As promised a quick desciption of how I prepared the files in Illustrator (mainly following the excellent guide at
www.nrgrecording.de/html/schaeffer.html):
1. Design the graphics in original size
2. Convert all text to outlines (Type -> Create Outlines)
3. Set the fill color to "None" and the stroke color to black
4. Set the stroke weight to 0.1 pt (
picture_01.gif)
5. Subtract half the tool diameter by choosing Effect -> Path -> Offset Path...; enter e.g. -0.1 mm for a 0.2 mm tool; choose "Miter" and 4 for the join type and miter limit respectively
6. Use Object -> Expand Appearance
This now defines the contour of the graphics. To fill it repeat the following steps until no selected objects remain:
7. Duplicate the newest outline by Object -> Transform -> Move..., entering 0 mm as distance and hitting the "copy"-button
8. Sutract 35% of the tool diameter by choosing Effect -> Path -> Offset Path...; enter e.g. -0.07 mm for a 0.2 mm tool; choose "Miter" and 4 for the join type and meter limit respectively
9. Use Object -> Expand Appearance (
picture_02.gif)
To visually check the design, set the stroke width to the tool diameter, the stroke cap to "round" and the stroke join to "round" as well. At low zoom settings some gaps may appear which are actually display errors--zoom in to be sure. (
picture_03.gif)
For highest quality, one needs to scale the graphics up before conversion to HPGL:
10. Use Object -> Transform -> Scale... with 1000% uniform scaling
11. Save the file as EPS
12. Use pstoedit to convert it to HPGL
13. Import the HPGL-file in FPD, scale it to 10% und make sure to use the correct tool diameter (
picture_04.gif)
Disclaimer: I have not yet ordered a front panel which was designed by using this method. I don't see any reason why it shouldn't work, but you never now...
Samuel