Indicator LED mounting i thick front panels

[NicMac]

Hi All,
I need to place a series of LED's (3 and 5 mm) in a think aluminum front panel (10 mm) and I'm not sure how to do this the right way. I would like the LED's to stick out slightly (the round part).
Is drilling a through hole of 5 mm (for a 5 mm LED) followed by expanding this hole to 6 mm to the desired depth (a few mm before the front) the way to go or is there a simpler way?
Thanks in advance,
Nic

 

[Magura]

Yes, that's the way to go.


Magura

 

[Andersonix]

There are also plastic LED holders/bezels meant for mounting in sheet metal that could be adapted to fit a deeper hole, but they have a trim ring that's visible.

 

[NicMac]

LED's with a flat front anybody......
I guess 10 mm front panels are rare in consumer electronics and that this is probably the reason there is so little around (I can find >10$ things which require a 10 mm Ø hole but it is not of my taste and purse...
Thanks,
Nic

 

[Andersonix]

Why didn't you just ask this first?

I stocked up on the ones shown here. They're flat and 2mm OD at the tip. I found red ones in a surplus shop (and orange ones in another).

 

[Andersonix]

...and now I use them everywhere. (Shown here in 3/8inch thick aluminium with a recess)

But I have also filed down normal LEDs so they're flat...

 

[mightydub]

...and now I use them everywhere. (Shown here in 3/8inch thick aluminium with a recess)

But I have also filed down normal LEDs so they're flat...

Nice! I take it you have access to a CNC mill - I'm envious.