does anybody remember who was building generic front panels.

[William Maddox]

One can do small-volume plastic casting using
RTV silicone-rubber molds and chemically (rather
than thermally) setting resins like epoxy.
It seems to be a popular technique for model-making.
Particularly given that the PDP-8 switches were not
molded with great precision, I imagine that very
respectable copies could be produced. Search the web
for "moldmaking" and "casting".

--Bill


--- Paul Koning <pkoning at equallogic.com> wrote:

> One approach might be to find the right metalworking
> fan, and make the
> paddles out of metal (aluminum perhaps).  Could be
> cast or machined.
> Paint to match the color, if you want.
> 
> Alternatively, some plastics are machineable, Delrin
> for example.