creating custom scales for front design software

[manulaudic]

Hi,

I am trying to modify a 3u front panel for a project I am building and I would like to create different scales like the ones in 1176 for example.

I can see that there is a way to create HPGL files or ?
I am lost, one solution is that I could of course move all that to a 2d software but I would really like to get familiar with front design.

Thanks for the help
Manu

 

[gyraf]

perhaps this one? Scale-o-matic

 

[ruffrecords]

Front Panel designer now has a built in tool for creating scales.

Cheers

Ian

 

[manulaudic]

Thanks ! the built in tool is very nice but only lets you design scales with lines.
I would like to try to do something with dots just like on the 1176 if you know what i mean

Manu

 

[manulaudic]

perhaps this one? Scale-o-matic

Oh yes !

 

[ruffrecords]

Thanks ! the built in tool is very nice but only lets you design scales with lines.
I would like to try to do something with dots just like on the 1176 if you know what i mean

Manu

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I did this years ago on one of my early mixer designs. I believe there is a tutorial on the Schaeffer web site about this.

Cheers

Ian

 

[abbey road d enfer]

I'm curious why one may want to use EPS for this task.
I use Nanocad (an Autocad-compatible 2D CAD) for the whole creation process, from the mech design to the printable/plottable artwork, with the big advantage of complete continuity of units.
Panels are in millimeters or Imperial units, EPS is in points and pica, it adds sources of error.
I'm not sure it is an easy task to make sure the eps and the mech drawing coincide.

 

[manulaudic]

interesting, I could learn Nanocad as well...
I'm just trying to figure out a way to get it done and learn at the same time "a" software...

Frontdesign is fairly simple
@ruffrecords, I'll check if I can find some tutorial

 

[warpie]

I'm curious why one may want to use EPS for this task.
I use Nanocad (an Autocad-compatible 2D CAD) for the whole creation process, from the mech design to the printable/plottable artwork, with the big advantage of complete continuity of units.
Panels are in millimeters or Imperial units, EPS is in points and pica, it adds sources of error.
I'm not sure it is an easy task to make sure the eps and the mech drawing coincide.

I didn't know about nanocad. It looks promising. Is it "easy" to learn? I have minimum experience with cad softwares.

 

[abbey road d enfer]

I didn't know about nanocad. It looks promising. Is it "easy" to learn? I have minimum experience with cad softwares.

I used to be an Autocad instructor in the last century. With prior knowledge of drafting, most of my students were capable of designing a front panel at the end of the first day.
Of course after only one day, they didn't have a knowledge of all the tricks that save time, but for a simple fp it is not an issue. Nanocad has an almost identical HUI, so there is a vast choice of tutorials and helps.

 

[abbey road d enfer]

interesting, I could learn Nanocad as well...

Autocad is the grandaddy of CAD, so you can't be wrong choosing it or Nanocad (which is very similar)
Big difference is Nano is free.

 

[warpie]

Excellent, thanks!

 

[manulaudic]

Super thanks !

 

[aomahana]

This is the one I use ....

https://www.electronic-software-shop.com/lng/en/electronic-software/frontdesigner-30.html
It's really good.

 

[MidnightArrakis]

Hi,

I am trying to modify a 3u front panel for a project I am building and I would like to create different scales like the ones in 1176 for example.

I can see that there is a way to create HPGL files or ?
I am lost, one solution is that I could of course move all that to a 2d software but I would really like to get familiar with front design.

Thanks for the help
Manu

Here's a -- FREE -- "Front-Panel Designer" program that is available for download from the German enclosure company SCHAEFFER. ENJOY!!!

https://www.schaeffer-ag.de/en/front-panel-designer#download
/

 

[amplexus]

This is the one I use ....

https://www.electronic-software-shop.com/lng/en/electronic-software/frontdesigner-30.html
It's really good.

do you know if it can insert tapped/threaded holes? That’s a feature I definitely can’t live without

 

[ruffrecords]

do you know if it can insert tapped/threaded holes? That’s a feature I definitely can’t live without

The free Front Panel Designer can do this too.

Cheers

Ian

 

[amplexus]

The free Front Panel Designer can do this too.

Cheers

Ian

Yea, thats the one I’m using now. Just wanted to know if this also did it.
I would assume as much, but of course we know what they say about assuming….

 

[aomahana]

do you know if it can insert tapped/threaded holes? That’s a feature I definitely can’t live without

Hello there,

Front Designer 3 can be downloaded as a demo version (with restrictions), to see if it suits your needs.

You can create drillings.
As far as I know, tapping and threading would need to be done afterwards.
The front panel files can be created as HPGL machine files.
This is how I used to have my panels milled.
But with recent panel work here in New Zealand, all my local engravers have moved to Laser Etching.
For this reason I convert the files created in Front Designer 3 to PDF.
I use another program, EFMLTPLT for this.
In actual fact though, laser etching isn't as deep or as effective as machine milling.

In the photo below, the V72 is a laser etched panel, the LA-2A has been milled

 

[abbey road d enfer]

The front panel files can be created as HPGL machine files.
This is how I used to have my panels milled.

Really? For engraving, why not, but for milling I would have thought G-code would be preferred.