Pro/DESKTOP

Reference Guide
By
Samuel Chow
Table of Contents

1. Getting Start .......................................................................................................................... 3

1.1 Screen Layout ................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Creating Drawings .......................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Toolbars .......................................................................................................................... 5
2. Pro/DESKTOP Features ....................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Create Geometry using Extrude Profile Command ........................................................ 6
2.2 Create Geometry for Non-Enclosed Profile.................................................................... 8
2.3 Subtracting Material using Extrude Profile Command................................................... 9
2.4 Adding Features to the Existing Model (Round Edges, Chamfer Edges, Shell Solid,
Draft Faces)......................................................................................................................... 10
2.5 Project Profile Feature .................................................................................................. 12
2.6 Create Geometry using Revolve Feature ...................................................................... 12
2.7 Create Geometry using Sweep Feature......................................................................... 13
2.8 Create Geometry using Sweep Feature......................................................................... 15
2.9 Create Geometry using Loft Feature............................................................................. 16
3. Assembling Components .................................................................................................... 18
4. Shortcut Keys...................................................................................................................... 19
1. Getting Start
1.1 Screen Layout
To start Pro/DESKTOP: START→PROGRAMS→PTC PRO/DESKTOP
The layout of the screen will look like Figure 1.

Figure 1 Pro/DESKTOP screen layout

1.2 Creating Drawings

There are three types of drawing you can create with Pro/DESKTOP. They are 1) Design, 2)
Engineering Drawing, and 3) Photo Album.
This reference guide only covers the first types (i.e. Design ). Example of the three types of
file is shows in Figure 2.

Select ‘File’ at the top pull-down menu, clicks ‘New’ and ‘Design’ to begin.
Your screen should look like Figure 3.
‘Design’ file –3D ‘Engineering Drawing’ file –2D

‘Phone Album’ file –3D

Figure 2. Pro/DESKTOP file types

Figure 3 Screen layout for new section

1.3 Toolbars

Now, let’s get familiar with different toolbars and the associated tools.

1. At the very top of the screen, there is the standard ‘Window Toolbar’

2. The pull-down menu bar under the window toolbar is refers to ‘Pro/D Files Toolbar’
Window Toolbar

Pro/D Files Toolbar

3. Pro/D Files Icon Toolbar:

4. Update Button.

5. Object View Toolbar.

6. Feature Toolbar.

7. Selection Toolbar.

8. Drawing Toolbar.

9. History Browser.

10. Help Toolbar.

2. Pro/DESKTOP Features
2.1 Create Geometry using Extrude Profile Command

• Create the ‘cross-section’ of the 3D shape with the ‘Drawing tools’. The surface must
be enclosed.

• Hold the Shift key down to draw line parallel to the datum axis.

• Click the ‘Extrude Profile’ icon, , in the Feature Toolbar to extrude the cross-
sectional profile. Or select Feature→Extrude→Profile from the Pro/D Files Toolbar.
• Drag the yellow handle, located at the center of the profile, up to the desired distance,
or enter a value in the ‘Distance’ box in the ‘Extrude Profile’ window.

• Be careful of selecting the location of the shape with respect to the workplane. If you
are not sure, use the yellow handle instead of inputting the value. Pro/D will adjust
the setting automatically.

• Use the green handle, located at the side of the profile, to create an inward or outward
taper.
2.2 Create Geometry for Non-Enclosed Profile.

• The ‘Thin’ command in the Extrude Profile window can be used to extrude a non-
enclosed profile.

• Use the yellow handle to determine the height, the orange handle to determine the
thickness, and the green handle to add taper. Or input those values in the window.
2.3 Subtracting Material using Extrude Profile Command.

• Use the ‘Select Faces’ tool, , in the selection toolbar to select the surface. Notice
that the selected surface will turn red.

• Right click on the selected surface and select ‘New Sketch’

• Sketch on the selected surface and click the ‘Extrude Profile’ icon in the Feature
Toolbar.
• Make sure you select ‘Subtract material’ in the Extrude Profile window.
 • Drag the yellow handle downward to create the cavity. Remember you CANNOT
subtract something from nothing.
• The ‘Thin’ command also applies here.

2.4 Adding Features to the Existing Model (Round Edges, Chamfer Edges,
Shell Solid, Draft Faces)

• For the Round/Chamfer edges feature, use the ‘Select Edge’ tool, , in the in the
selection toolbar to select the edge.
• Select the ‘Round Edges’, , or ‘Chamfer Edges’, , tool in the Feature
Toolbar.
• Drag the yellow handle to the desired radius or setback, respectively. Or input the
value manually.
• Notice the number shows on the ‘edges button’, , located at the upper
left corner of the window. This number reflects the number of edges you have
selected.
• Multiple edges can be selected at the same time. Hold down the Shift key when
select edges.

• For the Shell Solid and the Draft Faces features, select surface(s) using the ‘Select
Faces’ tools.

