Support Forum
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Concealed Mounting + Heatsinks
Hi there,
About to design an enclosure with you, and wanted to check if two things were possible. Basically I really like these enclosures (http://atechfabrication.com/HTPC_cases.htm#Storage,_NAS,_and_Server_Cases) and would like to make something as close as possible... Sadly the manufacturer is unwilling to do one offs at different sizes! So I'm going to go to side profile 2 with you guys.
So question 1 is whether there's any way to attach the front panel with concealed fastenings, rather than bolts through the whole front panel.
Question 2 is whether there's any way to specify more of a heatsink style side profile for the case. Which isn't just for looks, actually, the components I'm using will be throwing off a lot of heat and I'd rather avoid needing to put a fan in the case...
While I'm about it, Question 3 would be whether I can specify side profiles in different color anodized aluminum, or whether they have always to be natural.
Thanks for any help you can give me,
Posted By: Magnus Blair on May 06, 2011 09:20PM Category: Production
Hello Magnus,
Thank you for contacting us with your questions.
You can indeed attach a front panel without seeing the fasteners.
What you would need to do is to create a completely flush 2.5mm thick front panel, then create a thicker (6.0mm or thicker) second front panel. Place a cavity on the back side of this thick panel that is just slightly larger than the smaller front panel. Use blind holes on the back of this thick panel, then mount the two panels together from the inside of the enclosure.
We do have a sample here of a panel inset within a panel, and I can e-mail you pictures if that would be helpful.
As far as heatsinks go, there are heatsink profiles available with integral mounting holes, though the offerings are diverse enough that special ordering is recommended.
Regarding color choices, our extrusions come in natural anodized or black anodized finishes. We are also available to drop ship these extrusions to your choice of anodizer to have them refinished to a color of your liking.
Also, for now, we are not offering powder coated extrusions.
If we can be of any additional assistance, please let us know.
Kindest Regards,
Paul Birkeland
Customer Service
Posted By: Paul Birkeland on May 07, 2011 01:52AM
ReplyThanks Paul for your prompt reply. Genius suggestion; should probably have thought of that! I have just placed an order with you for something designed along precisely those lines (Order #126590). Think I got everything right, but would love it if maybe you could check it to make sure before the CNC mill gets milling.
Many thanks,
Posted By: Magnus Blair on May 10, 2011 04:44AM
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Resizing panel after designed
I have a panel layout that I have finished. but realized it is not the correct size. I want to keep the designed exactly as it is on the panel. just extend each side slightly. every time i re size the panel it just adds the added length to one side of the panel. is there a way to center justify it keeping the layout centered??
Posted By: Dave Meyers on Apr 27, 2011 04:07AM Category: Front Panel Designer
Hello Dave,
Thank you for contacting us with your inquiry.
In order to adjust the size of the panel with the desired results, we recommend you follow these steps:
1. Highlight all objects on your panel and group them together (drag a dashed box around them by clicking and holing the left mouse button, then right click inside the box and select "group").
2. Move the origin to the center of the panel using the shortcut N and the number 5 on your ten key keypad.
3. Now write down the position of your group relative to the new origin of the panel using the object properties or the move function. A layout with symmetry in both axes may be at (0,0).
4. Change the dimensions of your panel to the desired size.
5. Use the shortcut N and the number 5 on the 10 key keypad again to recenter the origin.
6. Move your group of objects to the coordinates you recorded from earlier.
7. Ungroup your objects, then reset the origin to the lower left corner using the shortcut N and 1 on the 10 key keypad.
If you run into any issues following these procedures, please do not hesitate to let us know.
Kindest Regards,
Paul Birkeland
Customer Service
Posted By: Paul Birkeland on Apr 27, 2011 07:32PM
ReplyThank you! I think it worked great! and i LOVE those shortcuts! that will come in very handy!
Posted By: Dave Meyers on Apr 28, 2011 03:30AM
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Bugs in Mac FPD
Just wanted to pass along a few bugs that exist in the mac version of the FPD software. This is regarding version 4.11, the intel version, and I'm running it on a 2007 macbook running os x 10.6.7.
The mouse scroll wheel behavior is settable via the edit>settings>interface menu, but the setting does not stick outside of the current session as it should. Currently I need to reset this setting to my preferred setting - scroll wheel scrolling the file rather than zooming it - every time I run the software. There should be a way to make a users choice of this setting a default setting.
Changing the fill color in hpgl engravings doesn't change them - they always revert to whatever they were originally. I have to reopen the file in a windows based version of FPD to change it and have the change stick.
Ordering - currently there is no way to order more than one panel design in a single order. Although there are slots for this in the order window, there is no way (that I've found) of adding other panels.
Hopefully these can get passed on to whoever can fix these bugs - thanks!
Posted By: Stephen Drake on Apr 14, 2011 02:03AM Category: Front Panel Designer
Hello Stephen,
Thank you for contacting us regarding these issues in the Mac version.
We will report them to our software designers so they can be addressed.
Kindest Regards,
Paul Birkeland
Customer Service
Posted By: Paul Birkeland on Apr 14, 2011 05:41PM
ReplyHello again Stephen,
We have heard back from our developers on these issues.
On the HPGL color issue, there is a workaround for now where you can hit return after making a color change to force it to stick.
On adding additional panels in the ordering program, there is a button in the upper left-hand corner with a blue "+" on it that allows you to add multiple panels to an order.
