I spent a fair amount of time this week using a CAD program to layout the instrument panel. I took each physical instrument and used a micromenter to accurately measure the panel cutout size and the bezel size along with any mounting screw spacing. With these accurate templates, I could next take an accurate representation of the Instrument panel and place each of the instruments on the panel and know exactly how it will fit. The best part now is that I can export this file as a DXF format and simply email it to any number of CNC metal cutting shops and they will be able to cut an instrument panel that will be exactly to my measurements.
What I would like is for them to first cut a clear Plexiglass version of the panel. With this, I can mount all of the instruments and make sure that everything fits correctly and that there is no interference between any of the instruments by looking through the clear panel. I used this method on the RV-4 panel and it works great.
Instrument Panel - CAD Layout DXF
Instrument Panel - Trial Fit of EFIS Display
Instrument Panel - Layout Printed and Taped To Panel
