CUSTOM ALUMINUM FRONT PANELS AND GRAPHIC OVERLAYS FOR HAMMOND AND OTHER ENCLOSURES 

We Now Offer Crystal Clear LCD Windows 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. We accept standard DXF and CAD files, no special software is ever required.

 

Welcome to Protoplates

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

Our standard panel packages, which vary in the number of panels and graphic overlays, are listed at the bottom of this page. Please send us a note, or give us a call, if your design requirements are different and we can provide you with a quick quotation.

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

Applications for front and rear panels and overlays include:

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

Custom Aluminum Front Panels

We manufacture aluminum panels to match those provided by most enclosure manufacturers 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. Same or next day shipping on most Hammond 1455 and 1402 custom panels!

The sample panel above is a combination black and clear satin finished overlay and a custom aluminum panel for a Hammond type box. The 5 smaller circles are LED windows.
A panel like this can be delivered to you in two to four days -- our standard delivery.
See package PP-B1 below.

The sample panel above is a combination black and clear satin finished overlay and a custom aluminum panel for a Hammond type box.
A panel like this can be delivered to you in two to four days -- our standard delivery.
See package PP-B1 below.

Custom Hammond extruded box panel (bigger picture).
Not visible on the picture above is the clean quality of the cutout shapes and holes.

Panel Customization Service. We customize Hammond Enclosures.

Send us the panels from your stock enclosures and we can customize them for you, providing precision machined holes, cut-outs, countersinks, etc. We can also provide the entire enclosure and ship it to you as a complete package. We provide a low cost solution for low to mid volume production. Contact us below for pricing information. You don't have to wait weeks for your panels: panels of 25-100 pieces can ship in 3-4 days, and all work is done in North America!

	Front Panels with Crystal Clear LCD Windows and Keypads Areas. The panel at left measures 8 x 11 inches (203 x 280mm) on 1/8 inch (3mm) aluminum, and has both a clear poly carbonate window for an LCD display and a keypad area. We have carefully chosen materials and developed a process to produce beautiful panels looking identical to silk screened Lexans overlays, but as an improvement can also provide a full range of digitally printed colors at no extra cost. Call us for pricing and details.
	19 Inch Rack Enclosure Panels The panels at left are the front and back panels for a Hammond 2U height enclosure, part number RM2U1908VBK. The customer provided the graphics, and we helped them with the artwork and panel layouts. These panels are made from black graphic overlays over the aluminum front panels.

Customized Die Cast and Plastic Enclosures

	Fully 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.
	Customized 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 aluminum panel will provide your product, project, or prototype, with a professional, production ready appearance.

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 will 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/dxf files and we can accurately manufacture your panels: you do not need to download and learn any special CAD software to order panels from Protoplates.

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 from you, 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 send us 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 all major credit cards using our secure Optimal online payment service. Some customers also choose to pay by wire transfer (please call for banking information). We can not accept company purchase orders.

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.

Please contact us for a quote on your enclosure customizations.

Start Your Order By Selecting a Package Below

No. Description Cost Order Now 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. 45.00 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. 60.00 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-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-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-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:

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 Service is operated by Smart Electronics Corp.