Protocase Resources

The information below is intended to be helpful for customers who wish to learn more about enclosure design. Also, please use our online support if you have questions for our expert design staff.

   

Protocase Tech Tip Video Series

Browse Our Library - New Tech Tips are added Weekly!

Guide to CNC Materials

O-Rings for Custom Enclosures

Basics of CNC Machining

CNC Corner Radius

Cutting Costs with CNC Machining

Customizable Diecast Enclosures

Helical Inserts

Hybrid Enclosures

CNC Minimum Wall Thickness

Most Common Minor CNC Modifications

Lead Time and Complexity for CNC Machining

CNC Milled Features

CNC Threaded Features

The Basics of CNC Turning

A Guide to CNC Tooling

Adding Edge Radii & Chamfers to Your CNC Design

CNC Surface Finishes

CNC Part Manufacturing Workflow

Aluminum MIC-6 Plate

Material Flatness with CNC Machining

Engrave and Fill

Countersink vs Counterbore

Why Corner Radius Matters in Machining

Finishing Options for Machined Parts

Diecast Enclosure Protection Levels

Different Flange Positions inside SolidWorks

Sheet Metal Louvers

8 Ways to Minimize Costs

How to Transfer Enclosure Designs in Protocase Designer

Guide to Enclosure Styles

heet Metal Louvers Update

Sheet Metal Step Bends

Custom Copper Bus Bars

L-Shape versus U-Shape Enclosures

Custom Sheet Metal Bracket Guide

Self-Clinching Fasteners and Material Compatibility (*See description for note*)

Custom Rackmount Enclosures

Consolet Enclosures

Aluminum vs Stainless Steel

Converting Design Files to Sheet Metal

W Bending

Sheet-Metal Specialty Bends

Cam Locks for Sheet-Metal Enclosures

Pelican Panels in Protocase Designer!

Engrave and Fill

What Contributes to an Enclosure's Weight

Countersink vs Counterbore

Choosing the Right Sheet Metal Gauge

What Does No Minimum Order Mean?

Blanket Orders

E-Drawings Approval Process

How to Care for Your Enclosures and Parts

New Leadtime Options

How the Ordering Process Works

E-Drawings in My Account

CAD Template Price Estimator

The Basics of Protocase

How to Design Vent Slot Cutouts As Quickly As Possible

Aligning Objects in Protocase Designer

Adding Rubber Feet in Protocase Designer

Protocase Designer Graphics Library

Show Coordinates Tool in Protocase Designer

Creating Circular Gauges in Protocase Designer

How to Precisely Move Objects in Protocase Designer

Notching Cutouts in SolidWorks and Protocase Designer

Creating Fillets in Protocase Designer

Quoting and Ordering Partial Designs in Protocase Designer

Creating Custom Cutouts in Protocase Designer

Building a Retro Arcade Console in Protocase Designer

How to Transfer Enclosure Designs in Protocase Designer

How to Distribute Objects in Protocase Designer

3D Dimensioning

Creating a Hinged 5-Sided Enclosure in Protocase Designer

Drawer Slides for Rackmount Enclosures in Protocase Designer

Grouping Objects and Saving in Protocase Designer

Hinged Doors in Protocase Designer

How to Lock Objects in Protocase Designer

Protocase Designer 6 Release!

PD 6 Help Options

Quick Search in PD

Align and Distribute in Protocase Designer 6

Nudge Tool in Protocase Designer

r Pro Tips - Ventilation Patterns

Transfer to New Enclosure

Pelican Panels in Protocase Designer!

r Pro Tip - How to use the Coordinates tool

r Tip - How to Place and Lock Cutouts in Protocase Designer 6

r Tip - How to Create Countersinks

Recreating a bracket in Protocase Designer

Diecast Enclosures in Protocase Designer

Importing DXF Cutouts into Protocase Designer

Chemical Conversion Coating VS Passivation

Powdercoat Colors and Classifications

Powdercoat Quick Hits (*Note the Description Below*)

