DIY machine for fabricating electronics panels and enclosures anyone?

[Gonzodada]

Hello

Has anybody on the forums built a machine suitable for or with the specific intention of fabricating panels and enclosures for electronic instrumentation?

My needs in this regard are to be able to cut and engrave aluminium and acrylic up to 3 mm thickness and to mill hard and softwoods - thickness of wood undecided as yet. Working area would be a minimum of 19" on either the X or Y axis (for panels for rack mount equipment). Let's say 19" square to cover all bases. As for Z axis, undecided. It would also be great to mill PCBs but I'm guessing if it can do the above it can do PCBs.

This kind of thing basically

Front Panel Express:*Custom Front Panel Designs and Enclosures - Front Panels

So, anybody? If so please share! Did you build from scratch or use existing plans? Alternatively any recommendations?

Thanks
Jim

[acondit]

Great site. Take a look at this thread by Hoss2006. He has built a number of panels. There are a lot more here on the cncZone.

Alan

[PaulRowntree]

This is a great business opportunity, because electronic panels are a PITA, and they rarely look as good as we want. Enclosures in general are pricey for 19" equipment. The trick here is not just cutting Al, but doing the artwork.

Wood front panels would definitely be funky, but are they to code?

Good luck!

[Al_The_Man]

I think the OP was intending to do mass production.
For one-offs I use a local company that does reverse engraving of Lamacoid.
The reverse engraving ensures no erasure of the legend or ingress of grease etc and any colour legend you wish.
It does a nice job from an Acad file.
Al.