Here are the panels installed for the lighted switches available to the pilot. I made these using the following procedure. First, I layed out the panels in Autocad. This included size, rounding the corners, adding screw holes and the holes for the lighted switches or other items as necessary. I then determined the size of the lettering that would fit in the available space on the panel. If necessary the panel size was changed to provide sufficient room for the needed lettering. Lettering was then layed out in Corel Draw over an exported Autocad file. I used an easily readable type face out of the 1000 plus faces I have. The Corel Draw artwork was then exported as a .wmf file and imported back into Autocad. All the letters were then slightly cleaned up and offset by various amounts from .001" to .007" to compensate for my laser-cutter. The holes for switches and etc. were all offset .007". The laser-cutter is our own proprietary machine that is programmed to read the colors of the various pens and change then speed of the cutting head and intensity of the laser beam. This allows for me to cut through an item completely or laser engrave the same item. Holes are cut through and the wording is laser engraved. The process yields parts that are accurate to .001". The material cut, in this case, was plastic counter top laminate. The panels could have been made directly, but I painted mine to match the interior much more closely. When the parts are cut out the process gives a nice black edge on each panel and beautiful perfect black lettering that is etched into the panel pemenently. It will not wear off like silk screened lettering. The finished panels are washed after cutting with dish soap and a soft rag. Once the panels are dry they are clear coated with Krylon Matte finish paint on the front and back to seal them. These panels also have matching 1/32" plywood strengthening pieces glued to the back with T-88 Epoxy. These pieces are not used on all the panels as they are not always necessary. I can do similar panels w
