I usually do not log the time that I spend designing things. Tonight I used x panel the online design tool in trial mode. I actually emailed them today to tell them that their panel is not actual size, but about one inch too large from top to bottom. Scott from e panel emailed back and said that the bottom of the vans panel is supposed to bend back. Yep, their panel shows it apparantly unbent and consequently too long.
I think that I have finalized the design after about 30 versions. I noted that the depth of the avionics is important to consider so that they do not interfere with the z brackets behind the instrument panel. The only conflict will be on the right side of the panel where the radio stack goes. I think I will be OK since there is an inch of space at the bottom below the lowest instrument, which is the transponder. The transponder is 1.65 in high and 6.85 deep. The instrument above that is the ICOM 200 radio which is the longest avionics device at 10.7 inches.
I will probably have to remove the speaker that I placed behind the panel because it will interfere. Perhaps I can move it over some.
