Aluminium front panels made by the PCB fab. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: RNA
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2016, 03:02:27 pm
content: I was getting so disappointed that my front panels were costing me more than the electronics. I had seen dave's video's on PCB front panels and that got me thinking about the aluminium option at pcbway.com where I get my PCB's from. I use Dip Trace on a Mac so being able to design everything in one package as well as being able to order from one place is a real time saver.

author: vindoline
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 11:08:31 am
content: That's a great! I had no idea that you could get PCB's fabled on aluminum. I wonder if other prototype services offer this?

author: Pinkus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 11:26:32 am
content: Interesting idea!Unfortunately is has just some black paint as the background on the surface (of course no anodized aluminium as it originally shall be a PCB).But what the heck, better than nothing.Though I wonder, how the backside of the aluminium looks like. Can you make a photo to show what the aluminium looks like, so we get an idea how the front side would look if some chooses "none" for thesilkscreensoldermask?ThanksPeter

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 02:12:48 pm
content: Before printed plastic film was used, Tektronix screen printed aluminum as part of the anodizing process which made for incredibly tough markings on their aluminum front panels.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 02:25:56 pm
content: Quote from: Pinkus on October 13, 2016, 11:26:32 amShould get matte solder mask. Then it will look much better and will be fingerprint, small scratch proof.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 07:15:50 pm
content: Anodide the aluminium, mask it off using toner transfer then simply use some analine dye to stain the anodised metal. Strip off the mask and seal the panel and the panel will be as permanent as the dye itself. Same process is used to colour amuminium plate, though the colours available are limited to a few blues, browns and pale blacks and some red, yellow and green.

author: RNA
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 12:37:11 am
content: Here is a picture of the reverse side of the panel

author: julian1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2016, 09:58:01 pm
content: Looks really good!. Anyone know of a solution for one-off/low volume silicone keypads?

author: ansonbao
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2016, 07:56:44 am
content: Quote from: RNA on October 14, 2016, 12:37:11 amseems great,thanks choose us make boards for you and hope you can share more projects in eevblog

author: ruffrecords
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 23, 2017, 10:14:54 am
content: Quote from: vindoline on October 13, 2016, 11:08:31 amMost of the usual suppliers do them. Seeedstudio does for example.CheersIan

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2017, 08:29:23 pm
content: Quote from: Pinkus on October 13, 2016, 11:26:32 amI guess a PCB fab could just make front panels as a slightly different service. Mill the panel, anodize, then apply silkscreen.