Most community colleges have a voc ed program where sheetmetal is one of the
classes offered. Most of them have Greenlee punches up through 5". Your
"class project" could certainly be an instrument panel AND most of them have
CNC machines available also.

Your tax dollars at work; you might as well take advantage of it.

Jim



One final point. This type of punch is *EXPENSIVE*. Good quality
ones large enough for instruments will run well over a $100 and you
need a smaller one for the pilot. Over all it'd probably take about 5
different punches to do a panel with the punches ranging from about
$65 to $150 if they are real Greenlee punches. (Now if you know some
one with a set that's in good shape... G)

I was going to purchase a set and came away with a real case of
"sticker shock". I'm still keeping my eyes open for a used set in
good condition though.

Having said all of that, like any of the methods, skill plays a part
from the user and I've seen some very nice panels cut using all three
methods and I've seen some of the rejects too. :-))

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com