Difference between revisions of "Creating a custom cutout for a connector"

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(→‎Create the connector cutout in the Face Editor)
 
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#Determine the mounting specifications (mounting hole and cutout dimensions) for the connector.
 
#Determine the mounting specifications (mounting hole and cutout dimensions) for the connector.
 
#;[[File:sketch-customconnector.png|400px]]
 
#;[[File:sketch-customconnector.png|400px]]
 +
The cutout for the connector is 3.5" long and 2" high, and the mounting holes are 0.5" in diameter and are set 0.5" from the left and right edges of the connector cutout.
 +
 +
==Create the connector cutout in the Face Editor==
 +
You can create cutouts directly in the Cutout Library, or create them in the Face Editor and then add them to the Library. This tutorial will create the cutout in the Face Editor.
 +
#In the Face Editor, click the '''Grid Size''' [[File:Button-gridsize_NEW.png|30px]] button and set the grid to 0.25" x 0.25".
 +
#;[[File: connector_tutorial_1_-_grid_NEW.png]]
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#Click the '''Grid''' [[File:Button-togglegrid_NEW.png]] button. This displays the grid, and also causes objects to snap to the grid.
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#To draw the connector cutout, draw a rectangle (anywhere will do, but near the middle of the screen is easiest).
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#Click the '''Edit''' tool and, with the rectangle selected, in the Properties panel set '''Width''' to 3.5" and '''Height''' to 2.0".
 +
#;[[File: connector_tutorial_2_-_rectangle_NEW.png]]
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#To draw the mounting holes, draw a circle that snaps to the center of one edge, 0.5" from the edge.
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#Copy and paste the circle to the opposite side.
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#;[[File: connector_tutorial_3_-_holes_NEW.png]]
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#To check the measurements, click the '''Measure''' tool and measure from the center of the lefthand hole to the center of the righthand hole. The '''distance''' shown in the Properties panel should be 4.5", as indicated in the original drawing.
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#;[[File: connector_tutorial_4_-_measure_tool_NEW.png]]
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#When grouping objects, the origin of the first cutout you select becomes the origin of the group. If you draw an edit box around the objects, the first cutout and therefore the group origin will be random, but if you hold down <Shift> and select each cutout, the origin of the first cutout you select will be the group origin. To move the origin of the final cutout to a particular location, create a Construct circle over the point you wish to be the origin and choose it first when creating your group. In this tutorial, you will place the origin at the center of the final grouped cutout.
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#:*Choose the '''Construct''' mode.
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#:*Click the '''Circle''' tool and draw a circle anywhere on the canvas, but large enough so that it will stick out past the top and bottom of the rectangle, so that you will be able to select it later. (You need to do this because currently objects drawn in the Construct mode are not visible on top of other objects. This is a defect that will be fixed in an upcoming release.)
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#:[[File:connector_tutorial_construct1_NEW.png]]
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#:*Click the '''Edit''' tool.
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#:*Hold down the <Shift> key and click first the rectangle, then the construct circle.
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#:*Click the '''Align Centers of Objects Vertically''' button [[File: Button-align-centervert_NEW.png|30px]], then click the '''Align Centers of Objects Horizontally''' button [[File: Button-align-centerhoriz.png|30px]]. The construct circle is now centered in the rectangle.
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#:[[File:connector_tutorial_construct4.png]]
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#:*Click anywhere on the canvas (to clear the edit selections).
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#:*Hold down <Shift> key and select first the construct circle and then the rest of the cutouts.
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#:*Click the '''Group''' button in the Properties panel.
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#:[[File:connector_tutorial_final_group_NEW.png]]
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#:*Notice that the origin is now shown in the center of the group. The green construct circle will always be displayed with the cutout, but it will never interfere with anything.
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#Click the '''Add to Library''' button in the Properties panel.
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#In the Edit Properties dialog that opens, enter a '''Name''' for the cutout.
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#:'''Note''': If you wanted the cutout origin to be the lower left corner of the grouped cutout, you could change '''x offset''' and '''y offset''' to 0.
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#:[[File:connector_tutorial_6_-_Edit_Properties_dialog_NEW.png]]
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#Click '''OK'''.
 +
#:The connector cutout is now available in your '''personal library''' section of the Cutout Library, and can be added to any face.
  
