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'''Outsourcing panels''' produces professional quality, especially for small scale analog-synth manufacture. Some of the firms listed here have been successfully used by well know synth brands.
'''Outsourcing panels'''


== Panel companies ==
== Sheet metal ==
=== Cutting, drilling and inscribing ===
=== Cutting, drilling and inscribing ===
==== Europe ====
⚫
* [http://www.metalfabricationorangecountyca.com/ ALCO Metal Fab Inc.], USA. Electronic sheet-metal specialist. Can do powdercoating and screenprinting.
* [https://www.fahrion-gmbh.de/en/ Fahrion GmbH]
* [https://fractory.com/ Fractory Ltd]
* [http://www.frontpanels.de/ Frontpanels.de]
* [http://www.gravoprintec.de/ GravoPrintec]
* [https://www.grawart.pl/ Grawart]
* [http://www.polychromal.nl/en/ Polychromal]
⚫
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160927081053/http://www.schaeffer-ag.de/en/ Schaeffer AG], provides the free [[Front Panel Designer]] program.
* [https://mefab.lv/en/services KnK MeFab]
* [https://www.silmor.eu/en/products/silk-screen-printing/ Silmor], silk screen printing


==== UK ====
⚫
* [http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/ Front Panel Express LLC], USA and Canada. Well-known maker of low-production metal front panels, provides [[Front Panel Designer]] program free. Engraving and paint-filling are available. Is a division of the German firm [http://www.schaeffer-ag.de/ Schaeffer], which offers a similar service in Europe.
⚫
* [http://thebeast.co.uk/ The Beast UK Ltd]
* [http://www.panel-pool.com/fpuk/index.html PCB-Pool]
⚫
* [http://www.bigbluewave.co.uk/custom_modular_panels.htm Re:Synthesis], Moog style panels.
* [http://screencraft.co.uk/ Screencraft]
* [https://www.meface.co.uk/ Meface Ltd]


==== USA ====
⚫
* [http://www.schaeffer-ag.de/en/ Schaeffer AG], Europe. German partner of Front Panel Express
⚫
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160518185801/http://www.metalfabricationorangecountyca.com/ ALCO Metal Fab Inc.], electronic sheet-metal specialist. Can do powdercoating and screenprinting.
* [http://www.cam-expert.com/ Cam Expert], as good as Front Panel Express, 30% cheaper and they can do work that FPE cant like anodizing after machining.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161024005143/http://www.epinasty.com/ Epinasty Metal Works]
⚫
* [http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/ Front Panel Express LLC], and Canada. Well-known maker of low-production metal front panels, provides [[Front Panel Designer]] program free. Engraving and paint-filling are available. Is a division of the German firm [http://www.schaeffer-ag.de/ Schaeffer], which offers a similar service in Europe.
* [https://www.hubs.com/ Hubs]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180414030950/http://lasergist.com/ Lasergist]
* [http://www.mpofcinci.com/ Metalphoto of Cincinnati]
* [https://www.oshcut.com/ OSH cut]
* [https://reverb.com/uk/shop/evans-gear-emporium-76 Pretty Lil Panels]
* [https://sendcutsend.com/ SendCutSend LLC]


==== China ====
⚫
* [http://www.bigbluewave.co.uk/custom_modular_panels.htm Re:Synthesis], UK. Moog Modular Compatible Synthesiser Panels.
* [https://www.allpcb.com/ AllPCB]
* [https://www.pcbway.com/ PCBWay]
* [https://jlc3dp.com/cnc-machining-quote JLCPCB]


