Jim,
That works slick. I just created a 150 degree scale arc with six band index
ticks. After importing, the Reference Point menu should be changed to
"Origin of HPGL File." That way the image cross-hair center can be placed
directly over the switch hole center and the scale lines will be perfectly
positioned with the switch. The new file extension must read ".plt"
Once the scale is placed on the panel, optimizing the size can be done by
changing percentages. Unless I'm mistaken, that's about the only editing
that can be done after creating the scale export. So, there's some trial
and error involved that requires starting over in order to get it looking
right.
Paul, W9AC
-----Original Message-----
From: MU 4CX250B
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2014 8:58 AM
To: Paul Christensen ; amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] Front Panel Express Help
There is a utility you can download from the front panel express
website for designing dials, arcs, and so forth.
Jim W8ZR
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 9, 2014, at 5:52 AM, Paul Christensen <w9ac@arrl.net> wrote:
"Can anyone give me some pointers on creating a 150 degree arc label for
a band switch for Front Panel Express? I have a radio switch 86 switch
with 30 degree detents. 6 positions, 160-10 meters."
If an actual arc is needed, you can select "Insert Curved Slot" from the
menu. Then select the engraving width/depth (e.g., cutter 0.6mm). The
slot can be rotated, expanded, degrees set, etc.
To set up 30-degree index positions (and optionally with with engraved
lines radiating from center), you can use trig functions on Cartesian
coordinates. For all switches, I used the switch center hole as the
Cartesian origin. Once you decide on the distance to engrave from the
switch center -- and you already know the angle, then solve for (X, Y).
Take the computed X coordinate and add it to the the origin's X
coordinate. Do the same computation for the Y coordinate.
When recently solving this for a 2-position switch, I wanted to take
advantage of the switch's locking tab and insert it into a blind hole on
the panel reverse side. So that the position center center lined up
vertically, this meant that position 1 is 15 degrees left of vertical and
position 2 is 15 degrees right. Instead of solving by using the actual 30
degree arc, it was easier to solve using 15 degrees.
You're welcome to my panel file if you want to have a look.
Paul, W9AC
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