In article ,
Wally wrote:
Nor I. I just don't need a fancy box *that* much. I've been thinking
about home-brew front panels. Apparently, in the model steam engine
scene, people are into making little brass nameplates for their
engines.They do it by applying a resist to the brass and then etch out
the design using a chemical - like making a PCB. The pattern on the
resist is made using a computer and printer, so the layout is as good as
one's PC skills will allow for. After etching, the cavity is filled with
paint, leaving the unetched high spots as brass. It strikes me that that
could be a good way to get clean, accurate and long lasting legends on a
front panel for an amp.

RS Components do a coated anodised aluminium sheet in a couple of
thicknesses - 0.5 mm and IIRC 1.5 mm, so suitable either as a main panel
or cover.

1) You do a transparency in the same way as you would for a PCB, then
contact print it onto the sheet using UV light.

2) Then wash the sheet and dry. It's pretty robust by now.

3) Next, you coat the 'etched' parts with the supplied dye - red blue
green yellow or black, and wipe off the excess. It's possible to use
different colours on the same panel with care.

4) You then strip off the emulsion with the supplied stripper

5) Finally, you simmer in boiling water for 40 minutes.

The final result is as durable as anodised aluminium - ie rather better
than good quality screen printing.

The kit is expensive - over 100 quid - but includes two each 320 x 250 mm
panels of both thicknesses, double sided sticky backed paper for fixing,
and all parts can be bought separately.

The RS part number is 568-073 and you can download the data sheet/full
instructions from their site.

IMHO, it's a *very* cost effective way of getting a pro finish to your
front panel - as anyone who has had pro engraving done will agree. ;-)

http://rswww.com

--
*I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met *

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn