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| sofakng:
Nannuu: Ok, I understand most of what you're saying. I do have the $10 layout template AND my $35 control panel overlay. The template is the same as the overlay except it has grid lines where every button, joystick, and trackball will go. So, I can tape my template to the MDF and then drill punch through each hole OR drill right through the template into the MDF. How do I cut out the holes in my overlay? My finished overlay (not template) does not have any markers what-so-ever where the buttons should go. Sylentwulf: My overlay doesn't have *anything* on it except for my artwork (there are no gridlines or anything). However my template has EVERY button, joystick, etc on it. |
| Sylentwulf:
I did the exact same thing, my artowkr has nothing on it (just some graphics where the joystick goes, but no markings of any kind for cutting) My suggestion, would be to sandwich clamp the two pieces and cut them at the same time. OR, cut the MDF, then clamp them, and trace the holes from the MDF onto the plexi from underneath. |
| sofakng:
Sorry that I'm so confused... You said: "sandwich clamp the two pieces and cut them at the same time." Are you saying to clamp my control panel overlay and overlay template? (not mdf or plexiglass at this point) You said the second option was to cut the mdf first (by drilling THROUGH my overlay template?) and then trace holes from MDF to plexi. Well, if I drill through my overlay template to cut my MDF, how do I cut the holes in the overlay itself? How will I know where to cut? |
| RayB:
I don't know if this bit of advice is going to work perfectly or not, but you can buy little blades that fit in a professional quality compass. (By professional I mean, not the cheap kind they sell for grade school kids, but the kind you'll find in an art store--These kinds of compass use small lengths of lead in one side, and you can buy little blades of the same size to fit in there. That way you can use the compass to cut a circle). ~RayB |
| Nannuu:
Sorry, I'm used to doing my own artwork so I always have the buttons layed out on there. :-[ Plexiglass: Your plexiglass should be the same size and shape as your control panel? Just line all of the sides up and clamp them together. Then use your MDF panel as a guide to drill the plexi. Artwork: Since you are so confused I am assuming that your artwork must be oversized larger than your control panel. (if it is the proper size, it is easy, just line the sides up) Since I am assuming that it isn't, lay the artwork between the MDF and Plexi and hold the entire panel up to the light. You should be able to see where the button holes are laying. Move it around until you get it where you want it, then clamp the plexi-artwork-MDF together. Now cut the holes in the artwork. **** Or as Sylentwulf says just clamp it all together and the use the MDF holes to trace a line around each hole with a pen. It will all make sense once you start cutting/drilling. Do the MDF holes first and everything will make sense from there. I'd make a quick picture gallery of how to do this but the wife took the camera on vacation...deoh. |
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