Muff's Modules & More

rarecomponent · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:19 pm Post subject: Front Panel production

How are most Modular synth panels produced?

The finish on Synth.com modules are pretty good..I assume they are anodized then silk screen printed?

Would the early Moog modules have each been done by hand? or did they
scourse out to other factories?

fonik · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:24 pm Post subject:

the silver euro stuff is done with metalphoto process most of the time, i guess. at least that's what i úse.

lightworks · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:53 pm Post subject:

hi fonik!

do you produce your panels in europe? would like to find a good metal photo shop near...

6.4 Billion · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:58 pm Post subject:

qu.one · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:05 pm Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:24 pm Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:45 am Post subject:

i just found out that schaeffer (front panel designer) do metalphoto's too. you will have to send them the fpd and a pdf via email and check the price this way. will try that soon.

negativspace · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 3:01 am Post subject:

Oh? Interesting...

fonik · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 3:07 am Post subject:

yes. they tell you about it on the german site ("eloxalunterdruck"), i could not find it on the american site, though (front panel express).

daverj · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:45 pm Post subject:

If it's fairly recently been added to the German site, maybe it will get added to the US site soon too. That would be cool. It would be nice to be able to make one or two metalphoto panels without having to pay hundreds of dollars.

Since the German site is the original, I would guess they try new things out there first before adding them to the US site.

lightworks · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:28 pm Post subject:

can front panel express use vector files?

kindredlost · Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:19 pm Post subject: Re: Front Panel production

urbanscallywag · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:18 am Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:29 am Post subject:

urbanscallywag · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:37 am Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:53 am Post subject:

negativspace · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:57 am Post subject:

I've sent a few fails...

fonik · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 3:47 pm Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 4:24 pm Post subject:

iopop · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 5:33 pm Post subject:

120€ for a 19"/3U panel sounds promising. So, just picking a random number, a 4U might end up at around 150€? Thats nice. Ok, its double the price compared to the best of cgs panels, but you can have the benefit of complete feature creep! smile

fonik · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 5:42 pm Post subject:

yes. they are still good for one offs. but if you want them to do a small series (say 100pcs) they don't get it right...

msprigings · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 5:44 pm Post subject:

Anyone have any example on how just silk screen looks on metal? Like Black on silver eurostyle.

polyroy · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 5:50 pm Post subject:

How would I be able to change a PDF to a file that could be used to make a panel? I've got a full scale PDF of the Milton sequencer front panel design, but I don't know what format the file would have to be in before I start shopping around for someone to make me a panel.

ersatzplanet · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 6:48 pm Post subject:

raisinbag · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 8:19 am Post subject:

hey Fonik, what is the "metalphoto" process you use? I have searched the web and have found a few different methods and wondering what works best for you. Would you know of any links that show what works best from your experience? I would love to be able to use a printer to print right onto a panel and even a stomp box if possible.
Thanks

fonik · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:40 am Post subject:

i thought metalphoto was the angloamerican term for the german "eloxalunterdruck" (color is applied to raw alu before the anodizong process. the result is very sustainable and resistable to almost anything). so metalphoto it is a serive provider actually!?

anyways, i will continue getting my frontpanels from this small german business here in my region (low cost, no large distances).

clarke68 · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 10:57 am Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 12:32 pm Post subject:

now i understand.

from their website: "image is permanently sealed within the anodic layer". thay is exaclty what elxoalunterdruck does. however, my service provider does color images too (they actually do not care about color or b/w/). what i get form metalphoto, it is only b/w?

ersatzplanet · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 2:07 pm Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:19 pm Post subject:

by elexoalunterdruck the ink is sealed by the anodizing, it does not wear off or scratch off too. the result seems to be the same.

anzways, always good to learn about something new.

fonik · Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:29 am Post subject:

after all this discussion the front panel from schaeffer arrived today.
and i am really disappointed!

the black is only dark grey, and they somehow messed with the dimensions of the print overlay, it is a little bit blurry, too! very frustrating

1st photo's will follow when i assembled the symplseq's...

so i won't order these eloxalunterdruck panels from them anymore. i will stay with my current provider, which does an outstanding quality.

marvkaye · Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:31 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear about your disappointing experience with the new process. Don't they have a satisfaction guarantee? It would seem to me that something "blurry" is not exactly up to snuff... were I in your shoes I would let them know I wasn't happy and see about a refund or at least have them make it right.

<marv>

fonik · Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 3:45 pm Post subject:

i will, marv, i will let them know:

marvkaye · Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 6:43 pm Post subject:

Looks ok from a distance, but I see that the printing appears a little "soft", not exactly what I'd call blurry, but just not crisp. All that matters is that you're not satisfied... be sure to let us know if they make it right.

While I've got your attention, I noticed that the panel looks really thick... what's the gauge on that material and do you do all your panels that way? I'm used to seeing 1.5mm or maybe 2.5 for larger panels... that looks like 5 or 6. No flexing there, I'm sure.

<marv>

fonik · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 12:53 am Post subject:

yes, the quality is way below what i am used to.

this 19'' panel is 3mm, for eurorack panels i use 1.5mm or 2mm, though.

marvkaye · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:09 am Post subject:

Interesting how the up close & personal pic makes the panel look like it's much thicker.... but at 3mm, you probably don't see any deflection when plugging things in & out.

keninverse · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:31 am Post subject:

For 19" panels one might consider Chae's/Prodigy-Pro laser engraving service at GDIY. I was quoted about $50 for a 19" panel engraving if I supplied my own black powdercoated blank. I'm not entirely certain the depth of the etching so it may not be possible to infill. But from some of the photos I've seen his work looks great.

revtor · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:24 am Post subject:

Hey Fonik, if you don't mind, how much did you pay for that panel? 4u right?

Anoyne here done a 4-u (serge-like) metalphoto one-off? Price for that?

Neutron7 · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:51 pm Post subject:

soon, oh so soon!

microcarve MV3 assembled and tuned.

If i make about 20 panels this pays for itself. and i can be more detailed on the engraving without cheaping out to save the $$

still waiting for motors, I have power supply, gecko controller etc with this small wolfgang spindle it can do engraving and small work. with a bosch colt trim router mounted it can cut heavier things quicker.

and i can do my artsy fartsy stuff with it too.

revtor · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 10:44 am Post subject:

Hey Neutron, I love the RC car motor spindle... (TB650. WANT) My porter cable lam trimmer I think is nearing the end of its life.. runout ya know....

anyway, bits for you if you need some suppliers:

for tinitiny shit:
http://bitsbits.com/

for specialty shit (I like their TiN PCB cutters):
http://www.precisebits.com/

Engraving points, good prices, many options:
http://www.2linc.com/

engraving materials- Johnsonplastics. lots and lots of stuff..

have fun

fonik · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 11:09 am Post subject:

Neutron7 · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:36 pm Post subject:

thanks for those links, i was wondering where to get that stuff.

when you cut PCBs, is it worth it? i mean to say, do the cutters last long enough that it works out cheaper than sending off toyr PCB jobs?

sonicwarrior · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 5:22 am Post subject:

steffensen · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 5:33 am Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:06 am Post subject:

Paradigm X · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:12 am Post subject:

Do you have a FPD file for that 3u panel you wouldnt mind sharing fonik?

Many thanks

Ben