Cost of fabricating a metal control panel?

[cmoses]

I am thinking about getting a metal control panel fabricated for my Mame machine that I am building.  The cabinet is a old Taito machine (Jungle King, Elevator Action style).  It has a metal control panel that I would like to replace with one that I get fabricated in a new configuration.  I have looked a little online for anyone that makes one and can configure it for my machine, but have not found anyone that does Taito ones.  Does anyone know of any?

If I wish to get one fabricated locally I have some questions.  Should I just be looking for a sheet metal shop?  What material should it be made from?  What thickness?  I would need some holes drilled in it as well as some posts for mounting joysticks and trackballs.  I would take the one I have in for them to see and use as a template.  It should be a pretty simple fabrication.  It only has one bend in it, plus the holes I would want drilled and posts for securing components.

If anyone has any suggestions as to what to look for in getting one fabricated or any online options please let me know.

Thanks 

[Blanka]

I had my panel watercut from anodised 3mm thick aluminium, around 40$. What finish do you want? With bending, a finish like anodisation can become ugly.
Mounts for joysticks are not needed, I just mounted all stuff on a MDF sheet under the metal sheet. Much easier, and it damps the hollow sound as well.

[waveryder]

I had a bunch done for my "BubbleGum Betty" cab and my "Neverland" Cab. I just took the originals to my local sheet metal works and asked 'em to do it. they cost me £7.50 each. That was for 2mm Galvanised Steel. The place didn't make any profit or anything as it was such a tiny run (6 for Betty and 2 for Neverland). Couldn't find any company online that would do it for less than £45 per panel. I think it pays to go see a local small business.

[surface tension]

Laser or water cut would be your best bet if there is no minimum order cost. For this you will most-likely need to draw it out first though... which would then allow for any customising you might want to do. Supplying an ACAD drawing will make it the cheapest option as most places can just feed that into their system.

Sheet metal shops are more labour intensive so will probably cost a little more.

The laser cutters I have used don't do any other operations so you might have to take it to a fabricator too.

2 or 3mm would do it.

I had a bunch done for my "BubbleGum Betty" cab and my "Neverland" Cab. I just took the originals to my local sheet metal works and asked 'em to do it. they cost me £7.50 each. That was for 2mm Galvanised Steel. The place didn't make any profit or anything as it was such a tiny run (6 for Betty and 2 for Neverland). Couldn't find any company online that would do it for less than £45 per panel. I think it pays to go see a local small business.

I found the opposite in the UK. I will always try use small local businesses first but they charged an arm and a leg for small jobs. The laser-cutting service I use is still local, and not too big to be impersonal.

[cmoses]

How do I find a company that will do water cutting or laser cutting?  What would they be listed under?

Would they also be able to do a bend?  My panel is a piece of metal about 24" wide and then 11" long with an almost 90 degree bend in it at about the 6 1/2" mark .  Makeing the top 24" x 6.5" and the front about 24" x 4.5"

[Ummon]

They'll probably be listed under laser cutting or water cutting. Or try fabrication - metal. Certainly online listings will come up from those words.

[councilface]

They'll probably be listed under laser cutting or water cutting. Or try fabrication - metal. Certainly online listings will come up from those words.

Probably throwing "CNC" into the search criteria would help too. Im getting a buddy to do a new panel at my work for me. We arent subcontractors though Im afraid.

[grbgemen]

a local friend of my father made me mine.  he cut a sheet of 1/8" steel and bent it with this huge press.  he didnt wanna charge me for it but i gave him $40 anyways.  i drilled the holes myself with a step bit.  step bit was $40 and it was dull after 14 holes.

[Ummon]

a local friend of my father made me mine.  he cut a sheet of 1/8" steel and bent it with this huge press.  he didnt wanna charge me for it but i gave him $40 anyways. 

If he had that gear, he probably had a proper drill press.

[grbgemen]

yea he did but he was is always really busy and i did not have the button layout ready.  the plan was to take it home, mark out all the holes and then take it back.  after i got all of it figured out, i tried to contact him for days but never got a hold of em. 

ended up buying the bit and doing it myself.

he did have a sweet drill press though.  has like 5 presses all in one.  you can put different bits in each press and just go down the line.