Posted by =-JacK-= on October 16, 1999 at 14:03:58:
Though y'all might like to see how my control panel is shaping up. I was going to make it from 3/4" particle board, but changed my mind to 1/8" alumunum. I took the particle board and cut out the center and used it as a frame to mount the aluminum. I then covered the aluminum with Lexan sheeting. The wiring is only half done, hope to finish it Monday evening.
If you are wondering "why aluminum?", the answer is thickness. Even when I routed out a place for the joysticks, they still felt too short in the particle board. Also there is at least one more panel to be built, and it will have a spinner and trackball. The sheet aluminum will make my life much easier when it is time to mount them.
I got the alumunum sheet from a local metal shop, they ever cut it precisely to size for me (2 pieces cost $20.00US). I have a Greenlee knockout cutter set I use for the button holes and joystick pass-throughs.