[Amps] Front Panel Express Help

[Paul Christensen]

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 at 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 at 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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