Case Designer Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL & SETUP

Question	Answer
Does it have language options?	Currently English only, however some product data may be available in other languages.
Is there a Mac version?	Windows only for now.
Setup/installation requirements	• Windows 10 or newer (x64 only) • x64-based processor • 2Gb available disk space • 2Gb available memory • Internet connection (required for activation and updates)
Recommended hardware specifications	• Multi-core processor • 4Gb available memory • GPU processing power • SSD
Why are there company branded cases included?	Koppi Cases and MGM Cases were the case companies of Klaus Koppenhöfer, developer of the previous Case Designer software and Thomas Mostert, former Managing Director of the German Penn Elcom GmbH, before they started working for Penn Elcom. Both had major influence on the perception of the Case Designer and sample cases are a fitting place for an homage.
Do I need to uninstall for an update?	No, you can just install over the existing version (of the new Case Designer only).
What is the orientation of the case?	The 3D space of Case Designer uses the Z Axis pointing up. You can see this via the colored coordinate system on the bottom left in the 3D screen. You can also see the orientation on the 3D-navigation cube at the top right.
Where is the installer for the new Case Designer?	https://www.penn-elcom.com/case-designerdownload
Do I need a Penn Elcom account to try/buy Case Designer?	Yes. You will need to create an account at penn-elcom.com before you can purchase a Case Designer subscription or start the free trial. If you already have an account, please ensure you are logged in before adding any of the Case Designer subscriptions to your cart. If you do not have an account, you can create one for free at: https://www.penn-elcom.com/customer/account/create/

LICENSING & PREVIOUS CASE DESIGNER

Question	Answer
Can I import previously created cases from the old Case Designer?	No. The new Case Designer uses a different file structure and previous Case Designer files are not supported.
Will there be a non-subscription version?	No. Subscription only.
What are the different licenses available?	3 Tiers: 30 day free trial, monthly subscription, annual subscription.
Can you have multiple users per license?	No. Single seat for 1 (one) Windows device.
How do I cancel my subscription?	Simply sign in to your Penn Elcom account and navigate to the Account Dashboard. Click on Subscriptions in the left menu and then press the Cancel button next to your active subscription.
How long is the free trial and can it be extended?	The free trial is 30 calendar days, starting from the date of purchase (the date you completed the checkout on our website). You can only receive a free trial once per account and it cannot be extended.
When does the subscription start?	The billing cycle starts on the date of purchase. The monthly subscription billing cycle is every 30 calendar days from the date of purchase. The annual subscription billing cycle is 365 calendar days from the date of purchase. Information on your subscription can be found in the Account Dashboard of your Penn Elcom account under Subscriptions.
Does the free trial automatically continue into a paid subscription?	No. Trial licenses are a separate product, so you would need to purchase a subscription for a new license key. You can purchase a subscription before your trial expires.
What will happen to the previous Case Designer software?	The previous Case Designer will remain live upon the launch of the new software, however support for this version will be gradually reduced. All new licenses will be for the new Case Designer software, and all users will be encouraged to switch / moved across to the new software and payment plan gradually. If you have any questions, please contact: [email protected]

HARDWARE SUPPORT

Question	Answer
Does it support 3rd party products and parts?	Support for non-scalable parts only (dishes, locks, latches, handles). Custom extrusions/panels need to be added by Penn Elcom directly. Please contact: [email protected]
How do I add a logo plate?	There are instructions in the Manual PDF which can be found here. You will need a vector file of the logo scaled to the correct size and then extrude it in a CAD program. For assistance please contact: [email protected]
What file formats are supported?	Case Designer uses its own .cdd format but a designed case can also be exported as .dxf or .step file. Reports use .pdf, .xls & .doc and Snapshots are saved as .png.
Does Case Designer provide DXF output for CNC routing?	Yes, you can view and export the created case designs as DXF files.
Can I add non-Penn Elcom hardware?	To add custom hardware (non-scalable only for now) you will need a .step file. Upload this file in the catalog with a unique ID and description. It’s important that you also select the correct category and subcategory respectively as you won't see the part in the selection list otherwise. If you need help please contact support: [email protected]
Is there an automatic check for component compatibility?	No, there are no restrictions to the combinations you can select. We encourage our customers to ensure that all components used in their designs are compatible. While we strive for quality and reliability, we can’t guarantee the performance of a case if assembled with parts that do not align with our specifications or their intended use.

