Pro/DESKTOP Support & Resources

• Installation
• Hints & Tips (Service Pack 2 notes)
• Output to CAM
• Exemplar Projects
• Links

Please note if you are using the name of this software in tutorials etc. make sure it is spelt correctly as it is a registered trade name. The first time you use it, include the registered symbol: Pro/DESKTOP^R

Minimum specification: Pro/DESKTOP 8

• Intel Pentium (or compatible processor), 166 MHz or higher
• 64 MB RAM
• 80 MB of hard disk for software and examples
• 110 MB free space in the TEMP folder during the installation process
• Microsoft Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0 (Service Pack 6 or higher), Windows 2000 (Service Pack 1 or higher), Windows XP Operating System
• Monitor: Windows graphic display setting of 65536 colors (High Color, True Color, 16-bit). (Use of a supported OpenGL card may improve graphics refresh rate.)
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or higher

Although the minimum specification will cope with simple models, a faster processor and more RAM will allow solids with complex surfaces and large assemblies to be manipulated with ease. You may also download this specification.

Installation

• Windows Vista and 7
  Pro/DESKTOP was not designed for these operating systems but will run satisfactorily. Right click on the desktop icon and select "Properties". Use the Compatibility tab to run Pro/DESKTOP under Windows 2000 mode and check that extrusions work, if OK then change to Windows XP compatibility.

If you still get an error with extruding, right click on the desktop shortcut and run as administrator first, after this it should run normally. There may be a display error on engineering drawings when dimensions are imported from designs, however this does not affect printed output.

The additional software ProWiz also works on Windows Vista (see http://www.prowiz.co.uk).

• Networks
  Pro/DESKTOP is not certified for network installation but will work correctly on most school networks. There are two msi files on the CD and both must be allocated (ISScript8 first). Alternatively install locally and run as administrator first to check that extrude etc. will work. Registry settings may remain from a previous install unless deleted manually using regedit. Note also the need for the regserver fix below.
• RM CC3 Networks
  RM have now included Pro/DESKTOP in their "Package Blueprint" software. You must have a copy of the original Pro/DESKTOP installation CD. RM Package Blueprint is a utility which will enable you to easily create application packages (MSIs) which have been tested by RM to work with your Community Connect 3 network. These RM Package Blueprint files are available as part of your RM Support Contract.

• Extrusions failing or 'The command has been aborted'?
  If you find that an extrusion fails with Pro/DESKTOP 8 use this (needs administrator rights on networks):

• Go to Start menu select Run and type:
  "C:\Program Files\PTC\ProDESKTOP 8.0\Program\ProD.exe" /regserver
  (note position of quotes and the space before /)
• This command re-registers Pro/DESKTOP in the computer registry.

The use of Pro/ENGINEER can overwrite registry settings related to Pro/DESKTOP.

Some crashing problems are due to graphics card problems. Turning off Graphics Acceleration usually does the trick. Open the program and it's in Tools>Options>Performance. Alternatively it can be done in
System Properties>Performance, Advanced settings> Graphics. 
 

• Location of drawing templates
  If you need to move the drawing templates, you can copy them to a suitable shared area (original location is C:\Program Files\PTC\ProDESKTOP 8.0\Program\Drawing Formats). Students will then open a new drawing and browse to find the templates in the new location. It is not possible to alter the paths within the program.
  
  
• ATI Fire Graphics Cards - ATI Technologies Inc
  Fire GL1 With earlier drivers on Windows2000, black patches sometimes appear when scrolling.
  Fire GL2 Windows 2000 With earlier drivers, selection of some sketch constraints caused ProD to crash.
  New drivers can be downloaded from the website

• Using Network Ranger?
  Sentinel Products tell us that Ranger can be configured to allow Pro/DESKTOP to use "Properties" etc.
  Contact the company and see the Ranger website for some detail.

• Apple Macs
  The following information was received from a teacher who successfully runs Pro/DESKTOP on Macs:
  
  "Setting up Pro/DESKTOP to run under Virtual PC is as straightforward as installing on any hardware based system running Windows, run VPC with your chosen Windows System (I use Windows 98 SE), insert the CD and run the Pro/DESKTOP installer, as you would with any hardware based system.
  "I've run Pro/DESKTOP in VPC 6.0 and 6.1 running in System 9.2.2 and System X (10.2.4 through 10.2.8) on a G4 550 Mhz 512 MB Titanium Powerbook, allocating 256 MB to the virtual system with less crashes than on various flavours of 'real PC', this may be due to incompatibilities of hardware/ software unrelated to Pro/DESKTOP, as the crashes also happen with other Applications.
  "There is an obvious speed hit running Pro/DESKTOP in an emulated Windows environment when working with more complex models, but performance is, for my purposes, acceptable and when constructing less complex 3D entities is less noticeable. A faster G4 system ( 1Ghz+ ) would obviously give a much more satisfactory performance.

