# Tips for designing the front panel **URL:** \ **Category:** DIY STUFF\ **Created:** [November 28, 2020, 11:30am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/tips-for-designing-the-front-panel/2398 "2020-11-28T11:30:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jtommi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/jtommi/32/10085_2.png) [@jtommi](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/jtommi)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 11:30am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/tips-for-designing-the-front-panel/2398/1 "2020-11-28T11:30:38Z")
Does anybody have good tips regarding front panel design? I’m thinking about CAD, but anything is welcome. It’s too soon for improvising, I’m very bad at guesstimating. This morning I started designing the blank panels in FreeCAD, but when it came time to add jacks, pots, etc I felt a bit overwhelmed. Before investing more time into learning, I wanted to see if you have better ideas. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel, so a CAD program where you could drag&drop basic components in would be great. FreeCAD allows that (with the macro Partslibrary), but it could be easier. ---
**Author:** ![analogoutput](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/analogoutput/32/29663_2.png) [@analogoutput](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/analogoutput)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 11:51am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/tips-for-designing-the-front-panel/2398/2 "2020-11-28T11:51:27Z")
There’s some discussion in > [@DIY Front Panels with PCB](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-front-panels-with-pcb/121): > > Hi folks, I figured I would document my experiences with using PCB fabrication sites like JLCPCB. First, i had no clue where to start, not having any CAD software or anything. I settled on using EasyEDA since it interfaces with these PCB sites directly, but you can use others. This CAD software will generate a Gerber file, which is uploaded to the site for them to make for you. Here is a screen cap of my finished VCO panel I made in the CAD program: And here is a pic of the finishe… and > [@KiCAD Silkscreen, Soldermask, and Exposed Copper Help](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/kicad-silkscreen-soldermask-and-exposed-copper-help/663): > > As the title implies, I am seeking help with utilizing KiCad for designs on the solder mask, silk screen, and exposed copper, etc. I know how to make vectors in Inkscape and import them as footprints and all that, but I would like to make more intriguing designs on the panels that I am making like seen on a lot of eurorack modules, as well as Sam’s very own LMNC Panels. I did make a neat silkscreen tonight that I figured I would share. It’s an older picture of Sam with a bent Speak and Spell! … and > [@My build progress](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/my-build-progress/345/1246): > > Of course, this is also a good method. I wanted to do that with the laminating first, but the plexiglass made it unnecessary because it is transparent. And as @Bitnik already says, these graphics programs get me down. I have now tried 3 different ones just to get multiple designs on a single sheet. One exported the font incorrectly, the other incorrectly measured the dimensions … what a shit … But I need to get multiple designs on a single piece of adhesive because it’s expensive … well, we’ll… ---
**Author:** ![twinturbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@twinturbo](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/twinturbo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 9:47pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/tips-for-designing-the-front-panel/2398/3 "2020-11-29T21:47:54Z")
front panel for what? I do my PCB’s in Kicad and then just work the front panel from the PCB layout ---
**Author:** ![jtommi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/jtommi/32/10085_2.png) [@jtommi](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/jtommi)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 7:21am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/tips-for-designing-the-front-panel/2398/4 "2020-11-30T07:21:48Z")
For my modules. I’m gonna start with Eurorack format, so the PCB will probably be perpendicular in most cases and thus not really relevant to the front panel. In the meantime I managed to progress in FreeCAD (I probably didn’t do it as it should be done, but it worked) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/1/10e528319e2431101ccbd95f6749ceb123b4c874.png) ---
**Author:** ![ChristianBloch](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/christianbloch/32/56_2.png) [@ChristianBloch](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/ChristianBloch)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/tips-for-designing-the-front-panel/2398/5 "2020-11-30T14:36:00Z")
Those pots and jacks look awfully close together. Are you sure there’s enough room to mount them? ---
**Author:** ![jtommi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/jtommi/32/10085_2.png) [@jtommi](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/jtommi)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/tips-for-designing-the-front-panel/2398/6 "2020-11-30T19:15:30Z")
> [@ChristianBloch](#): > > Are you sure there’s enough room to mount them? Absolutely not 😃 I think what I’ll do first is cut out some cardboard panels take some parts, and just look at them to get a vague idea of the proportions. ---
**Author:** ![zorch](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/zorch/32/5586_2.png) [@zorch](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/zorch)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2025, 2:59pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/tips-for-designing-the-front-panel/2398/7 "2025-09-02T14:59:37Z")
Would anyone happen to have an easy way to convert a Truetype font to a .shx?