Custom Front Panels by Protoplates

CUSTOM FRONT PANELS AND GRAPHIC OVERLAYS FOR HAMMOND AND OTHER ENCLOSURES

Custom Aluminum Front Panels with Clear LCD Windows and Keypad Areas.
Fast Delivery.
Lower Cost, More Colors, and Faster Delivery then Silk Screened Lexan Overlays.

Welcome to Protoplates

Protoplates manufactures custom front panels and graphic overlays for electronic enclosures and instrument panels. We specialize in providing fast deliveries suitable for both prototyping and low volume production. We can help you with both the mechanical and graphic design of your panels.

Our standard panel and overlay packages are listed at the bottom of this page. Please send us a note, or call us at 905-847-2598 to discuss your application if it does not does not fit into one of the standard front panel packages in the list.

If you have a design drawings and/or artwork ready for your panels, you can order online using our secure payment system. We accept all major credit cards and PayPal, and ship worldwide with either UPS or Postal delivery.

Applications for front and rear panels and overlays include:

Electrical/Electronic instrumentation, controls, and devices.
Electronic communication equipment.
Computer system front and rear back panels.
19 inch panel plates - 1U, 2U and 3U make for many different applications.
Audio devices, vacuum tube amplifiers, and signal processing equipment including guitar effect boxes.
Video games and vending machines.

The following sections provide more details about our company and the services and products we can provide you.

Custom Front Panels

We customize aluminum panels for all enclosure types including Hammond, Bud, Elma, Rose, Box and Lansing Enclosures to name a few. The Hammond 1455 Series and the Hammond 1402 Series are popular and versatile extruded aluminum enclosures, and we can manufacture custom end plates, and customize the top and bottom cover plates.

Panel Customization Service

Send us the panels from your stock enclosures and we will customize them for you, providing precision machined holes, cut-outs, and a matching graphic overlay. We can also purchase the enclosures, customize them, and ship them to you as a completed package. We stock many of the Hammond 1455 panel sizes for your convenience.

Die Cast and Plastic Enclosures Customized

	Plastic Enclosures Accurately machined holes and cutouts. Custom front overlay. Custom side overlays on a machined aluminum decorative panel. The side panels look like engraved anodized panels but are much faster to deliver and far less expensive.
	Die Cast Aluminum Enclosures Accurately machine and drilled holes on 3 faces of enclosure. Low to mid volume production at competitive prices and very quick turn around's. The enclosure at left is for a popular guitar effect pedal.

	Large 5U Size Panels for Medical and Laboratory Equipment The panel at left is an example of a 5U size panel. The panel is from Buckeye Enclosures.
	New! We can also provide professionally painted and silk-screened panels for larger volume production quantities, or where silk-screening is preferred over our laminate overlays. The panel shown at left is a sample of one manufactured for Briel Computers Please contact us to discuss your application or for a quote and more details.
	New! We can also provide professional anodizing for all panels at a reasonable cost. The picture shown at left is a sample of an aluminum faceplate panel which has been black anodized. Note how the edges of the panel, holes, and countersink holes are all black. This panel was custom anodized after it was manufactured. Please contact us to discuss your application or for a quote and more details about our anodizing service.
Click to enlarge	Large LCD Window and Keypad Panel

Great Looking Graphic Overlays

Our graphic overlays are manufactured from a durable laminate material that we have carefully chosen and tested to have the look, feel, and durability of silk-screened Lexan - but at a lower cost and with a much faster delivery. Combining the graphic overlay with a precision manufactured panel will make your product or prototype look professional and production ready.

Fast Service

Our customers are engineers, technicians, technologists, electricians and electronic enthusiasts who can't wait weeks to see their designs completed, and that's why our standard front panel express service can typicallu ship your prototypes within 3-4 working days of receiving your order and design details.

Use Your CAD Files. No Special Software required to order from Protoplates

Send us your dwg or dxf files and we will accurately manufacture your panels: you do not need to download and learn any special CAD software to order panels from Protoplates. See some helpful design tips and notes on D-shell cut-outs.
We accept DXF, Illustrator, SW, and most common CAD files, so you do not need to learn and special CAD software. We also accept Front Panel Designer files if you are looking for an alternative to Front Panel Express.

Order Online or by Telephone

Please review some of our standard package options below, read the descriptions on the aluminum and graphic design files that we require, and use the links provided to submit your files when you are ready to order your panels.

