Front Panel Manufacture - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: fc3000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 02:45:46 pm
content: Hi all.Can anyone point me to a cheap panel manufacture.I need one for my project, 100mmx100mm approx.Some people have made a PCB with just silkscreen on it.Is that OK?Regards

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 03:48:54 pm
content: Quote from: fc3000 on August 10, 2023, 02:45:46 pmA pcb panel can look pretty good. Here's one of mine:https://turnislandsystems.com/tis-1279-clock-distribution-buffer/I used jlcpcb and the price is about 25 cents ea, shipping is much more than that. Be sure to tell the pcb vendor to not put their job # on the panel silk screen. If I am trying to make the panel look more professional I run a permanent marker oraround the board edge, or use a stamp-pad. These panels have been quite rugged.

author: Kim Christensen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 03:56:55 pm
content: Quote from: fourfathom on August 10, 2023, 03:48:54 pmIs that using the aluminum PCB material or just the standard? Looks nice.

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 04:14:03 pm
content: That's pcb with the blue soldermask. Two-sided, groundplanes, plated through holes. The aluminum boards are white with black silkscreen, no other options when I last checked.

author: wilhe_jo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 04:17:58 pm
content: Aluminium PCBs usually have white/black silk screen without addition costs. This really gives nice panels.Just consider that the insulation layer in not stripped when removing copper...I also did fr4 wif black/white silk.Works nicely as well and looks prettyThis usually costs a little more than standard green.For early prototypes I tend to use green FR4 panels... This gives me some visual guidance on the HW revision. Very helpful when you have several revisions on the shelf.Regards

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 05:28:22 pm
content: An engineer (aka Clough42) has a whole series of YT's on making an electronic leadscrew for a lathe. I bought one of his kits, and the faceplate is a very vice PCB probably made by an inexpensive manufacturer in China.Here's a link to one of his videos:If a picture would help, I can add that later.John

author: fc3000
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 07:37:45 pm
content: I like your panel I think I will do the same.Regards

author: newto
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2023, 03:20:53 pm
content: QuoteYou can tell JLC to put the job# on the back by putting "JLCJLCJLCJLC" on the silkscreen layer and save 2$ too. I usually try to put them on panel rails or under large components when I can.

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2023, 05:34:25 am
content: Quote from: newto on August 11, 2023, 03:20:53 pmThere's a specific option on the order page where you can select which side for the job # (or none at all). On a few of my panel boards I have different legends for the front and back -- the hole pattern is symmetrical so I can have faceplates for two different designs or a front and back plate, all on one PCB.