Laser Marking

Tin Plating for Copper

Bare Metal Finishes

Powdercoat Textures (Gloss vs Matte vs Sandtex)

Standard Masking vs Custom Masking

Epoxy vs Polyester Powdercoat

Anodizing Your Custom Enclosures and Parts

Conductivity Tips for Custom Enclosures

Why We Don't Recommend Secondary Finishes on No Finish Parts

wdercoat Overview

Engrave and Fill

Powdercoat vs Bare Metal Finishes

New Powdercoat and Clearcoat Options

Serialization

Part Marking

Graphics: Digital Print vs Silkscreen

Graphics: Raster VS Vector Files

MIL-STD-130

Serif vs Sans Serif Fonts for Graphics

Adding Marking to your SolidWorks Design

Labelling Options

Digital Print Resolution Options

Dos and Don'ts for Sheet Metal Graphics

Graphics Contrast Guide for Sheet Metal and Machined Parts

Engrave and Fill

Serialization

Inserting Self-Clinching Fasteners into your Design

Self-Clinching Fasteners

Concealed vs Flush Self-Clinching Fasteners

Sliding Rails for Rackmount Enclosures

Rubber Feet

Expediting Your Quote

Handles for Your Custom Enclosures

Hinges for Your Custom Enclosure

Custom Cut Gaskets

Self-Clinching Stud vs Self-Clinching Standoff

Choosing the Right Length Stud or Standoff

Minimizing the Appearance of Fastener Heads

Self-Clinching Fasteners and Material Compatibility (*See description for note*)

Fasteners vs Welding in Custom Enclosures

Minimum Center to Edge Distance for Fasteners

Blind Nuts vs Standard Nuts

Cam Locks for Sheet-Metal Enclosures

Welding vs Rivets

Hole Fitment

5 Important Tips When Using Self-Clinching Fasteners

Why You Need to Use the SolidWorks Pack and Go Feature

Understanding Minimum Bend Dimensions

Countersinking

Incorporating Plastics into Your Design

Custom Extruded Aluminum Enclosures

Design Services

Basic Sheet Metal Design Tips

Frequently Asked Questions: Bending Process

Why You Shouldn't Dimension to a Bend Line

Overriding Bend Parameters in SolidWorks

Designing for HEM Bends

Designing for Internal Bends

Notching Cutouts in SolidWorks and Protocase Designer

Using Notching for Cutouts Close to a Bend

How to Use the SolidWorks End Condition Feature

Closed Corners in Solidworks

Bend Radii and Mating Fillets

Move Face Feature in SolidWorks

Why We Use Fillets

Corner Treatment in SolidWorks (And Why You Shouldn't Use it In Your Design)

New and Improved Template Generator

Sketching Mating Fillets to Bend Radii

Adding Edge Radii & Chamfers to Your CNC Design

Adding Marking to your SolidWorks Design

Using the Trim Side Bends Feature inside SolidWorks

Minimum Center to Edge Distance for Fasteners

Converting Design Files to Sheet Metal

Describing Your Design Files

Proper Orientation of Closed Corners in SolidWorks

Transfer to New Enclosure

Notching and Tabbing for Part Alignment in SolidWorks

Save Time Opening Multi-Sheet Drawings in SolidWorks

r Pro Tip - How to use the Coordinates tool

Designing with Pre-Made Templates in SolidWorks

5 Common Sheet Metal Design Mistakes to Avoid

Mounting Parts in your Sheet Metal Assembly

Hole Fitment

Recreating a bracket in Protocase Designer

How to Detect Interference in your SolidWorks Assemblies

Sketch Constraints in SolidWorks

Countersink vs Counterbore

Why We Use Cold Metal Transfer Welding

Types of Welding

Tips for Water Resistance

Fasteners vs Welding in Custom Enclosures

Welding vs Rivets