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==Draw cutouts==
 
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You can group objects and add them as a single cutout to the Cutout Library, or create objects directly in the Cutout Editor.<br><br>
 
  
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'''''Grouping objects and adding them to the Cutout Library'''
 
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#On the 3D View toolbar, click '''Edit Face''' [[File:button-editface.png|20px|bottom]], then click a face to edit.
 
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#In the '''Face Editor''' window that opens, create the cutouts required to mount the connector (such as port and mounting screw cutouts). Use the '''Grid''', '''Alignment''', and/or '''Measure''' tools to accurately place each cutout.
 
−
#;[[File:window-faceeditor-ushape-customcutout.png|500px]]
 
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#Click the '''Edit''' tool and select all the objects to be included in the custom cutout.
 
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#On the '''Properties''' panel, click '''Group'''. A bounding box is drawn around the group, and the Properties panel displays controls for the group. '''Note'''  The origin for the new group is based on the origin of the first object created in the group.
 
−
#;[[File:window-faceeditor-ushape-customcutout-group.png|500px]]
 
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#On the '''Properties''' panel, click '''Add to Library'''. The Edit Properties dialog opens.
 
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#;[[File:edit-properties-dialog.png]]<br>
 
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#Enter a name for the group.
 
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#Leave the '''x offset''' and '''y offset''' values as they are. These offsets define the position of the bounding box corner relative to the group origin. The '''Width''' and '''Height''' define the size of the bounding box.
 
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#(Optional) Enter the '''Manufacturer''', '''Part Number''' and/or '''Description'''.
 
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#Click '''OK'''.
 
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#:The custom cutout is now included in the Cutout Library and the '''Cutout Library and Fasteners''' menu.<br><br>
 
  
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'''''To create objects in the Cutout Editor'''''
 
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#On the 3D View toolbar, click '''Edit Face''' [[File:button-editface.png|20px|bottom]], then click a face to edit. The Face Editor window opens.
 
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#On the '''Cutout Library and Fasteners''' menu, click '''Cutout Library'''. The '''Library Manager''' dialog opens.
 
−
#;[[File:window-cutoutlibrary.png|500px]]
 
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#Click '''New Item'''. The New Item dialog opens.
 
−
#;[[File:dialogbox-cutoutlibrary-newitem.png|400px]]
 
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#Enter a name for the cutout.
 
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#Enter the x and y offset values to position the bottom left corner of the bounding box relative to the origin. (Entering an x value half of the '''Width''' and a y value half of the '''Height''' will place the origin in the centre of the bounding box.)
 
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#Enter the '''Width''' and '''Height''' of the bounding box for your cutout. All your cutouts should fit within this bounding box area.
 
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#(Optional) Enter the '''Manufacturer''', '''Part Number''' and/or '''Description'''.
 
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#Create your cutouts using the drawing tools, which include printed or silkscreened text and images.
 
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#;[[File:window-cutouteditor-connector.png|500px]]
 
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#Click '''Accept & Close'''. [[File:button-acceptclose.png|20px|bottom]]
 
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#:The custom cutout is added to the bottom of the Cutout Library > Personal Items list.
 
