[Juergen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kin0kin how much does it cost to get a front panel done by them, on average? or should i say, how much did your's cost? (anybody who ahs done it)

This is the breakdown for my panel:

Based on price list of: Front Panel Express, LLC
Price list date: August 1st, 2005

Type | Position | Remarks | Price
-------------+---------------+--------------------------------------+-----------
Other | ------------- | Preparing/finishing | $7.56
Material | ------------- | 4.0 mm Aluminum anodized/Natural | $2.03
Frame | 0.00/0.00 | Height: 59.00mm Width: 109.00mm | $5.84
Drill hole | 7.01/6.73 | Diameter: 4.80mm | $0.27
Drill hole | 102.02/6.73 | Diameter: 4.80mm | $0.27
Drill hole | 102.02/52.27 | Diameter: 4.80mm | $0.27
Drill hole | 7.01/52.27 | Diameter: 4.80mm | $0.27
Drill hole | 54.51/21.99 | Diameter: 5.00mm | $0.28
Drill hole | 26.51/29.50 | Diameter: 24.00mm | $0.99
Drill hole | 83.01/29.00 | Diameter: 9.50mm | $0.45
Engraving | 26.53/53.55 | PPA | $0.77
Engraving | 51.55/52.34 | Headphone Amplifier | $1.59
Engraving | 54.51/5.50 | N\148etzel Audio Labs | $1.13
Drill hole | 36.01/17.50 | Diameter: 3.40mm | $0.22
Drill hole | 17.01/41.50 | Diameter: 3.40mm | $0.22
Engraving | 83.01/44.02 | - Volume + | $0.72
Drill hole | 62.51/38.00 | Diameter: 0.2500" | $0.33
Drill hole | 46.51/38.00 | Diameter: 0.2500" | $0.33
Engraving | 54.51/44.00 | Crossfeed | $0.87
Engraving | 46.51/32.00 | level | $0.49
Engraving | 62.51/32.00 | bypass | $0.69
Engraving | 54.51/27.51 | AC | $0.38
Cavity | 7.01/6.73 | Circular / Diameter: 7.50mm | $0.35
Cavity | 7.01/52.27 | Circular / Diameter: 7.50mm | $0.35
Cavity | 102.02/52.27 | Circular / Diameter: 7.50mm | $0.35
Cavity | 102.02/6.73 | Circular / Diameter: 7.50mm | $0.35
Cavity | 83.01/29.00 | Circular / Diameter: 24.00mm | $1.58
Cavity | 26.51/29.50 | Rect./H: 31.00mm W: 26.00mm | $2.39
HPGL engrav. | 54.56/12.51 | C:\Documents and Settings\Juergen\De | $0.66
Cavity | 54.51/21.99 | Circular / Diameter: 6.00mm | $0.29
Other | ------------- | Engraving in-filling | $8.18
Other | ------------- | 2 Tool change(s) | $2.28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total: $42.75

Amount | 5-9 pieces | 10-19 pieces | 20-29 pieces | from 30 pieces
---------+------------+--------------+--------------+---------------
Discount | 10.0% | 20.0% | 30.0% |
Price | $38.47 | $34.20 | $29.92 | on request

The price is without sales tax and shipping charges.

In our constant effort to improve our products and services we reserve
the right to change specifications and prices without notice.

 

[MASantos]

I do believe that they are not cheap!!! I designed a FP for a millet hibrid plus one for a steps and the cost was around 80$ without shipping!! If you have a metal cutting shop in your town or near, you might want to speak with them you will be amazed with the price if they do it!! I was...


Cheers!!
Manuel

 

[kin0kin]

guess what, machinery shop isnt that cheap after all. I didnt get an exact quote on the FP, but most of them told me they charge by hour and it's like 40bucks per hour....but hell like they need an hour to drill/punch a couple of holes. quality uncertain too.

 

[Edwood]

Finally got the FPE part today.

Aside from a few holes being too small, it fits perfectly.

Countersinks were the correct diameter and depth. Except the ones flanking the balanced output holes were not perfectly flush, off by about 0.5mm, but that was probably my fault.

The Chamfer trick that FPE recommeded using an engraving tool does NOT work however. Instead of getting a bevel, it's a single notched step. dissappointed there.

I find it dissappointing also that the countersinks are done with such a small bit, so they are stepped rather than smooth.

-Ed

 

[bryman79]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwood The Chamfer trick that FPE recommeded using an engraving tool does NOT work however. Instead of getting a bevel, it's a single notched step. dissappointed there.

What portion of panel are you referring to? Could you take a zoomed-in pic?

Looks good overall though.

Bryan

 

[paologatto]

These are the panels I realized with them. I am happy of the results.









Paolo

 

[bhjazz]

<edit>
Found my answer already...heh heh...W00t!

 

[eventpc]

Hey, well looks like some of you don't like FPE then try out Cam Expert. Front Panel Design and Fabrication Custom Front Panels

And for some of you, you will find Heinz there, I used FPE till I found Cam Expert and i am happy to work with them now.

 

[krmathis]

^ Useful link, indeed!
But bumping a 4 year old thread just to let them know is a bit over-the-top.

 

[BradJudy]

Since his only other posts are on the same subject, it smells a bit spammy to me.

 

[nattonrice]

However I read right over over his other posts and only caught this one.

I like that they offer annodizing after the fact.
I always thought FPE had a bit of a butt-backwards approach.

 

[n_maher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nattonrice /img/forum/go_quote.gif I like that they offer annodizing after the fact. I always thought FPE had a bit of a butt-backwards approach.

Be aware that anodizing after finishing carries a minimum charge of ~$100 and that both places offer this service. I prefer Cam-Expert (they're local for me) but just wanted the correct info out there.

 

[nattonrice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by n_maher /img/forum/go_quote.gif Be aware that anodizing after finishing carries a minimum charge of ~$100 and that both places offer this service. I prefer Cam-Expert (they're local for me) but just wanted the correct info out there.

Yah I know

Annodizing isn't cheap.
As an asside, tacking on annodizing on an order with context eng was cheaper than I thought it would be. Still by no means cheap, but it was better than I thought.

 

[MrMajestic2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradJudy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Since his only other posts are on the same subject, it smells a bit spammy to me.

And he is PMing people about it too. My guess he is from Cam-Expert.

 

[phillokit]

I had bad luck with the thin shipping boxes FPE uses such that UPS kept destroying my panels and FPE would not use Federal Express. So I found an alternative that does work on par with FPE and at about the same cost or slightly less. Also, Cam-Expert can read the FPE design file.  I have not used FPE since.
http://cam-expert.com/