Pro/DESKTOP 11: Putting It Together

If you have followed the instructions on the previous sheets the chances are you have produced some quality drawings BUT how often could you tell in advance what the drawing would be like before Pro/DESKTOP worked its magic? You can count yourself a Pro/DESKTOP champion when you can predict what effect each your actions will have on your design. This sheet offers you a chance to test your ability to do this.

You are going to design a mobile phone:

But not this mobile phone!

1. Open a new Design. Save it as Phone1.

2. Press Control and W to go onto the workplane.

3. Dimensions are important! Check that your drawing is sized correctly. To do this you need to start with a good idea of how big you want your phone to be.

4. Use the drawing tools and the scissors tools to design a shape for your phone. Try to avoid just "seeing what turns up" - try sketching what you want first and manipulating the tools to get this. For help see ProDESKTOP 2.

5. Having created a shape for your phone extrude it. You may wish to use the taper facility when doing so. If you don't know already you can find out how to do this on the Circuit Box page.

6. Round or chamfer the edges of your phone.

7. BIG TIP: after each successful phase Save a Copy of Your Work! In the event of something going terrible wrong you will always have a decent version to go back to.

8. Add the detail to the top of the phone - buttons, screen etc. To do this you need to select the top face and create a new sketch. Remember: You will need to do this every time you want to add a new feature.

9. Buttons: You will need to create an array of components. For help on this see ProDESKTOP 7.

10. Round over or chamfer those components that require it.

11. Add text to your phone - either on the front or back. For example: manufacturer's name; model; where it is made; serial numbers; etc. For help on this go to the Doorsign page.

12. Save your work.

13. Open a new Album.

14. Import your phone design. (See ProDESKTOP 1).

15. Select Tools then Materials Browser.

16. Click on Select then Faces. This will allow you to render the phone component by component. (See ProDESKTOP 7). Be warned - this can be a fiddly process!

17. BIG TIP no. 2: If you use Select then Parts first to render all the phone you may find it an easier way to get at the smaller components.

18. Click on Image then Image Properties. Adjust the image quality, background and lighting to enhance the overall presentation.

19. Save your work.