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on my face plate I need a square removed for my led display

 
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NickLatech
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on my face plate I need a square removed for my led display
PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:35 am     Reply with quote

this could be considered off topic.

I need a small .25x.25 inch square removed from my aluminum face plate. I want it to be a clean cut. I tried using a drimel tool, but I didnt the lines as straight as I wanted.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get it removed?

Thanks
Nick
newguy



Joined: 24 Jun 2004
Posts: 1899

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PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:53 am     Reply with quote

Use a very sharp x-acto knife (scalpel) and a straight edge to mark the edge of the square hole. Then go to work with a file. Use a flat file, and use the biggest file you can fit in the hole (slightly less than 0.25").

I've cut rectangular holes for LCDs in this manner, and it works very well. Takes a long time, but works well.

Because square holes are such a pain to cut, I now use circular holes whenever possible. It's much easier to creat a circular hole using a drill than it is to cut a square hole by hand.

Something like this is too fine for a dremel. You can use the dremel to rough out the opening, but you really have to use a file to finish it off.
SherpaDoug



Joined: 07 Sep 2003
Posts: 1640
Location: Cape Cod Mass USA

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PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:15 pm     Reply with quote

.25" x .25" is kind of small. I would try a 1/4" drill followed by filing. If it was a little bigger you could use a nibbling tool like GC395-ND at Digi-Key.
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NickLatech
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:48 pm     Reply with quote

I was ran across an item called a panel punch. I havnt used one but they look like they could work nicely.

Nick
rberek



Joined: 10 Jan 2005
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Location: Ottawa, Canada

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PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:57 pm     Reply with quote

Most of the panel punches I've seen are for larger (i.e. 7/16" and up) holes, but if you've found a smaller one, please let me know. They've also got some nice punches for DB9/DP25 connectors, but they're $250+ . Nice if you've got a product rather than a prototype to build.
NickLatech
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:54 am     Reply with quote

this so for a small production run.. So if the cost matches the quality, I wouldnt mind spending some dollars

Nick
jecottrell



Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 559
Location: Tucson, AZ

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:34 pm     Reply with quote

Try laser cutting. I just had several things done and price is about $100 minimum and just slightly more for each additional piece. I had 2 complex faceplates cut in 0.125" aluminum and it was just over $100 total.

http://www.themetalman.com/home_laser.html

A DXF file is all you need to get going.

John
MikeValencia



Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 238
Location: Chicago

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:26 pm     Reply with quote

On one of Circuit Cellar magazine's ads, i found www.protocase.com

You can download their super easy CAD tool, and with it draw any shape of cutout you want and spend $100+ for a few prototypes.

There's also frontpanelexpress.com

I haven't used either though.
jecottrell



Joined: 16 Jan 2005
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Location: Tucson, AZ

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:56 am     Reply with quote

Mike,

I had tried one of those and the price was about $250 for one piece! That's when I went local.

John
NickLatech
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:47 pm     Reply with quote

i found a panel punch from mouser for $51 part #380-0126
DOMachining



Joined: 30 Jun 2020
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Re: on my face plate I need a square removed for my led disp
PostPosted: Tue Jun 30, 2020 12:17 am     Reply with quote

NickLatech wrote:
this could be considered off topic.

I need a small .25x.25 inch square removed from my aluminum face plate. I want it to be a clean cut. I tried using a drimel tool, but I didnt the lines as straight as I wanted.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get it removed?

Thanks
Nick


Why not try to use laser cutting?
www.domachining.com
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