FEATURES

Question	Answer
Does it support interiors?	Basic foam or carpet as full sheets. Advancements in interiors will come with our ongoing future developments and releases.
Which cases can be created?	Range from simple trunk and lift lid cases to single, double or triple door rack cases. For special designs or shapes, please contact: [email protected]
How do I submit a feature request?	Please reach out to us either via [email protected] or preferably fill in the form here: https://www.penn-elcom.com/case-designer-feedback
Can I search for a part?	Yes, you can search for parts in the selection menus either via the search bar or in the “Base Material” menu by starting to type after selecting a dropdown.
Can parts be hidden from the selection list?	Yes, you can either hide parts on a per part basis in the catalog (changing the “Show in selection list” toggle) or do this in bulk by exporting the catalog (bottom left in catalog) and change the entries in the “showinselectionlist” column to false, save and reimport the table.
Can I change individual components such as corners, braces, panels etc?	Yes. In the “Base Material” menu you can right click on the part you want to change and select the new part from a list. This way you can place stackable corners or panels with different colours. Panels can only be changed to panels with the exact same thickness. The dropdown on the left is the master, if you make changes there, individual changes will be reverted.
Can a part be copied or mirrored?	Yes, once hardware has been placed on the case you can right click to access the mirror, copy and center options as well as a replacement list.
Can I see the part code of a used item?	Yes - Right click on the part to see its part code. Next to this is also a link to its catalog entry.
Can a part be moved to an exact position?	Yes. Double click on the part on the case to show it in 2D and enter exact values into the position fields.
Can I create NCase 1 or NCase 2?	Small Case systems such as NCase1 and NCase2 are not yet supported. These designs are being worked on and will be available soon. Customers who have subscribed to email marketing will be notified of new features and releases.
What are the minimum and maximum case dimensions?	The current maximum dimensions are: 5000 x 5000 x 3000mm / 196.85” x 196.85” x 118.11” and 2960mm / 116.54” for the lid. The current minimum dimensions are: 100mm-5000mm / 3.94”-196.85” for x and y and 80mm-3000mm / 3.15”-118.11” for z (z= pointing up). Minimum for the lid is 30mm-470mm / 1.18”-18.50” (depending on the other values).
Can I switch between mm and inches?	Yes, you can switch between metric or imperial in the settings menu. Just select your preference in Global Settings > Unit System and save using the bottom left disc icon.
How do I change the outer dimensions?	Case Designer always calculates the inner dimensions. These are the values you can enter. If you want to view the outer dimensions you can display the dimension arrows in the 3D space via the icon at the far right of the lower menu.
Why are entered case dimensions not updating the case preview?	Once you make changes to the measurements of the case, you need to manually trigger the recalculation via the refresh button to the right.
Can I add a custom interior?	The interior capabilities of Case Designer are currently limited. This will be improved upon in future releases. The current suggested workflow to add an interior would be to export the created case as a .step file and add the interior in a 3D CAD software such as Solidworks.
How can I select the opposite extrusion?	For now, the opposite edge extrusion is selected automatically. If you want the opposite part to change, just select the opposite site (for hybrid the opposite site has -R as suffix).
Can I delete the upper brace?	Yes - This is supported for the brace on the lid only. In the “Base Material” menu, right click on the brace and select the trash can icon to delete.
Can I open the case?	Yes. You can hide/show parts of the case depending on the selected template via the section icons on the bottom right of the 3D screen. Please note, if you unselect all, you wont see a case.
How do I capture a screenshot of a case?	On the bottom right in the 3D screen is a camera icon. With this you can capture what you see in the 3D view. This works at any stage of the build. The snapshot is automatically saved to the clipboard and into the Snapshots Folder in the CaseDesigner directory. There is also a snapshot report available which lets you export the currently opened case from all sides.
How do I rotate the case?	You can either rotate the case via the rotation button in the bottom tool bar in the 3D view, after which you can use the left mouse button to rotate. Or by click+drag of the 3D-navigation cube in the top right. For a rotation on a specific axis only, the ring below the 3D-navigation cube can be used.

HELP AND SUPPORT

Question	Answer
Who do I reach out to for help and support?	[email protected]
How do I report a bug or issue?	Please reach out to us either via [email protected] or preferably fill in the form here: https://www.penn-elcom.com/case-designer-feedback
How do I report a missing part?	Please reach out to us either via [email protected] or preferably fill in the form here: https://www.penn-elcom.com/case-designer-feedback
How do I submit a feature request?	Please reach out to us either via [email protected] or preferably fill in the form here: https://www.penn-elcom.com/case-designer-feedback
How do I move an active Case Designer subscription to a new computer?	Open the “Licensing/Account” tab on the right, and press revoke. This frees up your key for authentication on a new device.
Are there any resources or tutorials?	You can check out the sample cases which are included on install or get them here: Koppi Case MGM Case Manual Case More information is also in the Manual and there will be some video tutorials on Penn Elcom’s YouTube channel shortly after launch.
Do changes to settings apply to other devices?	No. Settings and files are saved locally and apply to the instance of the Case Designer only. You can export the settings via the Data Transfer tab in the settings menu and then import them via the same menu in Case Designer on the other device.
What if I cannot see my prices?	Prices are updated once every 24 hours. If you don't see your correct prices after this period has passed, please check if you see the correct Penn Elcom Customer ID in the Licensing/Account tab in the top right. If this is not correct, please contact support: [email protected] Please note that customer specific pricing is not available in the free trial.

Still need help? Contact our Case Designer support team here.