Hello Tony & PIC.ers, >Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2003 23:39:28 -0600 >From: Tony Harris >Subject: [OT]: putting square/rectangle holes in a case. > >Hi all (yet again ;), > >I know this will sound like a more crazy question then the last one, but I'm >sure most (if not all) will see the correlation :). > >Ok, I've found some options for buttons, now my problem is punching out the >square areas for the buttons (and LCD). > >I can nibble out an area for the lcd (although a long and boring process), The `right' answer depends entirely on the qty. of panels you want. If you are making any no. greater than your fingers and toes then find a local N.C. punching house, give them a drawing and get them to do it. It's quite cheap per unit. If you want a one-off or just a couple, ...mmm... there ain't any nice choices. I've used a bench mounted manual punching rig for years & it has rectangular + round punch & die sets. Very time consuming to set up, but it's the only way I've got for one-of-a-kinds. I'm about to procure a small combination lathe + mill so that I can do all the little irritating machining jobs myself, killing the induced delays caused when I have to rely on outside shops to turn round `quick' tasks. I fancy that it might also be practical to use the mill for knocking out the oddball panels too. Has anyone tried this? i.e. making rectangular holes (er.. with radiused corners) in thin steel plate using a mill? bestos, John eMail from the desk of John Sanderson. JS Controls, PO Box 1887, Boksburg 1460, Rep. of S. Africa. Tel / Voice / Fax : 011 893 4154 email : jsand @pixie.co.za Cell : 082 741 6275 Manufacturer & Purveyor of laboratory force testing apparatus and related products & services. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu