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Re: Cutting panels

From Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid>
Newsgroups sci.electronics.design, comp.arch.embedded
Subject Re: Cutting panels
Date 2013-07-22 16:17 -0700
Organization Consultant
Message-ID <b55sruFoba5U1@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References <ksganq$383$1@speranza.aioe.org> <b6tou8dsaelkbkngodta8rf46pvf9a11o7@news.supernews.com> <ksiakp$vds$1@speranza.aioe.org> <b554dsFj3euU2@mid.individual.net> <ksk0ck$je7$1@speranza.aioe.org>

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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Don Y wrote:
> Hi Joerg,
> 
> On 7/22/2013 9:20 AM, Joerg wrote:
>> Don Y wrote:
> 
>>> The panel with three 7.5 x 0.625 slots was $43.
>>>
>>> Adding the 72 countersunk holes that allow the PCB's
>>> located behind the panel to be attached to the panel
>>> increased this to $72.
>>>
>>> Adding 6 countersunk mounting holes to mount the panel
>>> to <whatever> increased this to $96 (OK, maybe I could
>>> omit two of those holes... perhaps this saves $5-10?).
>>>
>>> Lettering the 36 connector positions with simple numeric
>>> designators (i.e., 1-36) brings the price up to $118.
>>>
>>> Repeat for the second set of 36 means we're in the $230+
>>> ballpark.  For essentially a blank sheet of aluminum with
>>> a few holes in it (surely no descriptive legend... that
>>> would have to be written on a sheet of paper taped to the
>>> wall by the panel?  :> )
>>>
>>> I can't imagine many folks going this route.  Esp when you see
>>> how many PC's have replaced/added optical drives that don't
>>> bother to "match" the original color scheme of the machine!  :>
>>
>> For a professional-looking panel that ain't bad at all.
> 
> How many folks, realistically, do you think would drop that sort
> of money on a "piece of metal"?  You can buy 3 or 4 quality
> security cameras for that price.  Or, several of the little
> satellite processors that I use.  I.e., things that give you
> functionality ... not just cosmetic.
> 

Hobbyists won't, of course. But I can see myraid uses in the
professional world. For example, when you present an idea to venture
capitalists (just did that recently) there will often be demo hardware
you have built. A professional front panel versus a "duck tape and
Sharpie" approach can make all the difference. Well worth $100.


> As I said elsewhere, think of how many folks with "black" color
> scheme PC's have added/replaced CD/DVD drives and used *white*
> ones... because the *black* ones weren't on sale?  Or, a brandX
> keyboard on a brandY computer?  Or, who label things with
> pen/pencil instead of a real "labeler" (or, don't bother to label
> at all!!  :> )
> 
> And, that's just a "generic" panel.  I.e., *exactly* what I already
> HAVE... all it's buying me is "cut it in half" and don't make it
> *look* like it has been cut in half!  And, it still doesn't really
> legend the connections (other than numbering them).
> 
> E.g., with a graphic overlay, I can put pictures (icons) of cameras
> with "NNW", "NNE", "SSW", "SSE", etc. to identify the various security
> camera connections; icons of speakers with "N Kit" (kitchen), "S Kit",
> "NW Fam", "SE Fam", "SW Fam", etc. to identify each of the network
> speaker connections; little "antenna beacon" icons legended to identify
> the connections associated with the beacons; icons of "CRTs" legended
> to identify the connectors associated with the various control panels;
> a bell to mark the connector for the alarm system; a big "drip" for
> the irrigation system; etc.  (I have mixed feelings about icons.  But,
> you could also arrange the connectors in *groups* and use the space
> below each group to identify the group -- "Security Cameras" -- with
> shorter indications to further qualify each individual connector:  NNW,
> NNE, SSW, etc.)
> 

Man, you guys must have a full-blown NSA setup going there :-)


> Shirley, trying to do anything like this on that "custom" panel
> from fabricator is going to be outrageously expensive (and, if it
> is engraved, probably pretty unusable, visually).
> 
> And, if you change some wiring or add some new connections, you just
> print a new overlay!
> 

Sure, if you need flexibility you can't have things engraved. In that
case it is better to have slots for paper strip, like the quick-dial
numbers on a fax machine.


> Also, if you've screwed up *measuring* the locations of the various
> mounting studs, etc. *required* to make the custom panel usable, you
> don't learn $100/200 later!  Screw up a graphic overlay and you're
> out $2.  It doesn't *care* where the studs are located because the
> studs are already present on the panel *beneath* the overlay!
> 

You plan to screw the panels straight onto the studs? That sure is a
true minimalist approach.


>> Just think about
>> what your own time is worth per hour, and then you still need to buy the
>> stock somewhere.
> 
> It's called a photograph.  You buy them at Walgreens, Target, Costco,
> Walmart, etc.
> 

Yeah, but those photos don't last.


> With the custom panel, you still are spending time.  And, waiting
> days/weeks to see if you've screwed up.
> 
>> Which probably means another hour just for the drive
>> into town, plus 2-3 gallons of gas at $4 a pop.
> 
> Some of us have indoor plumbing, Joerg  (i.e., we don't live 35+
> miles from <wherever>)  :>  Even a thin sheet of rigid plastic can
> be purchased from any of the local craft stores.  Remember, it
> doesn't have to *do* anything -- just cover some holes that we want
> to pretend don't exist and "support" a photograph.
> 

Ain't no crafts store in this here town. But we can get saddles, boots,
spurs, and glow plugs for the John Deere.


> I think the graphic overlay would appeal to the sort of person
> who *isn't* going to just settle for "using an equipment rack".
> (I know several folks who *will* go the equipment rack route!)
> It's a very low bar to cross -- low cost of admission.  And,
> very low cost for failure (print paper copies until you are
> sure all is correct).  And, lets them point to something that
> is exclusively *their* creation -- since so much else *won't* be!
> 
> And, hey, if he wanted to spend extra money on a fancy piece of
> metal, there's nothing to stop him!  He can even machine it out of
> *platinum* if he wants!  :>  (chances are, that sort of sod would
> not be doing *anything* himself so I won't worry about him!)
> 

For hobby or residential use it can be ok. But not really in the pro
world, like industrial of when looking for venture funding.

-- 
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

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Thread

Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 02:47 -0700
  Re: Cutting panels John Fields <jfields@austininstruments.com> - 2013-07-21 08:05 -0500
    Re: Cutting panels Roberto Waltman <usenet@rwaltman.com> - 2013-07-21 10:38 -0400
      Re: Cutting panels "Carl Ijames" <carl.ijames@nonono.verizon.net> - 2013-07-21 12:36 -0400
        Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 09:48 -0700
          Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 13:29 -0700
            Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 14:10 -0700
              Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 16:23 -0700
          Re: Cutting panels Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 21:04 +0000
            Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 15:07 -0700
              Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 16:35 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 17:11 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 16:27 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-23 21:50 -0500
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 21:24 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-24 09:09 +0000
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-24 16:02 -0700
          Re: Cutting panels hamilton <hamilton@nothere.com> - 2013-07-21 16:52 -0600
            Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 17:13 -0700
        Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 12:35 -0700
  Re: Cutting panels amdx <nojunk@knology.net> - 2013-07-21 09:54 -0500
    Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 09:32 -0700
      Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 13:36 -0700
        Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 14:04 -0700
    Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 13:14 -0700
      Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 13:26 -0700
        Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-21 14:06 -0700
          Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 16:08 -0700
            Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Rich Webb <webb.ra@example.net> - 2013-07-21 19:42 -0400
              Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 21:45 -0700
            Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Jan Panteltje <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-22 07:51 +0000
            Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Charlie E. <edmondson@ieee.org> - 2013-07-23 05:57 -0700
              Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 14:46 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Lancaster <don@tinaja.com> - 2013-07-23 16:41 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Charlie E. <edmondson@ieee.org> - 2013-07-23 17:21 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-24 09:26 +0000
                Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-25 12:11 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> - 2013-07-25 16:04 -0400
                Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-25 13:03 -0700
          Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-23 13:40 +0000
            Re: Cutting panels [solved?] Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-23 07:38 -0700
      Re: Cutting panels [solved?]/summary Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-29 15:18 -0700
  Re: Cutting panels andrews@sdf.lonestar.org - 2013-07-21 12:45 -0700
    Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 19:17 -0700
  Re: Cutting panels Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> - 2013-07-21 19:45 -0400
    Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 17:07 -0700
  Re: Cutting panels Peter Bennett <peterbb@somewhere.invalid> - 2013-07-21 16:57 -0700
    Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 20:58 -0700
      Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-21 21:02 -0700
      Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-22 09:20 -0700
        Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 12:15 -0700
          Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-22 16:17 -0700
            Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 18:52 -0700
              Re: Cutting panels Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-23 14:00 +0000
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 15:13 -0700
              Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-23 07:09 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Charlie E. <edmondson@ieee.org> - 2013-07-23 10:03 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 21:59 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 15:54 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-24 13:09 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-24 15:51 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-26 09:13 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-26 11:35 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-07-26 12:06 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Jan Panteltje <panteltje@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-26 19:44 +0000
                Re: Cutting panels Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-07-26 22:21 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Jan Panteltje <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-27 08:12 +0000
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-26 13:42 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-07-26 18:50 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-26 22:49 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-07-27 00:53 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-27 10:16 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-26 23:52 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-27 17:36 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-28 09:22 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-28 12:31 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-07-28 13:48 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-28 14:20 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-28 16:35 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-28 17:39 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-28 19:38 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-29 11:15 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-29 16:30 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-29 17:38 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-29 21:45 -0700
                Re: Cutting panels Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-07-30 12:20 -0700
  Re: Cutting panels Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2013-07-21 21:38 -0700
  Re: Cutting panels Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-22 00:39 -0500
    Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 01:39 -0700
      Re: Cutting panels Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-22 19:09 -0500
        Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 20:10 -0700
          Re: Cutting panels Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-23 14:07 +0000
  Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-22 18:33 +0100
    Re: Cutting panels Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> - 2013-07-22 13:44 -0400
    Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-22 19:00 -0700
      Re: Cutting panels Jan Panteltje <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> - 2013-07-23 10:09 +0000
      Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-23 11:45 +0100
        Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-23 13:46 +0100
          Re: Cutting panels 0bama <0B@nocontrast.org> - 2013-07-23 13:06 +0000
            Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-23 22:19 +0100
              Re: Cutting panels 0bama <0B@nocontrast.org> - 2013-07-24 08:05 +0000
        Re: Cutting panels Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> - 2013-07-23 10:07 -0400
          Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-25 01:26 -0700
    Re: Cutting panels Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-23 14:18 +0000
      Re: Cutting panels Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> - 2013-07-23 11:38 -0400
        Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-23 22:32 +0100
          Re: Cutting panels Frank Miles <fpm@u.washington.edu> - 2013-07-23 21:37 +0000
      Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 16:16 -0700
        Re: Cutting panels Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2013-07-24 10:37 +0100
          Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-25 01:27 -0700
  Re: Cutting panels Gonadicus <gonadicus@no_spam.com> - 2013-07-23 12:46 +0800
  Re: Cutting panels sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> - 2013-07-23 04:58 -0700
    Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 16:13 -0700
  Re: Cutting panels Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2013-07-23 13:25 +0000
    Re: Cutting panels Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-07-23 21:42 -0700

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