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<br><br>
 
 
'''See Also''':
 
'''See Also''':
 
*[[Creating_custom_vents|Creating custom slots]]
 
*[[Creating_custom_vents|Creating custom slots]]
 
*[[Face_Editor#Solving_problems_with_merging_objects|Solving problems with merged objects]]
 
*[[Face_Editor#Solving_problems_with_merging_objects|Solving problems with merged objects]]
 
*[[Creating_an_enclosure_to_mount_a_PCB|Creating an enclosure to mount a PCB]]
 
*[[Creating_an_enclosure_to_mount_a_PCB|Creating an enclosure to mount a PCB]]
 +
*[http://www.protocase.com/products/mcf_custom_cutouts.php Sample custom cutouts to mount connectors, displays, switches, etcetera]

Latest revision as of 12:35, 4 August 2017

Determine mounting specifications

  1. Determine the mounting specifications (mounting hole and cutout dimensions) for the connector.
    Sketch-customconnector.png

The cutout for the connector is 3.5" long and 2" high, and the mounting holes are 0.5" in diameter and are set 0.5" from the left and right edges of the connector cutout.

Create the connector cutout in the Face Editor

You can create cutouts directly in the Cutout Library, or create them in the Face Editor and then add them to the Library. This tutorial will create the cutout in the Face Editor.

  1. In the Face Editor, click the Grid Size Button-gridsize NEW.png button and set the grid to 0.25" x 0.25".
    Connector tutorial 1 - grid NEW.png
  2. Click the Grid Button-togglegrid NEW.png button. This displays the grid, and also causes objects to snap to the grid.
  3. To draw the connector cutout, draw a rectangle (anywhere will do, but near the middle of the screen is easiest).
  4. Click the Edit tool and, with the rectangle selected, in the Properties panel set Width to 3.5" and Height to 2.0".
    Connector tutorial 2 - rectangle NEW.png
  5. To draw the mounting holes, draw a circle that snaps to the center of one edge, 0.5" from the edge.
  6. Copy and paste the circle to the opposite side.
    Connector tutorial 3 - holes NEW.png
  7. To check the measurements, click the Measure tool and measure from the center of the lefthand hole to the center of the righthand hole. The distance shown in the Properties panel should be 4.5", as indicated in the original drawing.
    Connector tutorial 4 - measure tool NEW.png
  8. When grouping objects, the origin of the first cutout you select becomes the origin of the group. If you draw an edit box around the objects, the first cutout and therefore the group origin will be random, but if you hold down <Shift> and select each cutout, the origin of the first cutout you select will be the group origin. To move the origin of the final cutout to a particular location, create a Construct circle over the point you wish to be the origin and choose it first when creating your group. In this tutorial, you will place the origin at the center of the final grouped cutout.
    • Choose the Construct mode.
    • Click the Circle tool and draw a circle anywhere on the canvas, but large enough so that it will stick out past the top and bottom of the rectangle, so that you will be able to select it later. (You need to do this because currently objects drawn in the Construct mode are not visible on top of other objects. This is a defect that will be fixed in an upcoming release.)
    Connector tutorial construct1 NEW.png
    • Click the Edit tool.
    • Hold down the <Shift> key and click first the rectangle, then the construct circle.
    • Click the Align Centers of Objects Vertically button 30px, then click the Align Centers of Objects Horizontally button Button-align-centerhoriz.png. The construct circle is now centered in the rectangle.
    Connector tutorial construct4.png
    • Click anywhere on the canvas (to clear the edit selections).
    • Hold down <Shift> key and select first the construct circle and then the rest of the cutouts.
    • Click the Group button in the Properties panel.
    Connector tutorial final group NEW.png
    • Notice that the origin is now shown in the center of the group. The green construct circle will always be displayed with the cutout, but it will never interfere with anything.
  9. Click the Add to Library button in the Properties panel.
  10. In the Edit Properties dialog that opens, enter a Name for the cutout.
    Note: If you wanted the cutout origin to be the lower left corner of the grouped cutout, you could change x offset and y offset to 0.
    Connector tutorial 6 - Edit Properties dialog NEW.png
  11. Click OK.
    The connector cutout is now available in your personal library section of the Cutout Library, and can be added to any face.


See Also:

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