Has anybody found a cut-to-size or pre-cut EU vendor?
1 Like
If you live in northern Europe and have a spanner then many parking signs are kosmo-ish size… just sayin. 
4 Likes
Welcome here!
I had to verify because that was such a steep price change but you’re right. This would be a good time to buy if you need it. I still have a lot of my previous orders and am planning on FR4 for most of my next several modules, though.
2 Likes
Hi People,
Completely new here. While trying to find a topic about getting started for ultra novice beginner level I found this thread. Overhere in the Netherlands there are several companies who produce laser cut panels to your design. They will be just bare aluminum (or steel or stainless) Just upload a .dxf or a.stp file and you’ll have a quote well within a minute.
Cut to a 0,1 mm tolerance and complete with all holes, slots etc in the right position. I happen to have an account at one of these companies. So if you’re interested just drop me a message. (no affiliation ofcoarse)
7 Likes
Just out of curiosity, what companies do you have good experience with? Both in quality and price/quality ratio. Thanks!
Hi Tim,
I either use the company “247TailorSteel” or “247lasersnijden.nl”.
Both companies use an online portal where u can upload a .stp or .dxf file. They both cut a wide variety of materials and are able to do bends.
Prices vary with the requested delivery time. Accuracy and tolerances are great. Especially with thinner materials. The attached “wagon wheel” bumper plates were cut out of 10mm mild steel and needed almost no scale /burr removal. image|666x500
2 Likes
Thank you Frank, good to know!!
Cheers,
1 Like
I have used John Steel:
Quality is okay, I like the anodised alu. I found the best way to get good value was to put multiple panels in the same drawing, then I separate the panels at home with a jigsaw. Upload DXF directly for quotes.
1 Like
Time to necro a post!
I am looking a bit deeper into having some nice aluminum panels made, but pretty much every place that I have come across needs a .step file or similar.
Are there any good onshape tutorials that focus on making just a panel with holes? Most videos that I have found seem to want to start with more complex shapes and assemblies.
Does Front Panel Designer not output step files? I could have sworn it did
Does it?! I thought it was for .STL’s
It’s what I used to get a front panel made by jlcpcb for my custom fartbox
1 Like
I get blank panels made by JLCPCB on aluminium/white, with slots cut, “ShedSynth” logo and centre-lines printed on the back (actually the front when you’re plotting the PCB) to help when I drill them for whatever module I’m making.
Mine are Eurorack, but they seem stiff enough to work for bigger Kosmo panels.
In the UK, getting 10 or 20 blank panels worked out as cheap as buying a sheet of aluminium from a local store and making a terrible job of cutting it up myself.
I have also had a couple of panels ready-drilled/printed for specific modules which turned out nicely.
Remember to specify the position of their order number with “JLCJLCJLCJLC” so it doesn’t end up on the face.
2 Likes
Not a bad idea actually. Ordering five 2.5cm aluminium panels at JLCPCB comes at EUR 2.17 a piece, including taxes and postage. I can get a largish 2mm thick offcut aluminium sheet and cut it to Kosmo sized panels for about a third of that a piece, but when you factor in the tools, time, and messy end result, it really makes sense to order from JLCPCP.
The postage with JLCPCB, however, grows exponentially with larger panels, so I think that for panels larger than 7.5cm one would better go with cutting an aluminium sheet themselves.
My question is, has anyone checked the stiffness of the JLCPCB aluminium panels at 2.5, 5 and 7.5cm if it’s any good. If so, has anyone shared gerber or kicad files for Kosmo sized blank panels?
Has anyone had any experience with JLCPCB - getting a powder coat finish and then having laser engraving done?