Quick Start

Overview

This Quick Start guide will walk you through the main features of Protocase Designer including…

• Creating,
• Customizing, and
• Quoting and Ordering

…your fully finished custom electronic enclosure.

Creating your enclosure

To begin designing your enclosure, you 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 also offers a variety of built-in cutouts that you can add to your enclosure. Template:Procedure

Add custom cutouts

You can also 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 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 features on your enclosure. Template:Procedure Note: You can specify direct digital printing instead of silkscreening for images with multiple or gradient colors. See Specifying direct digital printing for details.

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 Specifying 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