Revision as of 15:53, 6 August 2014

3D View Window overview

The 3D View window displays a 3D model of your enclosure that you can manipulate.

3D View window - U-Shape enclosure rotated to show rear face

A: 3D View Toolbar B:Viewport

Creating, opening, and saving assembly files

Enclosures are saved as Protocase Designer Assembly files (.pda file extension).

Create new assembly file

Template:Procedure
Note: To create a custom bracket with cutouts and other elements, you use the 3D View window to create them, then you use the Face Editor to customize them and to add them to a face. See Creating and adding brackets for step-by-step instructions.

Open an existing assembly file

Template:Procedure

Save the current assembly file

Template:Procedure

Save a copy of the current assembly file

Template:Procedure

Selecting rackmounts

When you select a rackmount, the parameters include the Full Height Chassis check box. Selecting this checkbox causes the screws to be countersunk, and the enclosure the same height as the front of the rackmount.

Selecting a screw type

Templates include screw types and colors.

To select a screw

1. Click New.

   The New Assembly from Template dialog opens.

2. Select the item you want to use.

   The item's specifications are displayed. If it includes screws, the Screw Type is displayed with a default value. (The field is not displayed for brackets or panels, since those item do not use screws. It is also not displayed if Protocase has not yet implemented the screws for the template; in this case you can contact Protocase to request a screw type.)

3. Click the down-arrow for the Screw Type and select the color (Black, Natural [Zinc], or Stainless) and type (Flathead or Panhead) you want.
4. Click OK.
   
   

Changing enclosure properties

At any point after you create a new enclosure you can modify your enclosure properties such as size, thickness, material, and colour. Template:Procedure

Note: The size of your enclosure must meet all the manufacturing constraints listed at the bottom of the dialog box.

Viewing the model

There are several controls to allow viewing and manipulating the 3D model of your enclosure.

Rotate model

The Rotate command spins the model around its center. Template:Procedure

Pan model

The Pan command enables moving the model about the plane of the viewport.

To pan the model, do one of the following:

Method 1 Template:Procedure Method 2 Template:Procedure Method 3 Template:Procedure

Zoom model

The Zoom command controls the visual size of the model displayed within the viewport. Template:Procedure

Note: The model zooms in/out from the centre of the viewport, regardless of the pointer location.

Show/Hide Parts

The Show/Hide Parts command allows for viewing inside the model by hiding one or more parts. Template:Procedure

Toggle flat/bent view

The Toggle Flat and Bent commands displays the enclosure parts as they are laid out prior to the bending process during manufacturing. Note: This feature is for reference only and does not affect the manufacturing of the final enclosure.
Template:Procedure

Reset view

The Reset View command displays the model in the center of the viewport in its original orientation. Template:Procedure

Use Transparency

The transparency option makes exclusion zones and the background of silkscreen images transparent. This allows you to view features that may be hidden behind exclusion zones or silkscreen images. Template:Procedure

Note: Turning on the transparency option does not affect the final product.

Change background color

The Change background color command allows for customizing the background color of the viewport. Template:Procedure

Change axis color

The Change Axis Color command allows for customizing the color of the coordinate system axis displayed on the model. Template:Procedure

Editing a face using the Face Editor

To customize your enclosure, you add features such as cutouts, silkscreen, exclusion zones, and construction lines to a face in the Face Editor Window.
To open the Face Editor: Template:Procedure

See Face Editor Window for details on using the Face Editor.

Viewing the Part Tree

The Part Tree shows a hierarchical list of all the faces and objects in your enclosure. You can change the name and description of objects as well as open a face in the Face Editor Window directly from the Part Tree.

Part Tree window–adding notes

Navigate the Part Tree

Template:Procedure

Change object name and description

Template:Procedure

Add/Delete notes

You can add notes to parts, faces, and objects for your own reference or to provide additional information to technical support such as "Please scrub this with a scouring pad". You can also use it to place features that might not be permitted in Protocase Designer® but can be manufactured with certain restrictions. For example, you could create a circle using construction lines near the edge of a face on the exclusion zone (where you wouldn't normally be able to place a self-clinching standoff) and add a note "Add 6-32 x 3/8" standoff here". Template:Procedure

Editing a face from the Part Tree

Template:Procedure

Part Tree window—editing a face

Note: The Part Tree window can also be accessed from the Face Editor Window.

Window Preferences

You can change the background color and the axis color in the 3D View window. See Face Editor Preferences for changing the background color and axis color. (The Preferences dialog box is used for both the 3D View and Face Editor windows,)