Crack Panels from Front Panel Express - How to Order

[Paul Birkeland]

Hello fellow Bottleheads,

With some assistance and permission from Doc, Front Panel Express is now offering customized Crack top plates.  Here are the customizable options:

Plate color: Natural, Gold, Red, Blue, Green, Black, Medium Bronze

Text Color: Jet Black, Pure White, Signal Red, Mint Green, Gentian Blue, Sky Blue, Light Blue, Luminous Yellow, Pastel Orange, Ocher Brown

Text Font: (download the Front Panel Express software and see for yourself)

How to order:

Call Front Panel Express (206) 768-0602, state that you would like to create a new order with the panel from quote number 900105.

You will be required to submit your name, shipping address, phone number, e-mail, and some sort of payment information.  If you are already a Front Panel Express customer, please notify us, as this will speed up the process.

After we have that information, let us know any of the minor changes above that you would like us to make, and also how you would like the panel shipped.  

So far, for the natural panel with tube labels done in black infilled text, the price is $53.21 plus shipping ($4.45 ground to the US, $14.45 3-day).  

As always, prices are subject to change.  As panels are ordered, I will do my best to take photos of them and post them here with their details before they ship.  

Please keep the alterations to a minimum, if you would like alterations beyond what I have listed above, download the software and embrace the DIY'er within.

-Paul

 

[ssssly]

Do you have a FPE library with common tube gear macros like tube, transformer, IEC, power switch cutouts?

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Do you have a FPE library with common tube gear macros like tube, transformer, IEC, power switch cutouts?

All the various tube sockets are all very different.  Some people like to thread the holes, some mount sockets above the chassis, some below, etc. 

All the power transformers are also extremely different, so a library for them isn't sensible.

The IEC cutout isn't so bad, I use a 1.07" x 1.24" square cutout with a very small corner radius. 

The standard Bottlehead power switch cutout is .5" x .75" with no corner radius (or very small). 

 

[ssssly]

Was speaking about the standard Bottlehead transformers and socket configurations.

 

[ironbut]

I just wanted to mention that Front Panel Express now has their software, Front Panel Designer, in a Mac OSX format. I think I checked with them in April and they mentioned that it was coming. Paul's thread here, reminded me to go and download it.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

If Doc OK's it, I can release the mounting info. It's easy enough to measure these holes too.

 

[tdogzthmn]

Can we see a picture of the prototype?

 

[Paul Birkeland]

I am working on having one produced in red with white infill shortly, but the possibilities are (almost).  With a cursory glance, there are well over 400 possible sensible combinations of aluminum colors, fonts, and infill colors!

 

[tdogzthmn]

This I would like to see!  I think an all anodized aluminum bottlehead crack would be sweet.  I actually studied industrial design in school so I should make some cool amp mockups.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

An all aluminum Crack is possible, but the chassis would be well over $200 in small quantities.  Today I took one for the team and built the first Crack on a Front Panel Express chassis.  I had forgotten that Doc and I flipped the original plate over for a better layout, so this one is backwards.  I will correct the file tomorrow morning to ensure that I'm the only one who ends up with one like this.

This particular Crack has a red anodized top with white infill in an outline font.  

 

[Maxwell_E]

That is just downright sexy.

 

[tdogzthmn]

Very nice!  I might have to hide from these fourms so I dont end up building another amp.  Also is that a stock headphone cable in those pictures?  It looks quite beefy.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Very nice!  I might have to hide from these fourms so I dont end up building another amp.  Also is that a stock headphone cable in those pictures?  It looks quite beefy.

Thanks!  The nice thing about Bottlehead amps is that the used prices are generally pretty close to the purchase price of the kit, so building revisions is not so expensive. 

The cable is a stock cable. 

There is another individual having us machine out a copper Paramour plate.  I will, with his permission, post some photos. 

 

[Williston]

"There is another individual having us machine out a copper Paramour plate.  I will, with his permission, post some photos."

That's cool with me Paul. I can't wait to see it.

It was great for me to have Front Panel Designer on a Mac. The software is very easy to learn and use. I printed the design out and placed all the major components on top of the printout to make sure they all fit. I've got my fingers crossed.

Peter

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Hey there Peter,

I was hoping that you would be lurking and would OK this. 

Can you tell us more about where you got the material and how/if you plan to finish the material?

There are plans to offer powder coating soon.  Milled copper with a clear epoxy powder over would be sturdy and beautiful.

 

[jrebman]

Can you tell us more about where you got the material and how/if you plan to finish the material?

There are plans to offer powder coating soon.  Milled copper with a clear epoxy powder over would be sturdy and beautiful.

PB,

Now you've got my attention...

I have a .125" x 12" x 24" copper plate that I got from onlinemetals via ebay sometime ago, and if you could do this milled, clear coated panel for an s.e.x and Stereomour, I'd definitely be interested in at least one, probably both, and starting with the stereomour.


T
his, some of the well-seasoned walnut from the tree we cut down in my brother's backyard, and some quilted or flame maple accents.  Hmmm, should look really sweet.

-- Jim

 

[Williston]

I bought my copper plates form Online Metals as well

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Sounds good!  The powder coating is still some months off, I don't believe any of the equipment has been ordered, but I believe the research stage is close to completion. 

For doing one side of a Bottlehead panel, a $99 kit from Sears and a cheap toaster oven will get the job done.

 

[wylymon]

Hey guys.....just checking on the status of ordering panels for the other bottlehead kits. Any additional info on new colors....for example
copper. Hopefully the Crack template program has been successful.

Thanks,

James

 

[Doc B]

PB will need to weigh in here, but I believe the FPE powder coating booth is running. I don't think there are any new colors in the anodized aluminum used to make the panels, but PB may have some additional info about anodizing.

In terms of panels for other kits, talk to PB. I am happy to work with him to make other panel patterns available in FPE versions.