Support Forum

Hello,

It sounds like you have an unwanted object in your design. Front Panel Designer prints everything, even "empty" engravings.

You can find it by changing the view to 'overview' (crtl+a), turn on 'show reference points' (u on the keyboard) and change to 'outline mode' (crtl+d)

If you still can't find it check out the price calculation. All objects are listed with their coordinates. Look for a large number in X or Y. This gives you a hint where to look at.

I hope that solves the problem.

Kind regards,

Diane

Posted By: DianeHaensel on Sep 24, 2013 07:52PM

This is a very good question. You did everything as supposed to. The macro object will be milled as two rectangles with some "air milling".

The cleaner and more cost effective way is to create the cutout outline as a dxf file and import it into Front Panel Designer.

However, if the "air milling" is reduced to a small distance it is most of the time not worth the effort to switch to a different program, draw the dxf, and import it.

The macro object is easier to design (with simple shapes) and most of the time only a few cents more expensive than a dxf import.

Click here for an example. The group (macro object) cost $1.23 + $.61 = $1.84 whereas the dxf-import object only cost $1.46.

I hope that explains the difference between macro object and dxf-import object.

Kind regards

Diane

Posted By: DianeHaensel on Sep 17, 2013 01:14AM

Thanks very much, explained perfectly.

Posted By: endaloughman on Sep 17, 2013 12:27PM

Thank you for your bug report. I submitted it to IT and will get back to you as soon as I hear back.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience caused to you.

Kind regards,

Diane

Posted By: DianeHaensel on Sep 17, 2013 01:20AM

I found a Hardware solution to the Software bug that I described above:

I bought a new 13" Macbook Air, and now the Macro Sidebar of FPE opens and works correctly!!!

I think the reason that the Macro Sidebar now opens correctly is because of a higher available vertical size in the new laptop screen.

My older 13" Air had a 1280x800 LCD resolution, and there was not enough lines/height available for the (hard coded?) size of the Macro Sidebar to open into.

My newer 13" Air has a slightly taller vertical resolution of 1400x900 lines, and so now the Sidebar fits/works as it does on the Windows version.

This software bug may be simple to fix with a change of the default dimensions of the Macro Sidebar height.

(Also, the smaller 11" MacBooks with only 1366×768 screens would not be tall enough to display the Macro Sidebar either.)

Thanks again for the Mac Version FPE team!!!

Posted By: joetee on Nov 21, 2013 06:21PM

I found a Hardware solution to the Software bug that I described above:

I bought a new 13" Macbook Air, and now the Macro Sidebar of FPE opens and works correctly!!!

I think the reason that the Macro Sidebar now opens correctly is because of a higher available vertical size in the new laptop screen.

My older 13" Air had a 1280x800 LCD resolution, and there was not enough lines/height available for the (hard coded?) size of the Macro Sidebar to open into.

My newer 13" Air has a slightly taller vertical resolution of 1400x900 lines, and so now the Sidebar fits/works as it does on the Windows version.

This software bug may be simple to fix with a change of the default dimensions of the Macro Sidebar height.

(Also, the smaller 11" MacBooks with only 1366×768 screens would not be tall enough to display the Macro Sidebar either.)

Thanks again for the Mac Version FPE team!!!

Posted By: joetee on Nov 21, 2013 06:25PM

Thank you for the additional info on this bug. This should be now very simple to fix with the next update.

We appreciate your help for improving our software :)

Kind regards,

Diane

Posted By: DianeHaensel on Nov 21, 2013 09:33PM

My Macro sidebar was working fine until
today. I can not toggle the sidebar on and off. It is just GONE !! Mac 10.6.8 front panel software 4.51

Posted By: gary barnett on Aug 25, 2016 03:16AM

Hi Gary,

The additional panels, as for example the macro sidebar, are so-called
"floating windows." This means that they can be one of the following
states:

- visible, attached to one of the side borders of the main window
(as is the case by default),

- visible but detached, "floating" around, moveable by mouse,

- invisible.

To fix your macro side bar, please try the following.

First, make sure that it is set to visible: go to the menu item "View"
and check the item "Macro Objects". This should make your macro
sidebar visible and usable -- it may still be floating, though.

If the macro toolbar is floating and you wish to re-attach it, you can
drag it by its title bar to one of the side borders of the main
window. As soon as the side border changes color, just let go the
macro toolbar window -- it will automatically snap into its original
position.

Hope this helps! Please let us know if not.

Best regards,
Fabian

Posted By: Fabian on Aug 30, 2016 03:00AM

We recommend to have all engravings done after powder-coating when infill of the engravings is required. This way, the engravings won't be already covered with paint from the powder-coating process when we apply the infill paint (especially critical when having small engravings.) The result will look more defined and higher in quality.

However, engraving after powder-coating requires a second setup on our milling machines and is therefore higher in cost.

We give you more control over the cost of the panel by allowing you to choose when certain objects should be cut or engraved. The default setting for engravings is always "mill afterwards".

I only know one good example for having engravings cut before powder-coating. This would be a serial number that shouldn't jump out too much with no infill paint somewhere on the bottom of the panel.

I hope that explains the difference.

Kind regards

Diane

Posted By: DianeHaensel on Sep 17, 2013 01:46AM

Thanks for your prompt and clear answer! I'll definitely keep the default, mill afterwards.

Posted By: hank_b on Sep 17, 2013 04:29AM

Hello,

We have a couple of similar objects in our macro object library but nothing with the dimensions you mentioned.

However, it is very easy to create it yourself. You can place the origin of the instrument panel on the center of the 3 1/8 hole and position the screw holes from there. Here is a simple how-to:

1. draw the 3 1/8 hole

2. click on 'origin' in the toolbar (snap toolbar opens)

3. click on 'based on reference point based on an object' in snap toolbar

4. click on center of 3 1/8 hole

5. click on 'insert drill hole' in toolbar

6. click on snap tool bar 'relative to the reference of an object' and click on center of 3 1/8 hole.

7. enter coordinates for the screw hole

8. enter diameter of hole (new dialog opens after step 7)

From there you can mirror around the center of the 3 1/8 hole or just repeat step 7 and 8. When you are done you can group the holes and create a macro object for your user library (Shift+m).

Kind regards,

Diane

Posted By: DianeHaensel on Sep 12, 2013 11:11PM

The wording can be confusing since you don't have to enter any coordinates at all. As you stated, it means basically to add another object to the same location of another object.

Thank you for your feedback.

Kind regards,

Diane

Posted By: DianeHaensel on Aug 27, 2013 12:30AM