Quick Start
Contents
Overview
This Quick Start guide will walk you through the main features of Protocase Designer, including:
- Creating,
- Customizing, and
- Quoting and Ordering
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. Note: Do not worry about making a "real" enclosure for this tutorial. For this step, for example, any template will do. 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 basic cutouts
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 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
