Difference between revisions of "Quick Start"
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=Creating your enclosure= | =Creating your enclosure= | ||
| − | To begin designing your enclosure, you select | + | 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. |
{{Procedure| | {{Procedure| | ||
#Open Protocase Designer.<br><br>[[File:Splash-screen-4.png|400px|thumb|centre|Protocase Designer Splash Screen]]<br> | #Open Protocase Designer.<br><br>[[File:Splash-screen-4.png|400px|thumb|centre|Protocase Designer Splash Screen]]<br> | ||
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# Select an enclosure category on the left and then select an enclosure type.<br><br>[[File:window-newassembly-noselection.png|400px|thumb|centre|New Assembly Window]]<br> | # Select an enclosure category on the left and then select an enclosure type.<br><br>[[File:window-newassembly-noselection.png|400px|thumb|centre|New Assembly Window]]<br> | ||
# Modify the enclosure parameters including size, thickness, material, and color to meet your design requirements.<br><br>[[File:window-newassembly-ushape.png|400px|thumb|centre|New Assembly Window]]<br> | # Modify the enclosure parameters including size, thickness, material, and color to meet your design requirements.<br><br>[[File:window-newassembly-ushape.png|400px|thumb|centre|New Assembly Window]]<br> | ||
| − | #Click OK to view a 3D model that you can manipulate in the main window.<br><br>[[File:window-main-ushape.png|600px|thumb|centre|New U-Shape Enclosure]] | + | #Click '''OK''' to view a 3D model that you can manipulate in the main window.<br><br>[[File:window-main-ushape.png|600px|thumb|centre|New U-Shape Enclosure]] |
}} | }} | ||
=Customizing your enclosure= | =Customizing your enclosure= | ||
| − | To customize the faces of your enclosure, you | + | 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 basic cutouts== | ||
{{Procedure| | {{Procedure| | ||
| − | #Rotate the model to show the face you want to edit by dragging in the main window.<br><br>[[File:window-main-ushape-rear.png|600px|thumb|centre| | + | #Rotate the model to show the face you want to edit by dragging in the main window.<br><br>[[File:window-main-ushape-rear.png|600px|thumb|centre|3D View window—U-Shape enclosure, rotated to show rear face]]<br> |
#Click '''Edit Face''' [[File:button-editface.png|40px|bottom]] on the Standard toolbar. | #Click '''Edit Face''' [[File:button-editface.png|40px|bottom]] on the Standard toolbar. | ||
| − | #Click the face to edit. The Face Editor | + | #Click the face to edit. The Face Editor opens.<br><br>[[File:window-faceeditor-ushape-rear.png|600px|thumb|center|Face Editor 2indow—U-Shape enclosure, rear face]]<br> |
#Select a drawing tool from the '''Drawing''' toolbar on the left. You can create cutouts using circles, ellipses, rectangles, custom paths, and lines. | #Select a drawing tool from the '''Drawing''' toolbar on the left. You can create cutouts using circles, ellipses, rectangles, custom paths, and lines. | ||
#Draw shapes on the face to create cutouts.<br><br>[[File:window-faceeditor-ushape-rear-cutouts.png|600px|thumb|center|Face Editor Window—Drawing cutouts]]<br> | #Draw shapes on the face to create cutouts.<br><br>[[File:window-faceeditor-ushape-rear-cutouts.png|600px|thumb|center|Face Editor Window—Drawing cutouts]]<br> | ||
| − | #Click '''Accept and Close''' [[File:button-acceptclose.png|40px|bottom]] on the | + | #Click '''Accept and Close''' [[File:button-acceptclose.png|40px|bottom]] on the Face Editor toolbar. You can then see these cutouts applied to your 3D model.<br><br>[[File:window-main-ushape-rear-cutouts.png|600px|thumb|center|Face Editor window—U-shape enclosure with cutouts]] |
}} | }} | ||
Revision as of 15:08, 1 October 2013
Contents
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 basic cutouts
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
