Help with faceplate design

[c.stoffel]

Hey guys, I'm trying to design the front and back plates for an amp I built.

I designed the chassis in Solidworks so it's easy to export the front and the back faces with all the holes to dxf/dwg format. From there, what would be the best way to go? I basically need the labels and some kind of numbering around the controls. What software do you recommend for this job?

Thank you very much!

[purpletele]

Hey guys, I'm trying to design the front and back plates for an amp I built.

I designed the chassis in Solidworks so it's easy to export the front and the back faces with all the holes to dxf/dwg format. From there, what would be the best way to go? I basically need the labels and some kind of numbering around the controls. What software do you recommend for this job?

Thank you very much!

You may want to contact Sandy Henry @ Precision design.  She can take you graphics and add to it and then print on metal or plastic at a reasonable price.

574-699-7876

simplifysandy@aol.com

[HotBluePlates]

I designed the chassis in Solidworks so it's easy to export the front and the back faces with all the holes to dxf/dwg format. From there, what would be the best way to go? I basically need the labels and some kind of numbering around the controls. What software do you recommend for this job? ...

What's needed depends on the requirements of the shop which will produce the plates, and how much you're willing to pay.

When I bought non-standard faceplates, I used a trophy shop near me.  Their website & FAQ specified what artwork they required (and how much I'd be charged if I had them do the artwork from scratch).  They accepted .jpg, .bmp, .pdf, .gif and many other types (but then charged to convert them into a vector format).  Among them was the Corel Draw file type, and others here mentioned they'd used a free download version of Corel Draw to do their faceplates.  Fortunately Corel Draw is a vector file, and saved me the Art Charge on my order.

Custom plates are gonna be expensive, for a setup fee if nothing else.  After the one-time setup fee is charged, you can generally have additional same-plates made fairly inexpensively.

Whether any one shop is cheaper than another is really up to you to find out.  Call/visit websites, ask the shop you're thinking of using exactly what they have available, and what their requirements/fees are.

[Rainmaker]

Hey Y'all!

I just joined and happened across this post. I just had a similar delemia last weekend and watched a quick tutorial on photoshop and measurement and it was actually really easy to design my own plate. I scanned my chassis and then measured it and went into Photoshop and after you learn (which is easy) how to use the ruler tool it's a cinch! Contact me if you have any questions. This is just a sample of a quick plate I did for a 5 watt amp I make. It's not the final but it's a close idea.

As far as having what I designed I just have it printed at a local sign printing shop (They print it on vinyl) and I stick it you there chassis with the adhesive the sign company has on the final and then I cover it with a thin piece of plexiglass. Works like a charm and by far less expensive than the custom ones made online. As far as I am concerned... Mine look as good as anything I can spend tons of money on. It's the tone people are after... Not a Fancy Swanky Plate that will get scratched and hard to read anyways after years of use.