Question Regarding Clean CP Artwork Hole Cuts

[Yourname942]

How do you make clean holes for the CP Artwork? (for the buttons and trackball?)

I'm extremely afraid to try bc the layouts of paper used to drill holes for buttons tore the paper around the holes.

Thanks.

[chopperthedog]

After it's applied to panel with pre drilled holes I use an x-acto knife with a (fresh) #11 blade.


good day.

[Dekieon]

if you are putting down paper on the board for the purpose of knowing where to cut the hole, then this is how to do it and get a clean hole.

Best to use a drill press to get straight holes.

1) Tape down the pattern of the holes you want to drill. ( this pattern should have a center point marked for each of the holes)
2) Using a regular, SMALL drill bit, drill a hold at the center point of each hole, straight though the board.
3) Remove the paper

Now you have created pilot holes, and will know where the center is of each hole, whether you are looking at the top of the control panel or the bottom. I assume you know the diameter of the buttons, if not look up the correct size and use a drill bit of the appropriate size. I would suggest forstner as it will give you the best results.

4) Replace your tiny drill bit with the one which you will use to make the actual hole.
5) Align the board up so the the drill bit is centered on the pilot hole.
6) Drill half way through the board for each of these holes.
7) Flip board over and drill the holes from this side

Because you only drilled half a hole of each side, you won't have any tearing of the wood when it punches through, that you would have gotten had you drilled right though the first time.

[Yourname942]

Nah, I already have the CP holes done, I'm talking about the printed sheet of artwork that sits between the lexan + mdf.
I'm afraid to drill it bc I feel it will just tear away more than the size of the holes.

So the way most people do it is just use an xacto knife?

[Dekieon]

Yes, xacto is your best bet. Put in a new blade for best results.

[cigardude]

Yes, xacto is your best bet. Put in a new blade for best results.

+1 Take your time with it too.

[Malenko]

Nah, I already have the CP holes done, I'm talking about the printed sheet of artwork that sits between the lexan + mdf.
I'm afraid to drill it bc I feel it will just tear away more than the size of the holes.

So the way most people do it is just use an xacto knife?

just put the art down and cut it with an exacto knife. the cut doesnt have to be perfect, there is a slight lip to buttons that will hide any imperfections.

[mgb]

Just as already said by the others.
Have the cp drilled first then apply your artwork and cut out the holes with and exacto knife.
 You definitely want to avoid drilling once the artwork is on.
 Although sometimes its unavoidable if you are adding controls to an existing panel but that's a different story