panel stuff

[Gus]

http://overhauledpc.com/guides.php?guide=5

Found this link at slashdot

 

[Consul]

That looks like a useful process. Thanks for the link.

I'm seriously thinking about making my front panels out of copper sheets with a chemical patina applied. I've seen some great looking pieces done this way in the furniture world. Any thoughts?

Since copper is soft, the only issue I can think of is the strength the front panel would need to be, so perhaps gluing thin copper to a regular front panel is the solution here.

 

[zebra50]

[quote author="Consul"]
Since copper is soft, the only issue I can think of is the strength the front panel would need to be, so perhaps gluing thin copper to a regular front panel is the solution here.[/quote]


...or wood! My latest build is in wood with copper foil/mesh for screening. It makes a nice change & seems fine.
:thumb:

 

[Consul]

Heeeyyyy... That's a good point!

I could glue the thin sheet copper to, say, a piece of hardboard (I believe it's also called masonite), and screw that into any inexpensive case. I seem to remember a link to making rack cases using metal two-by-fours or something like that. You'd have an inexpensive and very attractive case.

Of course, the patina chemicals can be quite costly, but you don't need to use much of them.

 

[asm]

keep in mind that copper sheet, or should i say, plate, is expensive.

very expensive. the sheet (easily bendable and doesnt really keep flat, work well while cutting, ect. is cheap. but thicker stuff as in 1/16th to an eighth is pricey.

www.onlinemetals.com will give you an idea.

 

[Consul]

I don't think it's that expensive. A 12" by 36" sheet of 28-guage decorative copper was priced at $21.18, and I could get a number of front panels out of that.

 

[ToshiroTamigi]

What about using the uv sensitive spray normally used to sensibilize bare copper pcb boards?

you could then use the same process used for pcb etching to make you front panels engraving...
maybe sometimes i'll try this!

Alessio