⚫
* [http://thebeast.co.uk/ The Beast UK Ltd], UK.
=== Painting and printing ===
=== Painting and printing ===
Metal Printing is a commonplace process that prints color ink on aluminum, which is then anodized into place. The result is a very high-resolution artwork, better than screenprinting, and tougher than other methods because the anodized oxide coating is very tough and protects the artwork.
Metalprint is a commonplace process that prints color ink on aluminum, which is then anodized into place. The result is a very high-resolution artwork, better than screenprinting, and tougher than other methods because the anodized oxide coating is very tough and protects the artwork.<ref>[https://www.modwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40040 Who does silkscreened panels in the US?], Mod Wiggler forum, Aug 2011, reply by ersatzplanet</ref> Many companies offer this service. They typically do not perform drilling, punching, or other sheet-metal fabrication; such operations would have to be performed by a sheet-metal specialist or by the manufacturer. Most [[Synthesizers.com|Dotcom]] and all [[Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH|Doepfer]] module panels are made with the metalprint process.<ref name="eb">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120714071821/http://wiki.modwiggler.com/wiki/Manufacturing ''Manufacturing''] by [[Eric Barbour]], Mod Wiggler wiki, Jan 2012</ref>


==== Method for anodising front panel ====
Many companies offer this service. They typically do not perform drilling, punching, or other sheet-metal fabrication; such operations would have to be performed by a sheet-metal specialist or by the manufacturer. Most "Dotcom" and all Doepfer module panels are made with the metalprint process.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vJ_o6URTXE Anodising alu panel] By Markus Fuller<!--
Dye sublimation printing ...
-->


==== Europe ====
Suppliers in the US include [http://bayphoto.com/metalprints/ Bay Photo], [http://imagewizards.net/ Image Wizards], [http://www.metalmural.com/ Metal Mural], and []. A German supplier is [http://www.kba-metalprint.com/ KBA]. In the UK is [http://www.metallurgy4.com/ Metallurgy 4].
* [http://www.kba-metalprint.com/ KBA]
==== UK ====
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111227184127/http://www.metallurgy4.com/ Metallurgy 4]
==== USA ====
* [http://bayphoto.com/metalprints/ Bay Photo]
* [http://imagewizards.net/ Image Wizards]
* [http://www.metalmural.com/ Metal Mural]
⚫
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121028221317/http://norcalpowder.com/ Nor-Cal Powder Coating], powder coater with considerable experience in electronic sheet-metal coating.
⚫
* [http://www.chemi-graphic.com/ Chemi-Graphic], offers screenprinting and chemical etching on metals or other materials.


== PCB ==
⚫
[http://norcalpowder.com/ Nor-Cal Powder Coating], USA. Powder coater with considerable experience in electronic sheet-metal coating.
{{Main|PCB front panels}}<!--FR4 or aluminium -->Far cheaper than aluminium, use a [[Printed circuit board|PCB]] fab house to produce 3&nbsp;mm FR4 panels. Also fiberglass is lighter and stiffer than aluminium. [[BugBrand]]<!-- and Buchla? --> synths panels were manufactured using this method, the copper layer and soldermask to the front, with silk-screened labeling.<ref>[http://www.matrixsynth.com/2007/03/grant-richter-on-cutting-down-modular.html Grant Richter on Cutting Down Modular Costs], Matrixsynth, March 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.bugbrand.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_21 OldBlue Overview (archive)]</ref> PCB front panels need to be designed for normal PCB fabrication.
=== PCB fab houses known to have been used for PCB front panels ===
* [http://dev.dirtypcbs.com/store/pcbs DirtyPCBs]
* [https://www.itead.cc/ ITEAD]
* [https://jlcpcb.com/ JLCPCB]
* [https://oshpark.com/ Oshpark]
* [https://www.pcbcart.com/ Pcbcart]
* [https://www.pcbway.com/ PCBWay]
* [https://www.seeedstudio.com/ Seeed]
<ref>[https://www.modwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=147635 PCB front panels], Mod Wiggler forum, Oct 2015</ref>


