinemetals.com

Also, if anyone has a different company to order from that they like don't hesitate to suggest.

jumunius · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:26 am Post subject:

I'm sure they are fine. My only experience is with Metal Supermarkets -- I've had good luck with them so far.

Dave Kendall · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 12:47 am Post subject:

Several times, I got some great, cheap, high quality alu panels by contacting small local metal-working machine shops in the town's industrial area. They are often happy to make up panels in down time. Typical euro-sized, or even 5U is small by their standards, so using offcut alu is fine. They throw away small offcuts anyway, so for them it was money for scrap, + a wee bit of time. A bargain for both sides....

It helped to go there in person and offer cash. These guys are engineers, and can often be interested and intruiged by what you want it for.
Worked for me Smile

cheers,
Dave

softfin · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 2:55 am Post subject:

kkissinger · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 5:11 am Post subject:

I found that some of the cuts I've ordered online where off by as much as 1/16" and if you are building something with a lot of modules the errors accumulate.

Online is ok but you want to check with the company to see if they can cut to your tolerances.

I finally broke down and bought this:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200309556_200309556

(They also have a 8" model for around $89.)

darkomen · Joined: Jun 21, 2010 Posts: 40 Location: USA

Hmm, didn't even cross my mind to find someone locally.
I think I might just try onlinemetals, the price seems right.

djg · Joined: Nov 10, 2010 Posts: 12 Location: New York

Just have the tools ready to file down a couple millimeters of those panels. Some orders from OM have been worse than others for me, so I've been tempted to just get small runs in case I end up with way too many overlong panels that need reworking. But that idea gets squashed when shipping is like $20 for the smallest order.

Dave Kendall · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 9:47 am Post subject:

Have to say, each time I got stuff locally, it was spot on dimension-wise.
I think having personal contact with the guy doing the job may have helped too. Not just another impersonal electronic order...

I went to the same place one time in an emergency, and the guy welded up a broken keyboard stool for nothing!

I got enough panels of different widths from 6hp up to 24hp to fill six or seven 6U 19" racks for about $80. Not bad ..... Wink

cheers,
Dave

RSFC · Joined: Sep 02, 2010 Posts: 63 Location: space lab

My onlinemetals order was 1/4" longer than I wanted (I ordered them in eurorack sizings). They did re-do the order and the second batch was also 1/4" over... I got so many of the oversized panels I decided to just use that as a format.

I recently got some panels from metal supermarkets (who have a location somewhat near to me). Their panels were the correct size.

kkissinger · Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 11:43 am Post subject:

diablojoy · Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 3:48 pm Post subject:

I am lucky to have a fairly well kitted out workshop so from early on i have cut my own from half size sheets 1200 x 1200 x 3mm on a bench saw fitted with an ally blade this way i can guarantee the size is always spot on. it also happens to be the cheapest way i think Smile

I buy the sheets from a local industrial ally supplier