The DeskProto Free edition is completely free of charge
The DeskProto Free edition offers basic CAM functionality (without any time-limitation). Nevertheless all toolpath types for your CNC milling machine are available:- Vector machining based on a drawing in a DXF, EPS or AI file.
- Geometry machining based on the geometry in an STL file.
- Bitmap machining based on a picture in a bitmap file (BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, TIF).
Product Downloads Give Mastercam a try!Click here to request a copy of Mastercam Demo/Home Learning Edition (HLE). Log in at my.mastercam.com to find the. The following files can be downloaded by clicking on the link: Cam Calculator - Excel spreadsheet to convert between the four event angles and lobe separation, advance and duration. Degreeing Cam - Excel spreadsheet showing calculations to make when degreeing a cam profile. Free Cam provides a full set of features for creating professional video lessons and e-Learning presentations. Select a recording area You can make a recording of your entire screen, a selected area of the screen, or a single window. Profile Designer lets you design your own page and profile. No more waiting on slow Web sites, hunting down hex codes, or paging through pages and pages of old ugly layouts.
In the DeskProto Free edition you can create projects with one part and one operation
, using a limited number of parameters. No limitations in file size or complexity. This enables you to create many types of parts, and for many users it will be sufficient to satisfy their needs.
Functionality in the DeskProto Free Edition
The DeskProto Free Edition is in fact the same program as the other three editions, however offering only basic CAM functionality. So the number of available options has been reduced for the Free edition, all other functionality is identical for the Entry and Expert editions. In order to compare all editions you can use the Comparison table.The following functions are available in DeskProto Free (for one part and one operation):
- Profiling toolpaths over Vector data, with machining depth and free movement height
- Vector toolpath support tabs
- Parallel toolpaths over Geometry data
- Distance between the toolpaths, and stepsize along the toolpath for geometry machining
- Creating a 3D relief based on Bitmap data
- Scaling, mirroring and rotating all CAD data
- Defining and selecting cutters
- Speeds: feedrate and spindle speed.
In addition to the parameters for calculating toolpaths that were just mentioned, the Free edition includes all additional functionality to make it an easy to use program:
- Simulate what the resulting part will look like
- Estimate the machining time
- Choose a user-interface: wizard or dialog-based
(or create a project with the wizard and then fine-tune using the dialogs) - Freely add machine-definitions
- Configure your own postprocessor (if needed).
Free Video Cam Software
All DeskProto editions share the same easy-to-use interface. All editions can read each other's project files, so after upgrading to the a higher edition all projects created with the Free edition still can be opened.
Evaluating the other DeskProto editions
Logo Design software, free download
The DeskProto Free edition invites you to evaluate the three higher editions: Entry, Expert and Multi-Axis. These can be selected in the 'Edition select' dialog, shown above, that is displayed each time you start your DeskProto Free edition. You can use each of these editions in trial mode: a trial cross watermark will be visible, both on screen and in the resulting toolpaths. For a geometry and a bitmap relief this cross is a visible indent on the part (see the image above), when vector machining the toolpaths are simply interrupted (not present) below the trial cross.This trial use allows you to completely test the software, using your own CAD data and on your own machine, before deciding whether or not to buy a license for one of the higher editions.
DeskProto can be downloaded from this website: for all editions the same installation file is needed.
Manuals can be downloaded from the website as well (as PDF files).
Further see the Tutorial video's that show how to use the software.
As of 2014 we no longer support our multi-vendor version 4.4. Vendor specific versions are available below. MayTec version is the most current, 80/20 had not been updated since June 2013.
If you had previously installed Frame Designer, you may have to uninstall it through Control Panel prior to the installation of the versions below.
Release date: In active development | Release date: June 2013 (dev. frozen) |
| Old multi-vendor version 4.4 is deactivated due to its age and incompatibilities with current Windows versions | |
The following system requirements are needed to run FrameXpert Frame Designer on your computer.
- Windows 8/7/XP/Vista/2000/NT
- Intel or AMD CPU
- 1 Gb RAM
- 100 MB disk space
- Graphics card compatible with OpenGL 1.4, 512 MB RAM (NVIDIA 8600 series , ATI X1300)
- Internet connection 52 kbit/s or more
Release Notes:
Released 02-05-2012 ‐ 4.4
- Added 'Slot Accessory' tool. This feature gives access to additional parts and, in some cases, allows the user to replace the connectors with other entities.
- Added 'Door' tool to create panel or framed doors through interactive 'wizard' style dialog
- Added automatic creation and placement of fasteners
- Added parametrization menu tool to define and manipulate profile dimensions and relationships
- Added bug/suggestion submission interface.
- Added base plates to allow installation of casters and leveling feet onto the ends of rectangular and large square profiles.