• Select the ‘Shell Solid’, , or ‘Draft Faces’, , tool in the Feature Toolbar,
and drag the yellow handle to the desired thickness or angle, respectively.
2.5 Project Profile Feature

• Select a surface on the existing model and add a new sketch on the selected surface.
(Refers to section 2.3)
• It is a good practice to properly name workplane and sketch.
• Sketch profile(s)
• Click the ‘Project Profile’ icon, , in the Feature Toolbar.
• Select the proper setting

2.6 Create Geometry using Revolve Feature

• Create the ‘cross-section’ of the 3D

shape with the ‘Drawing tools’. The
surface must be enclosed.
• Draw a line that representing the axis
of revaluation on the same sketch
(workplane).
• Change the solid axis line to a
construction line. Right click on the
selected axis line and select ‘Toggle
Construction’. The axis line will then
change to an orange dotted line.
• Click on the ‘Revolve’ icon, , in the Feature toolbar.

• Type in the value for the revolving angle and click OK.

2.7 Create Geometry using Sweep Feature

• Create the ‘cross-section’ of the 3D shape with the ‘Drawing tools’. The surface must be
enclosed.
• Create a path (line) for the cross-section to sweep through. The workplane for the ‘path’
must be normal to the workplane for the cross-section. The starting segment of the path
MUST be normal to the cross-section.

Workplane for
Workplane for cross-section
path
 Cross
section Path

• Click on the ‘Sweep’ icon, , in the Feature toolbar.

• Make sure you select the correct profile and path. Click OK.
2.8 Create Geometry using Sweep Feature

• Create the ‘cross-section’ with the

‘Drawing tools’. The surface must be
enclosed.
• Create a construction line that
representing the axis of revaluation on
the same sketch (workplane). (Refers to
section 2.6).
• Select Feature→Sweep Profile→Along
Helix from the Pro/D Files Toolbar.

• Drag the yellow handle, located at the center of the cross-section, to the desired pitch. Or
input the value in the ‘Pitch’ box.
• Remember that the pitch value represented the number of complete revolution per unit
length.
2.9 Create Geometry using Loft Feature

• Create the first profile with the ‘Drawing

tools’. The surface must be enclosed.

• Create the second profile on a new workplane.

• From the Pro/D Files Toolbar, select Workplane→New Workplane.
• Input the value in the ‘Offset’ box, or use the yellow handle to drag the new workplane to
the desired distance.

• Create a new sketch on the new workplane and create the second profile for the 3D
shape.

Second Profile

First Profile

• Select both profiles and select Feature→Loft Though Profile at the Pro/D Files Toolbar.
• The ‘Lot Profiles’ window shows up and a loft line connected between the two profiles
are created.
• This loft line outlines the shapes of the lofted 3D shape.
• Use the yellow handle to manipulate the loft line manually if necessary.

• Click ‘OK’ to finish.

3. Assembling Components
There are five main ways to constrain one part with respected to the other one.

MATE: Make the selected surfaces

on two different components facing
each other and align on the same
plane.

Align: Make the selected surfaces

on two different components facing
at the same direction and align on the
same plane.

Offset: Make the selected surfaces

on two different components mate or
align with a specific offset.

Orient: Make the selected surfaces

on two different components facing
each other at a specific angle

Center Axes: Align the selected

cylindrical surfaces on two different
components.
4. Shortcut Keys
Arc Drawing Tool T Onto Workplane Shift + W
Autoscale Shift + A Open CTRL + O
Autoscale selection Shift + S Parts Select P
Circle Drawing Tool C Plan View Shift +P
Components Browser Shift + C Previous View ALT + Left Cursor
Configurations Alt + 3 Print CTRL + P
Constraints N Rectangle Drawing Tool R
Delete Line Segment D Right Elevation CTRL + R
Design Rules Alt + 2 Save CTRL + S
Dimension Constraint Z Select All CTRL + A
Duplicate CTRL + D Shaded View F10
Edges Select E Spline Drawing Tool B
Ellipse Drawing Tool I Straight Line S
Enhanced View F12 Toggle Construction CTRL + G
faces Select F Toggle Fix CTRL + F
Feature Browser Shift + E Toggle Reference CTRL + R
Features Select A Toggle Sketch Filled CTRL + Shift + F
Front Elevation Shift + N Toggle Sketch Rigid CTRL + Shift + R
Half Scale Shift + H Transparent View F11
Hide Other Sketches CTRL + H Trimetric View Shift + T
Isometric View Shift + I Tumble Shift + W
Lines Select L Undo CTRL + Z
Manipulate View Space Bar Update Design F5
New File CTRL + N Wireframe View F9
New Sketch CTRL + K Workplanes Browser Shift + Z
New Workplane CTRL + L Workplanes Select W
Next View ALT + Right Cursor Zoom In Shift + Z
Onto Face Shift + F