Hints & Tips

• Service Pack 2
  To find out more about specific improvements to Pro/DESKTOP 8 in the service pack, download the details.
  
  If you are updating from Pro/DESKTOP 8 SP1:
  You must uninstall first. If package on RM, then unallocate from workstations first before creating new package on a clean machine.
  Graphics acceleration is off by default in SP2 but, if re-installing, the registry entry is not deleted by removing the program in the control panel so it retains the previous settings.
  (Registry entry is HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PTC\ProDESKTOP)
  
  If you are updating from Pro/DESKTOP 2000i2:
  Uninstalling is optional (the two versions can co-exist), but see notes on how to transfer files to V8 on the curriculum support CD.

• Links with ArtCAM
  Great new functionality with ArtCAM7. This software will import STL files (e.g. from Pro/DESKTOP) so that further relief can be added. Textures, text and other relief can be added and wrapped on curved surfaces. Hand sculpting can be done. Output is again in STL format for manufacture. The presentation tools in ArtCAM are excellent too. Several STLs can also be loaded in ArtCam for output to CNC. This allows a group of students products to be machined together. ArtCam does not recognise undercuts as it is designed for 3 axis machining.
  
  
• Insert Pro/DESKTOP objects into Microsoft software

Instead of saving Pro/DESKTOP views as jpegs for insertion into Microsoft Word etc., you can insert all the Pro/DESKTOP formats directly as objects. In Word, go to Insert>Object...>Create from File. Make sure you tick the box "Link to file" and the object will open in Pro/DESKTOP if double clicked. The image of the object can be resized like other images.

• Insert object
  A problem may occur when inserting a jpeg into a drawing (using Insert Object) the file name appears, not the image. On clicking the image it opens in a viewing window. Design file objects appear in the normal way. The solution is to ensure that jpeg files are associated with a paint program (e.g. Corel Draw or Photoshop).
  
  
• Seamless tiles for custom textures
  If you are tired of the standard wood texture in Pro/D, have a look at Wood Workshop. This is an excellent piece of free software that creates as many wood textures as you want. It also does a neat line in parquet flooring!
  
  
• Changing grid size
  The grid size in Pro/DESKTOP is a function of the amount of zoom. Large zoom small grid size, zoom out and you get a bigger grid size. The grid cannot be seen but dragged items will stick to grid sizes. Hold down shift to draw orthogonal lines (parallel to x/y axes). There is a direct cursor readout of dimensions.

• Exporting assemblies as .stl file
  If you try to export an assembly as STL, you will get a file format registering 0 bytes. Pro/DESKTOP 2000i2 was unusual among CAD software in allowing assemblies to be exported as STL files. The solution is:

1. For each component of the assembly, select the component then click Feature> Use Component.
2. In the Features browser, the original component is replaced by an identical copy as a feature. The original component is hidden; it appears with the name Tool#
3. The STL export then works correctly.

• Free components

A large range of components are available from http://www.3dcontentcentral.com/3DContentCentral/ (and yes I know it's a Solidworks service!). You will need to register first but the downloads are free. The formats that will load into Pro/DESKTOP are either Pro/Engineer, Parasolid Text (*x_t) or IGES.
 
The parts import as components, i.e. you cannot edit them but you can use them in assemblies. They could be added to your User Palette.

• File interchange with Pro/ENGINEER

Pro/DESKTOP will load files from the commercial version of Pro/ENGINEER but NOT the Schools Edition. From the Schools Edition export as Parasolid (*x_t) and import into Pro/DESKTOP. You will have the option to load as components. Pro/ENGINEER Schools Edition will load Pro/DESKTOP designs as components but cannot edit them.

Output to CAM

• Tools for (Isel) Educam machines
  Rotozip cutters are inexpensive from B&Q, etc and have 25mm cutting depths 3.2 (1/8th inch) cutters and will 'zip' through all non metalic and soft metal materials with ease. Fit into 1/8th collet and are brilliant for cutting out and for roughing cuts in 3D
  
  
• Denford Software

Try Denford's QuickCam 2D Design for single-depth profile cutting. You can import DXF files from Pro/DESKTOP.

QuickCAM Milling is an Intermediate 2D CAM link to create NC code for CNC milling machines, allowing you to quickly and easily convert DXF files directly into CNC language.

You can also use TechSoft 2D (version 1) to produce DXF files or directly with Denford Extension - This is an program that needs to be installed in addition to Techsoft Design Tools - 2D Design. It must be purchased in order to link to the Denford range of machines.