- Added Edit->Group and Edit->Ungroup menu items to create and manage groups of extrusions
- Edit Connector tool now handles fasteners as well as profile connectors
- Slot Panel tool extended to handle under-defined frames
- Contour Mounted Panel tool now snaps to slot edges and profile edges
Released 22-01-2012 ‐ 4.3
- 'Stretch' and 'Rotate' tools were removed from the toolbox, these features are available by right-clicking the editable entity
- Profile length can now be edited by direct input in 'Properties' window
- Improved caster placement tool, implemented position hints and realistic offsets
- All documentation is now accessible through Get Bill of Materials link
- Panels are automatically split when maximum sheet size is exceeded in the drawing
- Design object can now be found and selected from the list accessible through (Edit->Select from Scene) menu item
- Added ability to add a comment to any object in the design, profile, panel, caster, etc.
- Improved Demo Player. Script can be stopped at any time with ability to edit the scene from any point in the demo. Mouse pointer is now shown in demo mode, and so are clicks and selected commands.
- Added tool to place slot covers on the T-slots that do not need to be open
- Missing connector warnings, orange stripe is displayed where profile connection was detected, but no connector was selected
- Shortcut to rotate the profile about it's axis, select the profile and press SPACE or G keyboard key
- Edit connectors tool was added to the toolbox, the tool allows to change the position and the type of the connector
- Complex connectors like oblique and miter are now visualized
- Improved interaction with document server, request number and progress are displayed, the local program is not forced to wait for the response.
- Realistic rendering (File->Export To->PNG) is now available to further help visualization. Render server runs in test mode and may not always be available.
Released 01-07-2011 ‐ 4.2.1
Release 4.2.1 addresses a few bugs that had slipped into our previous version. We thank our users who help us identify the problems and make our software better.
Released 28-06-2011 ‐ 4.2
1. Toolbox extended with 'Contour Panel' tool, allowing for creation of non-rectangular, complex panels
2. Rectangular Panel tool was added to quickly access simple panel drawing feature
3. Added wire meshes and their fasteners, available through panel 'Properties' dialog's 'Model' drop-down.
4. Implemented 'Edit Connectors' menu item to select connector type and position in accordance with vendor limitations
5. Documentation server rendering and level of detail have been improved
6. Properties dialog shows Parent-Child relationships of entities and related machining
7. Corner Pieces for 40 mm extrusions allow for cleaner designs
8. Added ability to view the design with vendor specific parts and connector positions
9. 'Submit design for review' button lets you send your design and comments for technical advice
10. 'Browse catalog' link lets you search vendor catalogs for additional parts and add them to your design (as Bill of Materials entries)
11. Extrusion library has been extended with new 40 mm 'smooth' profiles and 45 mm profile group.
Released 18-11-2010 ‐ 4.1.3
FEATURES:
1. Adaptive grid
2. Background documentation loading
3. Improved BOM and assembly documentation
4. Migrate to InstallShield
5. Connector error warnings
FIXED:
1. Problem with PDF reader
2. Mac OS 10.6 supporting
3. Installation problems on some computers
5. About 20 bugs
Released 26-10-2010 ‐ 4.1.2
FEATURES:
1. Improved assembly documentation
2. Native windows interface
3. Native mac os interface
FIXED:
1. About 20 bugs
2. Support of proxy
Released 06-10-2010 ‐ 4.1
FEATURES:
1. Polygonal panels
2. Slice angle snap
3. Improved Bill of Materials for maytec and 8020
4. Panel images in assembly documentation
5. New tutorial
6. Optimized size of pdf
7. Properties in context menu
8. Removed filtering of profiles by measurement
9. Measurements in preferences
10. Extended samples
FIXED:
1. Memory leaks
2. About 30 bugs
Released 09-09-2010 ‐ 4.0
Features:
1. Angle Profiles
2. Slice Profile Angle
3. Improve camera
4. New User Interface
5. Improve multi vendors supporting
6. Improve visualization
7. Bill of materials
8. Improve foot and caster tools
9. Improve update system
10. Imperial profiles
11. Fixed many of bugs
Released 06-08-2010 ‐ 3.1.2
Features:
1. Send to eBay button
2. UPS shipping
Fixed:
1. Grid unit value in imperial drawing
2. Too aggressive snaps
Released 16-07-2010 ‐ 3.1.1
1. Generate Bill of materials for version from 8020.framexpert.com
2. Add Camera View Control Hit
3. Fixed many of crashes
4. Fixed about 20 bugs
5. Show gif animation help in Mac OS X
Released 07-07-2010 ‐ 3.1
1. Supporting 8020 catalog
2. Improve design
3. Generate assembly documentation
4. Show surface reflection
5. New startup wizard
Released 08-05-2010 ‐ 3.0
1. Panel elements
2. New accessories: Feet
3. Inertial camera
4. New design
5. Update object palette
6. Progress operations
7. Rotate tool
8. Stretch tool
9. New move tool
10. Move in plane
11. Move with keyboard arrows
12. New camera Pan
13. Work using RDP
14. Interface style 'Heat'
15. New feet and roller algorithm
16. New samples
17. Bug Fixes
Released 21-04-2010 ‐ 2.7.1
FIXED: 1. Bug with multiple covers in the drawing. 2. Bug with catalog update.
