How would I go about doing this?

[Eli]

So, I have a large metal box that is going to be used as a project box. It's about 11" wide and 14" long.

Anyway.. It's going to house a bunch of panel meters and stuff, so I need to cut squares, slots and circles into the top of the box.

I could draw them on there, but I was hoping I could do it a different way.

How would I go about doing it on the computer? Then I could have the layout printed in actual size, so I could just lay it on the top of the box like a stencil?

Is that just a fairly simple thing to do in a CAD program? Any good free ones?

 

[her209]

Wouldn't Photoshop do the trick?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: her209
Wouldn't Photoshop do the trick?

I don't know, that's kind've what I'm asking.

I don't know how I would go about doing it in Photoshop.. Like if I make a simple rectangle in Photoshop, how do I know how big it's going to be on the paper when it's printed?

 

[Eli]

hmm

 

[andylawcc]

well... do you have any CAD program (or you gonna "acquire" it thru the web?)


oh.. just read your update... the "Freeware" thread in Software forum didn't have any CAD though...

 

[OrganizedChaos]

maybe you could use auto cad to make a layout and print it onto a big sticker. put the sticker on a piece of cereal box and cut out the shapes with a ruler and an exacto knive. now you've got a template. attatch template to box and give a quick spray with spaypaint. then take a dremel/die grinder/plasma cutter/waterjet to the box and cut out the colored sections.


or send it out to someone with a laser cutter. example service" http://www.pololu.com/laser_cutting.html <found on google, no way endorsing.

 

[Eli]

Any other suggestions?

 

[Eli]

 

[doze]

Photoshop -> File -> New -> set size in inches

Then View -> Show Rulers -> Show Grid is also useful

Or there is always the old fashioned way Pencil, paper, ruler, and compass

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Google SketchUp

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: doze
Photoshop -> File -> New -> set size in inches

Then View -> Show Rulers -> Show Grid is also useful

Or there is always the old fashioned way Pencil, paper, ruler, and compass

My suggestions too. You can show a grid in Photoshop based on inches (or whatever) and there's a measuring tool IIRC.