PCB design - how do I get to the next level?

[bingmachine]

Hi!

I want to learn how to designs euro format PCBs suitable for "production". Help me!

I know enough electronics to at least build some digital stuff (uC etc) with analog interfaces. A few years ago I even made some single sided PCBs. But the problem then was all the wires to the front panel controls. I actually got put off with the whole thing.

Being an engineer, I am lazy by nature, so if it would be possible I would like to design boards with front panel controls and everything on the same board. Basically one board the same size as the frontpanel, with no wiring. I realise there are several problems with this. One is I have to find jacks, pots switches and everything made for this kind of assembly, and they would have to be of the same "height", so to speak. How do I do that?
Another problem is that I makes it more difficult to have different revisions for the front panel layout and the design of the electronic solution. For that reason you might want to have at least two boards; one front panel board and one electronics board, mounted on top of each other. But then I don't know anything about mounting hardware and wires and connectors and all that stuff.
I am used to be able to find everything I want to know in books or on the internet. But all this practical mechanical business in electronics design eludes me. How do I learn?! Heeelp!

[elmegil]

Check out the solution that Fonik used for this:

http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-55470.html

[bingmachine]