Drilling templates?

[Jopn]

I always feel like I'm reinventing the wheel on drilling layouts, and usually make a small mistake that costs me a battery spot or something.

Where's the best place to find drilling templates?
OR
What's the best software for me to start making my own to post?

Cheers,

John

[Gus]

Have you searched this forum or geofex(link at the top left) or the web for "drilling template"

[Jopn]

Have you searched this forum or geofex(link at the top left) or the web for "drilling template"

Yep, resources are scattered or generally absent.  I'd like to either build a centralized page or find out if one already exists.

I'd be happy to put it together myself and share, I just want to make certain I'm not duplicating efforts.

[R.G.]

Get a drawing program and learn some mechanical drawing.

I posted the first drilling templates for effects that I know of. I made them by sitting down with a set of digital calipers and a couple of hammond boxes, stretching paper over them and marking the edges of the paper, then removing the paper and measuring. Once done, I drew it up in ... hmmm, corel draw as I remember.

It only takes a few minutes to make a new outline for the drill template. The tough part is making sure the things you stick inside don't interfere. Back when I learned this, I had to do it by drawing two or three orthogonal views by drafting techniques. Lately, I've taken to doing 3D design with FreeCAD.

Seriously, here's a good process:
1. Get the box you're going to use, or the manufacturer's drawings of it. If you're not familiar with drafting, use the actual box.
2. Rough-cut a piece of paper to tape over the outside of the box. I cut rectangles out of where the corners of the box will be so the top and all 4 sides are flat.
3. Fold the paper snugly around the box and tape it on the inside.
4. Mark the edges and centers. Marking the edges of the box on the sides is easy - just run a lead pencil over the folded edge. Finding centerlines is harder, but not too tough. Mark both a front-back and side-side centerline on the paper covering the top.
5. Mark where the top and sides start being non-flat as the paper curves around the corners of the box.
6. Put the part's you're going to use inside the box in as close to the actual positions as you can get them. This is how you eliminate interferences if your mechanical drawing skills aren't super.
7. Once all the eyeballing and guessing is over, draw guides on the paper.
8. Note that at this point you could have done everything on the box itself and have one well-done box. The paper lets you save it for someone else. Un-tape the paper, fold it out flat, then start drawing in the computer to get the guidelines and such in the right place.

When you're done, you have a drill template that can be printed for use on the next box.

Here's the ugly part: repeat this for each size of box from each manufacturer. I donated those first ones to the community because I captured my work in a drawing and wanted to share. I don't do it any more because I don't use pre-fab cast boxes much any more. When I do actually do this, making a new drill template sheet takes about 30 minutes.

[Kipper4]

Theres some others over at GGG too

[R.G.]

I had honestly expected them to be everywhere within weeks. It's been years. 

Shows what I know. 

[Jopn]

Theres some others over at GGG too

Awesome!  Not sure why general googling around didn't find these ones for me.

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/tech-pages/45-schematics/249-drilling-enclosures

Thanks Kipper!

[psychedelicfish]

Might be a cool feature to have in a pcb CAD program, to help with PCB mount pots etc, or even as a separate program to help laying out your enclosure.

[Kipper4]

RG s template is fine too on Geo fx . Thanks RG I will make good use of it.