=== Method ===
⚫
[http://www.chemi-graphic.com/ Chemi-Graphic], USA. Offers screenprinting and chemical etching on metals or other materials.
==== Videos ====
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn-6CqCfWjA Designing eurorack panels using Kicad, Freecad and Librecad] by Nic N
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyHexhKy2Nw Creating Custom Eurorack Panels Part 1] by Nick Gallagher
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E6jmYlPh7A Use PCBs to Make Awesome Modular Panels - Part 1 The Passive Multiple] by eurorackDIY
* [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SU3fhliWxpM How to Design a Synth Interface in KiCad] Synthux academy
====Texts ====
* [https://www.modwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=142168 PCB material front panels advice], Mod Wiggler forum, Jul 2013
* [https://www.modwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=186848 KiCad templates for Euro front panels?], Mod Wiggler forum, Aug 2017
* [https://hackaday.com/2015/06/03/how-to-build-beautiful-enclosures-from-fr4-aka-pcbs/ How To Build Beautiful Enclosures From FR4 &#8212; Aka PCBs] by Voja Antonic, Hackaday
* [https://hackaday.io/project/164462-mutable-instruments-clouds-pcb-panel/ Mutable Instruments Clouds PCB Panel] by Richard Hogben, Hackaday
* [https://www.quinie.nl/kicad-fr4-panels-using-planes-copper-areas/ Kicad FR4 Panels using planes / copper area’s], Quinie.nl, 15 Oct 2022
* [https://www.quinie.nl/making-panels-in-kicad-from-dxf/ Making panels in Kicad from DXF], Quinie.nl, 22 Dec 2020
* [https://www.threetom.com/news/a-tutorial-on-make-noise-style-indicator-lights-and-designing-an-illuminated-blind-plate-using-kicad/ A tutorial on &quot;Make Noise&quot; style indicator lights and designing an illuminated blind plate using KiCad], Threetom Modular Synthesizers


== See also ==
⚫
* [[Panel (homebrew)]]


==See also==
== References ==
{{From Mod Wiggler Wiki|Manufacturing}}
⚫
* [[Panels (homebrew)]]
{{stub}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://www.frontpanelexpress.com/downloads/front_panel_designer/?no_cache=1 Front Panel Designer]
* [http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-20883-0.html Schaeffer, Front panel Designers tips and tricks], electro-music.com forum, Oct. 2007
* [http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-20883-0.html Schaeffer, Front panel Designers tips and tricks], electro-music.com forum, Oct. 2007
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSio28SH38E The Holy Grail of Front Panels?], YouTube, economical aluminium front panel production by pcbway.com
=== FR4 ===
* [https://www.modwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=142168 PCB material front panels advice], Mod Wiggler forum, Jul 2013


[[Category:Front panels]]
[[Category:Front panels]]
[[Category:Outsourcing]]

Latest revision as of 21:23, 2 April 2024

Outsourcing panels produces professional quality, especially for small scale analog-synth manufacture. Some of the firms listed here have been successfully used by well know synth brands.

Sheet metal

Cutting, drilling and inscribing

Europe

UK

USA

China

Painting and printing

Metalprint is a commonplace process that prints color ink on aluminum, which is then anodized into place. The result is a very high-resolution artwork, better than screenprinting, and tougher than other methods because the anodized oxide coating is very tough and protects the artwork.[1] Many companies offer this service. They typically do not perform drilling, punching, or other sheet-metal fabrication; such operations would have to be performed by a sheet-metal specialist or by the manufacturer. Most Dotcom and all Doepfer module panels are made with the metalprint process.[2]

Method for anodising front panel

Anodising alu panel By Markus Fuller

Europe

UK

USA

PCB

Main article: PCB front panels

Far cheaper than aluminium, use a PCB fab house to produce 3 mm FR4 panels. Also fiberglass is lighter and stiffer than aluminium. BugBrand synths panels were manufactured using this method, the copper layer and soldermask to the front, with silk-screened labeling.[3][4] PCB front panels need to be designed for normal PCB fabrication.

PCB fab houses known to have been used for PCB front panels

[5]

Method

Videos

Texts

See also

References

This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Mod Wiggler Wiki:Manufacturing (View authors).

  1. ^ Who does silkscreened panels in the US?, Mod Wiggler forum, Aug 2011, reply by ersatzplanet
  2. ^ Manufacturing by Eric Barbour, Mod Wiggler wiki, Jan 2012
  3. ^ Grant Richter on Cutting Down Modular Costs, Matrixsynth, March 2007
  4. ^ OldBlue Overview (archive)
  5. ^ PCB front panels, Mod Wiggler forum, Oct 2015

External links

FR4

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