Released 23-03-2010 ‐ 2.7
FEATURES:
1. New Payment Form
2. Optimize speed
3. More Preferences
4. Level and Mid snaps
5. New dimension arrows style
6. Transparent Man
7. Automatic updates
8. Buy button
Released 21-02-2010 ‐ 2.6
FEATURES:
1. Visualization of profile connections
2. Order processing
FIXED:
1. About 20 bugs
Released 05-02-2010 ‐ 2.5
FEATURES:
1. Change active profile with Space in paste and select
2. Snap to parallels in paste operation
3. Optimization documents generation
4. Order form
FIXED:
1. Move up profile after remove roller
2. Camera and View cube intersection
3. Snaps in edit length tools
4. Parallel snaps bug
Released 04-02-2010 ‐ 2.4
FEATURES:
1. Magnet snap
2. Parallels snap in paste
3. Snaps to planes in edit length tool
4. Autosave
Released 29-01-2010 ‐ 2.3
FEATURES
1. Many features in the 'Preference' dialog
2. Snaps to Parallels
3. Perfomance optimization
4. correct labels in inches
5. Fit To All button in the camera tool
6. Neighbors distance highlight
7. Addition shop
8. Order form
FIXED:
1. 3 critical bugs
2. Bug with 30x30 profile rendering documentation
Released 27-01-2010 ‐ 2.2
FEATURES
1. New design of the camera tool and view cube
2. Full rotation of the view cube in 3D
3. Snap to nearest profiles
4. Improve design of icons
5. New combobox for profile selection
6. Perfomance optimization
7. Realtime detection of profile intersections
FIXED:
1. Fatals with some display cards
2. Memory leaks
3. Fix scaling calculations in documentation rendering
Released 15-01-2010 ‐ 2.1
FEATURES:
1. More usability interface
2. Startup Master
3. New Icons
4. Buy button
5. Extend Main Menu
6. Input with keyboard in extrude tool
7. Copy/Paste operations
8. Box button
9. Select All tool
10. Copy with ctrl when object is selected
11. Swith between select and extrude modes with TAB key
FIXED:
1. Not always run in Windows XP
2. Bug in Roller tool
Released 30-12-2009 ‐ 2.0
FEATURES:
1. Improving the quality of render
2. Full optimization
3. Extent Extrude tool
4. More usability SNAPS.
5. Extent 'Draw In Plane' tool
6. 5-10 NEW usability features
7. Multipage zoom in documentation
8. Feedback form
9. Drawing units wizard
FIXED:
1. Installation on clean XP
2. 25-30 BUGS
Released 22-12-2009 ‐ 1.4
FEATURES:
1. New Toolbar
2. Extend Extrude tool
3. Add ruler to extrude tool
4. New Grid Button
5. More usable grip points
6. Highlight Profiles corners
7. Optimize speed
8. Remove object quick edit menu
9. 5-10 small features
FIXED:
1. Cover, Roller with Undo/Redo bugs
2. Snap to planes bug
3. 5-10 small bugs
Released 18-12-2009 ‐ 1.3
FEATURES:
1. Request assembly docs (Menu: Help->request).
2. Steering Wheel (Toolbar: Standard->Steering Wheel)
3. Сircled over the scene.
4. Workspace Switch (File->workspace).
5. Quick edit buttons.
6. Menu tools.
7. Extent Draw in Plane tool (Only in professional workspace).
8. Automatic zoom.
9. 5-10 small features
FIXED:
1. Less installation file size
2. Proxy support.
2. Fixed 10-15 bugs.
Released 18-12-2009 ‐ 1.2
FEATURES:
1. Request assembly docs (Menu: Help->request).
2. Steering Wheel (Toolbar: Standard->Steering Wheel)
3. Сircled over the scene.
4. Workspace Switch (File->workspace).
5. Quick edit buttons.
6. Menu tools.
7. Extent Draw in Plane tool (Only in professional workspace).
8. Automatic zoom.
9. 5-10 small features
FIXED:
1. Less installation file size
2. Proxy support.
2. Fixed 10-15 bugs.
Released 08-12-2009 ‐ 1.1
FEATURES:
1. Place covers button on the Draw Toolbar.
FIXED:
1. Unicode bug.
2. Minor bug in Draw Tool.
3. Desktop Icon in Windows Vista/Seven.
4. Small bug with place wheels.
Released 08-12-2009 ‐ 1.0
First release.