Quick Start

This Quick Start guide walks you through the installation of Protocase Designer and its main features: creating, customizing, and quoting/ordering a design. (This guide does not show a specific enclosure design; you can select any template, change any parameters, etcetera.)

Installing Designer

The installation process is the same for both first-time installations and upgrades.

1. Before installing, ensure that your graphics card drivers are compatible with Opengl 1.2+ (such as ATI and NVIDIA) and that they are up to date.
2. If you are installing Protocase Designer on a Mac OSX Mountain Lion, please follow the instructions in Installing Designer on a Mac OSX Mountain Lion.
3. Close all versions of Protocase Designer before installing a new one. (If you are using Windows, when you try to install Designer while another copy is running, an error occurs and the installer exits.)
4. On the [Download page], click the button for the appropriate download format. The download will begin.
5. Open the Protocase Designer installer file in your Downloads folder.
6. If you have previously installed Designer as the Administrator, right-click the installer file in Windows Explorer and choose Run as administrator. (You might have to first choose Show in folder in Google Chrome, or Open containing folder in Firefox.)
7. Follow the prompts to install.
8. For first-time installations, after launching Designer, you are prompted to register. Be sure to do so, so that you can receive estimates, place an order, and access the online Cutout Library.

Creating your enclosure

To begin designing your enclosure, select a template such as Consolet, Bracket, Panel, L shape, Rackmount, or U shape. You then customize various parameters including size, thickness, material, and color. A 3D model of your enclosure is then created, which you can customize further. Template:Procedure

Customizing your enclosure

To customize the faces of your enclosure, you use the Face Editor, which provides many standard editing tools for creating cutouts, silkscreens, exclusion zones, and construction lines.

Add built-in cutouts

Protocase Designer offers a variety of built-in cutouts that you can add to your enclosure. Template:Procedure

Add custom cutouts

You can create your own custom cutouts using the Path tool. Template:Procedure Note: You can quickly create complex cutouts by merging and/or trimming objects. See Using the Trim and Merge tools to create cutouts for details.

Add hardware

You can easily place hardware on your enclosure to accommodate various components, such as self-clinching fasteners (PEMs) to mount a PCB or handles. Template:Procedure Note: You can also create custom brackets and add them to your enclosure. See Creating and adding brackets for details.

Add silkscreen text

You can add silkscreen text for labeling items on your enclosure. Template:Procedure Note: For images with multiple or gradient colors, specify direct digital printing instead of silkscreening. You can also add dot peening, which is a permanent marking process that does not use ink.

Add silkscreen image

You can add silkscreen images such as logos or other graphics on your enclosure. Template:Procedure Note: You can specify direct digital printing instead of silkscreening for images with multiple or gradient colors. See Adding silkscreening or direct digital printing for details.

Quoting and ordering your enclosure

Once your design is complete you can instantly receive a quote and order your enclosure online. It's quick and easy! Template:Procedure