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How to use DeskProto: a quick start guide

Some DeskProto basics

The function of this QUICK START text is to get you started without reading the manual. It is meant to explain the basic ideas of DeskProto, and you will need this information to be able to understand what is happening. Obviously it is better to use the Tutorial book: we advise to read and execute lessons one and two before you start making your own prototypes. Also try the instruction videos on this website for on-line instructions.

In addition DeskProto's Help menu offers valuable on-line help (and contains this quick-start help page as well).
Anyway, new users are advised to first use the DeskProto Wizard, that will guide them through all the steps needed to generate an NC toolpath file using their own geometry.



The DeskProto screen contains standard items like the title bar (top line), menu bar, toolbar (the row of buttons below the menu) and status bar (bottom line). The center area is divided into three tiles: the large View window on the right, and the windows Project Tree and NC files on the left. All these elements will be explained later on in this Tutorial.
You can always use the Help function for extra information on any part of the screen.

The above screenshot shows the Windows version of DeskProto (most screenshots on this website do).
The MacOS version has an extra menu choice: the DeskProto menu, on the left side of File. This is conform the MacOS standard and won’t confuse any Apple user.
The Linux version has the same menu as the Windows version.

For now it is important to know that within this screen two different user-interfaces exist:
the wizard-based interface and the dialog-based interface.

The Wizard interface of the DeskProto CAM software

New users are advised to use the DeskProto Wizards, that will guide them through all the steps needed to generate an NC toolpath file using their own geometry. The illustration above shows two typical wizard pages.
A wizard will set the same parameters as available in the dialogs, only now they are presented in a sequential series of screens, and only the most important parameters are available. You can find the wizards on the Start Screen or via the File menu.

The Dialog-based interface of the DeskProto CAM software

When using the Dialog-based interface you need to know where to find the parameters. In this interface you can define parameters on three levels:

1. Project parameters include the name of the geometry file and the number of parts that you want to use to create this prototype.
2. Part parameters define What will be machined. These set size, orientation, position and alike.
Within each Part you can use one or more milling Operations.
3. Operation parameters define How the part will be machined.
These are in fact the only real "milling parameters". Three different types of operation are available: the Vector Operation, the Geometry Operation and the Bitmap Operation.

The Project is the central concept of DeskProto. All information about a prototype is stored in a Project file, which is the file to be opened when starting and to be saved when finishing. The project file contains all milling parameters and viewing parameters, and also contains a reference to the geometry file (although it does not contain the geometry itself).



You can imagine the tree-like structure of a project, which is displayed in the Project Tree at the left side of the DeskProto screen: see the figure above. This sample Project Bottle consists of one Part called Half bottle and three Operations called Roughing, Finishing and Contour. Each operation line includes a lamp icon that you can switch on and off to make the operation (in)visible. The project will be named when saving it for the first time, until then the tree displays the name Untitled.

Note: to open your CAD file in DeskProto you must use "Load Vector file", "Load Geometry file" or "Load Bitmap file" in the File menu (if needed start a New project first). For each of these three options a toolbar button is present. You cannot use OPEN, as you do not yet have a DeskProto project file for this new project. The CAD-data will be used for all Parts and for all Operations.

The Menu bar of the DeskProto CAM software

Any function in DeskProto can be reached using the pull-down menus (or using the buttons on the toolbar, or by double clicking in the Tree). The most important menus are described below:

• The VIEW Menu offers the opportunity to change the way you look at the geometry. To reach the View commands in most cases you will use the buttons.
• In the PARAMETERS Menu you can edit all geometry and milling parameters. For simple prototyping it is sufficient to edit only the Front Tab screen for both Part and Operation: the other Tabs can come later (all parameters have suitable default values).
• The CREATE Menu is the most important; this is where you can start the milling calculations and write the NC program file.

Note: four different editions of DeskProto are available: Free, Entry, Expert and Multi-axis. The first three editions contain subsets of the available Part and Operation parameters. For the rest the editions are equal.

The DeskProto Sample files

The installation of the DeskProto CAM software includes a number of nice sample files. They include vector files (beer tray), geometry files (picture frame) and bitmap files, The easiest way to find these is via the Start screen that will automatically pop up after starting DeskProto (if not you can find it via the File menu). In this start screen you can open a sample project, or you can check "Use samples folder" when creating a new project.

Start with opening a sample project file. After loading the CAD-data a drawing will be created. Experiment with the thumb-wheels and with the mouse to rotate, zoom and pan. To calculate a toolpath use the CREATE-menu.

With the Free edition you can produce complete NC program files as long as you like, without the need to pay for a license. In case you need more functionality you can test the other editions in "trial mode": this is sufficient to evaluate whether DeskProto indeed works for your application and on your milling machine. In case of problems with the machine you can use the configurable postprocessor to solve them.