Seek Easy Panel Layout Program For Mac

[porous]

Am considering building a few custom boxes for a coupla projects I've got coming up. Anybody know any easy programs to layout beauty panels with. I'm gonna locate knobs, add holes, text for screen printing etc. I've downloaded the demo of MacDraft P.E. but was wondering if there were any more electonic panel specific type apps. The panels will have a vintage look ala Pultec, WE etc.

thanks p

 

[12afael]

www.frontpanelexpress.com/

in the meta "useful software" you can find a couple more

 

[porous]

[quote author="12afael"]www.frontpanelexpress.com/

in the meta "useful software" you can find a couple more[/quote]

Sa-weet. thank you.

My poor fiancee will never see me now!

p

 

[sodderboy]

That program is PC only, unless you have a dual-core.
Mike

 

[owel]

Frontpanel express will work using MS Virtual PC on an old PowerMac.

 

[drpat]

[quote author="sodderboy"]That program is PC only, unless you have a dual-core.
Mike[/quote]


FPE has a Mac version for the dual core now???? That's excellent news.

 

[owel]

I think what he meant is if you have a dual core Mac, (i.e. Intel) you can use Parallels (or VMWare) virtual machine to run FPE.

if you have an older Mac (non Intel), MS Virtual PC works too with FPE.

 

[dramadisease]

I've been dorking out on this recently so I figured I'd throw in my 2 cents...

I have a MacBook (Dual Intel Core) and I started off running FPD in Crossover, which is basically a hyped version of WINE (http://www.winehq.org/). It's like a virtual pc without a windows installation, and FPD was super buggy on it. It couldn't always open saved files, it was horrid. I believe that MS Virtual PC is based on the same basic runtimes as wine, but i'm not sure...

Now I'm running a copy of XP (stripped down with XPLite) through Parallels (http://www.parallels.com/) and it works fantastic! If you have an intel mac, this is gotta be the best way to run FPD. I'm running some simulation software too and it seems to work well also. RMAA is going to be the big test because Parallels will need to translate all the audio data from input to ouput fast....

If you have a PowerPC Mac, use Wine and install windows 2000... It runs faster on Wine... also check out NLite (http://www.nliteos.com) which runs on PC. It modifies windows setup files so that you can strip out components you don't need. You'd be surprised at all the bloating MS puts into Windows....

-bryan

 

[jdbakker]

[quote author="dramadisease"]I believe that MS Virtual PC is based on the same basic runtimes as wine, but i'm not sure...[/quote]
Nope. MS Virtual PC used to be Connectix Virtual PC, a proprietary product that was around long before wine even went beta.

JDB.

 

[sonicmook56]

I have been doing front panel work with Qcad. There are not really any "electronics" stuff in there, like d-sub holes and such but it's easy enough to draw one out and duplicate it if need be. Output is .dxf, and it runs on OS X, WinXP, Linux, and a bunch of other esoteric OS's I've never heard of.

It's good for everything else CAD too... Today I started to design a footpeg/brake cylinder mounting plate for a Buell.

I highly recommend it because it has just enough functions to do whatever you want, but not too many to make it difficult to learn. Free/cheap too.

I have used front panel express for a lot of stuff, and am still impressed with the work when I get something back.

(I have since picked up a CNC mill to do this kinda **** in, so that's why I'm using Qcad.)

 

[sodderboy]

All great info here!
I have been considering upgrading my powerbook to a dual core, and I thought that it was as simple as choosing OSX or XP as the boot OS.
I use FPE on a PC, and it rocks for panels. You can purchase their .dxf filter for $148. This could be worth it if you plan to make tons of panels.
I am getting into other CAD work, and have tried a trial of Turbo CAD. I thought it was a bit tedious, and the snap does not seem to always snap.
I will try that Qcad.
thanks,
Mike

 

[owel]

Hey that QCAD looks promising.

I also just got a CNC mill, and right now just using Mach3 and LazyCam to play with it... a few more practices and I'll be ready to create my own frontpanels. My CNC work area is 12"x24" so pretty big to layout a 19" front panel.

 

[sodderboy]

I took to that Qcad like a duck to water. I have to read a bit regarding the chamfer tool, but it is much more intuitive than TurboCad, and stripped-down in a good way. I already have all my physical layouts for the common panel connectors finished, and am going on to do the actual milling cutouts. Last will be to make the "beautification" layer for everything.

Thanks for a great recommendation. At that price, I am getting both PC and Mac.
Mike

 

[sonicmook56]

Not to turn this off subject, but how are you liking lazyCam? I was confused that all my parts were coming out the wrong size, and figured out that LazyCam does not adjust offsets for whatever tool you are using. To get that feature, it's like $75 extra on top of mach3 (just bought mach because I ran out of gcode fast)

I tried sheet cam for a second. and think I like it better. You can change to tool path, and have a 3-d view of the work.

 

[owel]

Not to turn this off subject, but how are you liking lazyCam?

Sonic, I admit... I'm very green to CNC. So I can't tell you much about LazyCam. But it seems to translate from DXF to Gcode without any problems. The User Interface sucks and hopefully they'll improve it and make it more "CAD" like.

For now, I just attached a pen to my CNC so I can "see" what I'm doing... still waiting for my Rotozip to arrive. So I haven't encountered that tool offset problem yet in my learning adventure.

and figured out that LazyCam does not adjust offsets for whatever tool you are using. To get that feature, it's like $75 extra on top of mach3 (just bought mach because I ran out of gcode fast)

I just bought Mach too... can't do much with 250 lines of Gcode on the demo.

tried sheet cam for a second. and think I like it better. You can change to tool path, and have a 3-d view of the work.

Will check that out... thanks.