This one is for Melanie if you have time.

**Luciano** · - 18th February 2007, 11:06

Hi Sphere,

Yesterday I posted a link of a company in the UK.

The same company has another web site:
http://www.customdesigntechnologies.com

They have a service called "customAssembly".

Try to contact these people and see If they are willing
to take some risks together with you. (Joint venture).
http://www.customdesigntechnologies.com/id29.html

I am sure that they have already an eclosure with keypad
that will fit your needs, so the initial costs will be low
for them. Later on, if the product sells well, a new
enclosure with new keypad is always possible.

Good luck with your project!

Best regards,

Luciano

**Melanie** · - 18th February 2007, 11:46

>> So that was a production one rather than a protoype.

Prototype or Production, the process is very much the same here. In the case of the facia, we use a small one-man silk-screener who works out of a garage in his home. Half a dozen new labels for a prototype he'll do for free on the basis we give him many thousands worth of business over the year. Likewise we have a good relationship with the metal-basher who knows that prototypes lead to production quantities later down the line. Again, it's time to cultivate relationships with suppliers, and to stick by them because they rely on you as much as you on them. We spend for example about $250k with one small sheet-metal shop. Yes, I could halve that figure by switching the work to China, but he's got kids in school and a morgage to pay too and relies on my work. On the other hand, by keeping him in business I've got someone twenty minutes down the road that I can say "I need this in a hurry" hand him a quick scribble done on the back on an envelope and I'll know he'll work all night to do it.

**Ioannis** · - 23rd February 2007, 21:19

Hi Melanie. If it is not too much trouble, a couple of photos of the sandwitch assembly would be helpful.

Thanks,
Ioannis

**b1arrk5** · - 13th March 2007, 21:59

Dear Melanie,
I would also like to see a few more photos if you can find the time. It looks great! I remember someone suggesting that you could make a one off using a laser printer and laser overhead transparency film. He or she made their layout on the computer, and then mirrored it and printed it out so that the toner would be on the back. Probably would last long enough to demonstrate a prototype.

Thanks,

Jerry.

**Ioannis** · - 14th March 2007, 08:53

I have tried a different approach.

I printed on plain paper the color/bw artwork (or even on a digital photocopier from a pdf file).

Then laminated the paper and cut it to the dimensions needed.

This works good even if one has switch underneath or LCD (you have to cut carefully the window).

Of course it is not possible to make a dome at the position of the virtual button, but it is a prototype, right?

Ioannis

**muddy0409** · - 15th March 2007, 05:04

Hi Mel.
I would be pleased to see some pics of the "off the shelf" RJ45 plate you used. I have looked around Australia for cheap ready to go type plates with assorted holes already in them but can't find any.
Are these a standard electric accessory in UK?