If you run into additional issues, please do not hesitate to inform us, as it is extremely helpful for us.
Kindest Regards,
Paul Birkeland
Customer Service
Posted By: Paul Birkeland on Apr 14, 2011 05:57PM
ReplyThanks - I had the "+" button pointed out to me by another of your staff - I had missed it somehow. For some reason on my computer the ordering window opens at the bottom of the page, and I need to scroll up to see that one row of stuff at the top.
Posted By: Stephen Drake on May 02, 2011 04:40AM
ReplyOn the HPGL color issue, there is a workaround for now where you can hit return after making a color change to force it to stick.
Maybe you could elaborate on this workaround? I can't get it to work.
Posted By: Stephen Drake on Jun 24, 2011 11:23PM
ReplyAlso, the insert macro feature does not work. Clicking the Macro button does not bring up the macro sidebar.
Ron
Posted By: Ron Lee on Mar 14, 2012 02:09PM
ReplyHello Ron,
Thank you for contacting us regarding this error.
We have informed our software development team to fix this issue for future releases.
Kindest Regards,
Paul Birkeland
Front Panel Express
Customer Service Manager
Posted By: Paul Birkeland on Mar 14, 2012 11:13PM
ReplyHello again Ron,
While looking into this issue, we discovered that the following information would be really helpful for us to replicate this problem:
1. Does this always happen, or did it work once and then stop working?
2. Which OS X version are you using?
We really appreciate your contribution to our software development.
Kindest Regards,
Paul Birkeland
Customer Service Manager
Front Panel Express
Posted By: Paul Birkeland on Mar 15, 2012 05:31PM
ReplyI'm having the same problem with Macro Objects.
When trying to insert a Macro object (K) the reference panel pops up and the cursor goes into cross hair mode, but when you click a small message window pops up:
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Front Panel Designer Error
Please select the macro object you want to insert from the macro sidebar.
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But there IS NO macro sidebar.
Also:
The drop down menu item check-mark under "View":"Macro Objects" cannot be deselected (and there is no Macro Panel).
This always happens now using version 4.14 of FPD, Intel.
I'm using Mac OS X 10.5.8 (9L30)
Please help soon, and
Thank you very much!
Posted By: Joe Torre on Jun 29, 2012 04:32PM
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Beveled Oval Slot
I wish to make an oval shaped slot that has beveled edges. how can i do that?
So for example I want a .5" wide by 2" long oval slot with a 45 degree bevel on the inside edge. (not actual dimensions just for example)
Posted By: Dave Meyers on Apr 04, 2011 01:57AM Category: Front Panel Designer
Hello Dave,
Thank you for contacting us with your question.
I sent you an e-mail today with the desired object. Essentially, I created the oval in a 3rd party CAD program, then imported it as a free contour.
The beveling is done by special request. Notes for this can be left in the Remarks for Production in the front panel properties, or in the Shipping and Other tab in the ordering program.
Do not hesitate to let us know if you have additional questions.
Kindest Regards,
Paul Birkeland
Customer Service
Posted By: Paul Birkeland on Apr 05, 2011 09:27PM
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Uncertain Thickness of Panel
I will be sending in my own panels for machining, however I am unsure as to how thick I should state they are in the FPE software.
The panels have "flanges" along their "circumference," used for mounting the side and top panels to the front and rear panels. Think of these as angle brackets which are permanently welded to the panel.
Further, the panels have actually been milled so that the bulk of the area is thinned out even further. This picture should (I hope) demonstrate what I mean:
All cutting would be in the thinned area only.
Given the thinned part is 4mm thick, the panel proper is 8mm thick, and the panel + flanges is 12mm high when laid on its back, which number should I put into the software?
I would guess 4mm, since this is the thickness to be cut. However, I am uncertain of how the cnc software actually works, if it is concerned with the thickness to be cut, or the total height of the total piece of metal.
I hope this all makes sense, it is rather confusing :( I am happy to clarify anything and everything.
Posted By: Douglas Krause on Apr 03, 2011 10:06PM Category: Front Panel Designer
Hello Douglas,
Thank you for contacting us regarding your project.
You are quite correct, 4mm is the correct choice in this situation.
It is also worth mentioning that we verify all panel dimensions when we receive customer provided material, and we will adjust the thickness if necessary.
If we can be of any additional assistance, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Paul Birkeland
Customer Service
Posted By: Paul Birkeland on Apr 04, 2011 05:07PM
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White macro text is not visible in preview
I have several macros that I use quite often that are just text.
Part Number
Cage Code
Company Name
Serial #
The text is engraved with a white fill color.
Since the background color for the Macro Preview window is white, the macro is not visible in the preview, except the insertion points.
If text = white, then text in preview should = black.
Posted By: Terry Best on Mar 30, 2011 03:57PM Category: Whishes
Hello Terry,
Thank you for contacting us regarding Front Panel Designer.
I will report this to our software developers. I believe that when "Outline Mode" is selected in the View menu, the Macro Object view should also be in outline mode.
This mode turns all the engravings black, so there is no ambiguity between colors. I will also mention that the background color of the macro view could be changed to an off-white color.
Let us know if we can make any additional improvements.
Kindest Regards,
Paul
Posted By: Paul Birkeland on Mar 30, 2011 06:20PM
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