• Boxford 3D GeoCam

GeoCam will output to all the common school CNC machines and has additional cutting strategies as well as raster cutting. With Boxford's own machines the link to manufacture is seamless. See

• Suregrave Engrave Lab

Exporting DXF files to Engrave Lab from Pro/DESKTOP can result in a scaling problem because the import is in inch units. For the solution see "Scaling factors for SureLab DXF files" on http://www.suregrave.com/technical/index.html

• Older Emco CNC

Welsoft has produced CNC software etc. for the older F1 Mill.
 

Exemplar projects 

Key Stage 3: Design a flower holder
The brief: Flower holders are to be designed to hold and to display a single flower. The designs are made in acrylic sheet, using a given sized test tube and must be assembled without any glue.
Download the pdf

Key Stage 4: Design a flat-pack product
The brief: To design a product (e.g. toy, furniture, game) using pieces cut from flat sheet. The product is to be modelled in Pro/DESKTOP to check the overall look and feel of the product and the pieces manufactured by profile cutting.
Download the pdf

• Designing with Pro/DESKTOP - new text available from The Design and Technology Association
  This popular book by American author John Hutchinson has been completely revised by DATA as a new UK edition and was launched at the D&T with ICT Education Show in November 2005. Modifications include changing to metric measures with all new screen shots, inclusion of every on-screen icon as it is mentioned and a new opening chapter outlining the development of computer-aided design. Also, included in the price of the book is an all new CD-ROM with further materials created in the UK.
  CD-ROM supplement
  The CD is packed with material to complement the revised issue of the book for the UK market. Two PowerPoint presentations are included, showing the development of design ideas. The first is based on the book's chapter 10 Art Deco clock showing how a professional designer develops this into a working radio model (using the TEP radio kit). The second includes a raft of images of students' work. Both presentations feature the use of Pro/DESKTOP images with other media including photos and freehand sketching in developing designs in detail. As a way to demonstrate to students the need for conscientious, detailed attention to every aspect of a design, culminating in a highly polished product these are without comparison.
  The CD also includes tutorials and posters to help students use their Pro/DESKTOP Album images in the likes of product instruction sets and to help them achieve a high quality of finish on rapid prototypes or CNC models.
  Independence from the teacher
  Support your learners, from beginners to the advanced, by providing them with a book and multi-media which takes them from step-by-step instructions through to challenging extension work. Achieve personalised learning in computer-aided design, in which experience shows some students move far faster than others.
  This resource is suitable for advanced learners in KS3 through to GCE A level.
  Visit the D&T Association website to find out more, or contact the D&T Association to order a copy today (tel 01789 473901).
  
  
• Pro/DESKTOP Support activities, curriculum materials and ideas for Key Stages 3 and 4 by post
  Available from CADAM Services, materials are based on the design and production of hand-held products allowing you and your pupils to develop them further using Pro/DESKTOP 8 software. To receive a CD-ROM, please dispatch remittance of £25 including VAT (cheques payable to CADAM Services). Prior to a course in your schools CADAM Services will also transform a project you already have and provide you with planning materials for teachers and pupils, CAD and CAM demonstration examples, scheme planners and a CD-ROM of all the files. Orders and payments should be sent to: CADAM Services, 19 Green Meadow Road, Weoley Hill, Birmingham, B29 4DD. Contact CADAM Services with any queries.
  
  
• Pro/WIZ component design software
  Pro/WIZ is an easy-to-use catalogue of pre-made components for use with Pro/DESKTOP 2000i2 and Pro/DESKTOP 8.0 with Many Additional Features. Pro/WIZ includes an Innovative Mechanical Component Creation System. With the component creation system users are able to create complex components such as Screws, Nuts, Bolts, Gears, Rivets and Pipes automatically. Components are created with deadly accuracy to ISO Metric Standards, or the user can define all measurements. Visit the website for more details.
  
  
• Denford Pro/DESKTOP 8 Achiever
  Denford, in association with the Design and Technology Department at Loughborough University, has developed the a flexible training solution for Pro/DESKTOP 8.0. This fully integrated package comes complete with practical and innovative learning themes and comprehensive multi level help to provide support for different learners at different levels.

Pro/DESKTOP 8.0 Achiever is a self paced computer based training course available on CD providing effective and affordable learning for:

• Teachers requiring update accreditation to Version 8.0
• Students in Design and Technology using Pro/DESKTOP in their design work (through use of the Student Version)

Pro/DESKTOP 8.0 Achiever will effectively develop and apply CAD capability to support, enhance and extend design work in schools. It includes a variety of projects to allow effective use of Pro/DESKTOP 8.0 in the classroom. Visit the website for further details.

To add to this section, please contact Kate Bryenton.

Links and Resources

Need some help?
Don't forget: your trainer is always your first point of contact with any software-related queries. In addition, you may contact your local support centre to seek advice.