If one of the standard packages does not fit your requirements please call us or send a note by submitting the form at the bottom of this page or call us directly and we will provide you with a quotation.

We accept PayPal and all major credit cards. Some customers also choose to pay by wire transfer (please call for banking information).

Standard Packages

Please review the standard front panel and graphic overlay packages listed below; we have put these together keeping in mind the common requirements or the prototype of project designer.

The packages differ on the number and design of the front and back panels and whether or not there is a matching graphic overlay.

We can also provide you with a quotation for low volume production.

Press Here for Pricing and Ordering...

Place Your Order By Selecting a Package Below

No.	Description	Cost
PP-A1	One aluminum faceplate measuring up to 50 sq. in (325 sq cm). Manufactured from .063 in (1.6mm) aluminum. The faceplate can have an unlimited number of holes and cutout shapes, and up to 8 countersinks.	50.00
PP-A2	Two identical aluminum panels measuring up to 50 sq. in (325 sq cm). Manufactured from .063 inch (1.6mm) aluminum. The panel can have an unlimited number of holes and cut out shapes and up to 8 countersinks.	70.00
PP-A3	Two panels, each measuring one up to 50 sq. in (325 sq. cm). Each panel can have different holes and cut out shapes but must have the same overall outside shape and dimensions. Manufactured from .063 inch (1.6mm) aluminum. Each faceplate can have an almost unlimited number of holes and cut out shapes and up to 8 countersinks.	80.00
PP-1UA	Standard 19 inch 1U size panel with custom cut-out modifications.	100.00
PP-2UA	Standard 19 inch 2U size panel with custom cut-out modifications.	100.00
PP-3UA	Standard 19 inch 3U size panel with custom cut-out modifications.	100.00
PP-B1	One faceplate with matching overlay. This package is for making a custom front or back panels or various enclosures. The panel can measure up to 50 sq. in (325 sq. cm) and is manufactured from .063 (1.6mm) inch aluminum. The overlay can have unlimited colors and cut outs.	100.00
PP-B2	A set of two identical aluminum panels and matching overlays. Each panels can be up to 50 sq. in (325 sq. cm) and is manufactured from .063 (1.6mm) inch aluminum. Each panel can have an almost unlimited number of holes and cut out shapes. The package also includes two matching adhesive backed graphic overlays.	140.00
PP-B3	A set of two different faceplates and matching overlays. This package is used for making custom front and back panels for various enclosures. Each faceplate can be up to 50 sq. in (325 sq. cm) and is manufactured from .063 (1.6mm) inch aluminum. Each panels can have an unlimited number of holes and cut out shapes. The package also includes a matching adhesive backed graphic overlay for each faceplate.	150.00
PP-1UB	Standard 19 inch 1U size panel with custom graphic overlay and cut-out modifications.	125.00
PP-2UB	Standard 19 inch 2U size panel with custom graphic overlay and cut-out modifications.	125.00
PP-3UB	Standard 19 inch 3U size panel with custom graphic overlay and cut-out modifications.	125.00
PP-G1	One adhesive backed graphics overlay measuring up to 50 sq .in. (325 sq cm). The overlay is manufactured from a tough lexan-like material and can have up to 20 different internal cut-out shapes and holes, and the outside profile can be cut to any shape.	70.00
PP-G2	Two adhesive backed graphics overlay measuring up to 50 sq .in. (325 sq cm). The overlays are manufactured from a tough Lexan-like material and can have up to 20 different cut out shapes and holes.	95.00
PP-ANBK	Black anodizing of finished panel. 1-2 pieces max.	125.00
PP-OD	Hourly overlay artwork design charge. Cost per hour.	50.00
PP-PD	Front panel layout and mechanical drawings. Cost per hour.	65.00
CODE	Enter a special package code here:

(Our apologies to Firefox users who were unable to see the table above until now)

If you prefer to place your order by telephone please call us at 905-847-2598.

All shipping is by UPS or postal delivery.
Typical next day shipping costs $25-$30 within the US.Three day service to Europe starting at approximately $50 using UPS, and $15 by post with a 7-10 day delivery. You can select your UPS shipping option when you place your order online. The estimates above are based on shipping prototype quantities that fit into a standard courier envelope.
Express postal delivery to most destinations in the US is $21, and requires 4-7 days for delivery.

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Protoplates is a service of Smart Electronics Corp.