🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <167C59A26.STATRAA@YaleVM.YCC.Yale.Edu>
STATRAA@YaleVM.YCC.Yale.Edu writes:

   I have a related question dealing with front panels - I have a steel
   chassis that has a black anodized aluminum faceplace that fits over the
   steel front plate, with a spacing between the two of about 1/4" -- this
   allows a professional looking product becuase it allows swithces and
   whatnot to be mounted on the rear (front) panel, and keeps unsightly
   nuts, washers, and tightening scratches off of the front panel.  My
   problem is this -- on many pro units they use this same scheme, and cut
   small OVAL holes in the faceplate to accomodate the toggle switches -
   this looks great, and I'd like to do something similar - but HOW can I
   cut OVAL holes???

   --
     ==================================================
     [   Travis Stansbury, Yale University - ES '94   ]
     [   statraa@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu                  ]
     ==================================================

                            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Being a University student in engineering, you or your ME pals should
have access to a half-decent milling machine.  These marvels of modern
technology allow you to clamp your work piece into an x-y table that
you can move with great precision underneath a stationary rotating
cutting bit, i.e. a drill.  Have fun, but practice on some junk first.

There are also punches available for this task, but they cost an arm
and a leg ($25 is an arm and a leg as far as this job is concerned,
right?) and will probably not come in exactly the size you want.

We use our milling machine to cut long skinny slots in VME front
panels to accomodate 50-pin connectors.  Works just dandy.

- Jim
--
J.V. Pieronek                           Internet: jvp@ll.mit.edu
Massachusetts Institute of Technology   (617) 981-3468
Lincoln Laboratory                      These are my opinions, not the Lab's.