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This is PTC's statement on their website:
Pro/DESKTOP continues to be vital part of PTC's educational strategy. Its comprehensive functionality, and ease of use, makes it the perfect 3D design tool for inspiring the next generation of innovators.
What is Pro/DESKTOP?
Pro/DESKTOP is a feature-based solid modeller software for Windows with kinematic motion and high-quality photo-realistic rendering. The software is in use in over 75% of UK secondary schools.
What will it do for me and my students?
Pro/DESKTOP is for computer-aided design and drawing and is suitable for all secondary age students. It allows students to visualise 3D objects on screen from any viewpoint, or even orthographic and pictorial views at the same time! This will aid students' visual and perceptual development. Students can assemble and explore different arrangements of 3D parts. They can experiment with the colour, texture and presentation views of objects and assemblies. They can produce orthographic drawings and sections of the 3D model. They can try out movements of mechanical assemblies and find whether the parts clash. After evaluation, parts can be exported for manufacture in 2D or 3D.
The software has a library of basic shapes that students can drop onto the screen and change directly by dragging to visualise simple objects in proportion. In addition, teachers can provide sets of pre-built components for immediate assembly. Accurate dimensions are easily added if required.
For the teacher, Pro/DESKTOP is an excellent teaching tool or virtual design environment. The software shows how mechanisms work with video clips, shows the connection between pictorial and orthographic views, shows how sections though objects vary, and how the centre of gravity of an object changes position with shape.
What does the software do?
The starting point in Pro/DESKTOP is the 3D model. This is created by using a range of 3D features such as extrusion, revolve and deform from 2D sketches. Many of these features link with common manufacturing processes. The 3D models are saved and then used as components to create assemblies with realistic positioning constraints. The physical properties of components and assemblies can be examined (for example the volume and mass of the object determined). If orthographic drawings and sections are required, these are simply created by views of the solid model or assembly. Photo-realistic images are easily created from the solid models with a range of material surface effects, backgrounds and applied graphics. Animations of moving assemblies with colours and textures can be created and saved for viewing.
Where does it fit into design and technology?
Pro/DESKTOP supports the whole range of designing and making processes in design and technology. Pro/DESKTOP can be used to generate, develop and model alternative ideas. It has built-in functions to save changes to models so that the development of ideas can be recorded. Pro/DESKTOP can solve a series of measurement conditions to find optimum solutions. The choice of materials can be explored through their properties. The software allows a teamwork approach to designing assemblies and develops technical language. Where repeated shapes or accurate parts are required, Pro/DESKTOP can provide the 3D model before manufacture on a CNC machine.
Pro/DESKTOP is a design tool that works alongside other forms of modelling such as freehand sketching, the use of construction kits and 3D modelling in card etc. It has proved very effective in coursework by allowing the exploration of alternative shapes and assemblies of designed parts and as a preliminary to further development of ideas by drawing over printed views of models.
In addition, Pro/DESKTOP will support activities in mathematics and science, particularly the properties of materials and geometrical solids and solving problems related to length, volume and mass.
How does it link with other software?
Any of the images of objects can be exported in a number of formats for use in portfolios etc. and any of the Pro/DESKTOP file formats can be pasted directly into any Microsoft OLE software (e.g. Word, Publisher). Animations can be viewed through any standard viewer such as Windows Media Player.
Compatibility with other CAD systems is achieved through a range of file formats including DXF (for export of models for profile cutting). 3D models can be exported through the Stereo Lithography (STL) format to any of the standard CNC or Rapid Prototyping machines for manufacture. Also, 3D models can be exported into ArtCAM 7 Educational for further 3D work, such as the addition of textures, text wrapped to shapes and sculptural relief.
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Where can it be used in school (e.g. KS3, etc)?
Teachers have found that students aged 10 and older understand the basic principles of creating models, so the software can be introduced from Year 7 onwards. GCSE students of Resistant Materials, Product Design and Graphic Products will find Pro/DESKTOP invaluable for visualising their design ideas. Advanced Level students can use the software to solve design problems using a range of additional tools.
As the software is licensed for home use, students can spend time learning and using the software, which often means that some students rapidly become expert users.
See examples of effective practice and read the frequently asked questions to learn more.
