Hi everybody

I'm just in the process of starting to build my OTS50. With the faceplate/backeplate of the kit (plastic to be attached to the chassis), I was not happy. So, I decided to design my own faceplate/backplate from proper, solid aluminium. As I like the look of the early 80's (for example #094), I based my plates on what I could find on the net. Yesterday, I received the faceplate & backplate and I am very happy with the result and I thought that the way I went to produce such things could be useful also for others.

I will do a step-by-step description.

1. SUPPLIER/TOOL OF FACEPLATES

There is a company in Germany which has an excellent tool to design faceplates. I have no affiliation with this company at all, i've just found it on the internet and it just turned out for me that this way worked very good. The tool can be downloaded here: https://www.schaeffer-ag.de/en/downloads/front_panel_designer. There seems to be the same thing available in the US: http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/

With this tool, you can choose the material, the thickness, the dimensions, place bores, graphics and so on. The designs are attached I did (*.fpd files, unpack the zip file) so you can open them in the Front Panel Designer software. In these files, there is everything set correctly for a good result of a black anodized faceplate with white printing. Ask the company for help if you are not sure which options to choose - they were very helpful to me.


2. CREATE GRAPHICS

I designed the graphics with Microsoft Visio 2010. The file is also attached (please don't ask me about newer versions - I don't have a never Visio version to check). I did it the following way: I designed the backplate and the faceplate on a black background and with white markings for whatever is cut out. So, you can print the design and check if everything is correct. However, for the faceplate software, a graphics with a transparent background is needed and the bores do not have to be marked. So, you will find in my Visio file the tabs "Faceplate" and "Backplate" plus the respective tabs with the comment "(no  bores, transparent)". The way I did it was:

- design it with a black background and marked cut-outs, print, check if you are happy with the result

- copy the design to the "(no  bores, transparent)" tabs. Delete all cutouts (or make them small so they do not interfere with possible small offsets). Make the black background transparent --> ATTENTION - here, Visio 2010 took me hours to find out how this works properly. It does NOT work by choosing "no filling", it works only when you choose the background element and adjust transparency to 100% in the filling options menu.

- export the file as a pdf (save as -> PDF -> options -> actual page). This should create a PDF of the correct size which looks completely white (you just produced white elements on a transparent background). If you want to use another graphics software just make sure that you produce a compatible file (PDF, jpg, tif - good resolution or vectorized) with a transparent background.


3. FINISH FACEPLATE DESIGN

Open in the Frontplate Designer Software the Faceplate or Backplate file (from the attached zio file, or create an own) and import the PDF graphics (you will find out how, I am sure). Small manual adjustments on the position were necessary for me - don't know why. You can print previews and, when you are happy, you can order the stuff directly. The price of "my" layout was between 40 and 50 EUR per plate.

In the attached pictures of the finished products, you will see also a faceplate for the C-lator which I modified (included a digital reverb and tremolo), so don't be afraid that there are three faceplates on the pictures. For my OTS, I also included a mains output (to connect the C-lator) and used a XLR connection for the foot pedal instead of the standard connection - so don't be irritated if the pictures look slightly different from the Visio files.

If you want to base your designs on my templates: please check if all dimensions / positions fit for your project! I take no responsibility whatsoever if there are errors in the attached files. Feel free to do your own design based on my template, I am happy if I can make someone elses project a little easier. Please understand that I cannot help with software issues - I tried my best to describe what I did.

Have fun!

Drpaedu

Cab finshed