Customizing Your Solidworks Screw Assembly: Resizing The Toolbox Screw

SOLIDWORKS is a 3D design solution with a range of applications, including engineering, staffing, and manufacturing. Its Toolbox feature allows users to select from a range of hardware components, such as nuts, bolts, and washers, to add to their designs. However, users sometimes encounter issues with the size of these toolbox components, which can be caused by various factors, including the Toolbox settings, the Toolbox database, or the specific hardware selected. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind incorrect toolbox sizing and provide step-by-step instructions on how to change the size of a toolbox screw in an assembly.

Customising Toolbox standards

SOLIDWORKS is a 3D design software with a comprehensive set of engineering tools. The software allows users to customise Toolbox standards by modifying and adding custom sizes to specific fasteners. This can be done by opening SOLIDWORKS and navigating to Tools > Options > System Options tab > Hole Wizard/Toolbox.

From there, users can click on the 'Configure' button to bring up the Toolbox Settings. Here, you can choose to 'Customize Your Hardware'. You have the option to customise the existing Toolbox standards or create a copy of a standard and rename it for a separate customised standard.

To customise, select the Standard, Type, and Fastener you wish to modify. You will need to add data to three areas: Size, Length, and Thread Data. To add a new size, select 'Size' and click the '+' button, adding the required size. You can add as many lengths as needed and can have multiple instances of the same length but with different thread lengths. The thread length must be equal to or less than the overall length. Select 'Length' and click the '+' button to add each length.

Finally, scroll down to find the sizes you've added and verify the options available in the "Thread Display" in the Standard Properties. Click 'Save' to update the Toolbox database. Now, you can select your custom size when adding the Toolbox component to an assembly.

Editing Toolbox components

To begin editing a Toolbox component, right-click on the component in the feature tree and select "Edit Toolbox Component". This will allow you to change various parameters, such as size, length, and type. You can also add new sizes by clicking the '+' button and providing the required data. It is important to verify the required sizes before adding them.

If you need a length or option that is not available in the default Toolbox settings, you can customise the existing standards or create a copy with a new name. This can be done by going to "Tools" > "Options" > "System Options" > "Hole Wizard/Toolbox" > "Configure" > "2. Customize Your Hardware". Here, you can select the standard, type, and fastener you want to customise.

Additionally, SOLIDWORKS users can add custom properties to any Toolbox component. This allows companies to track unique data such as manufacturer, ordering information, or component cost. To add these data fields, create a custom property for each piece of information you want to track. These properties are not enabled by default and must be enabled for each piece of hardware.

When editing Toolbox components, it is important to consider the location of the Toolbox. It can be stored on a network or locally. If you intend to customise the Toolbox with part numbers, custom properties, or hardware restrictions, a network-based Toolbox may be beneficial. However, this requires all users to have constant access to the network location with low latency to avoid performance issues.

Another aspect to consider is the creation of parts or configurations when using hardware with new configurations. SOLIDWORKS offers three options: Create Configurations, Create Parts, and Create Parts on CTRL-Drag. The chosen option will determine the file size and performance in large assemblies.

Furthermore, users can manually add unique components to the Toolbox by prefabricating all possible configurations and inputting relevant custom properties. Once this is done, launch the Toolbox settings program and navigate to the desired folder. Right-click and choose "Add File" to add the component and define custom properties.

In conclusion, editing Toolbox components in SOLIDWORKS provides users with the flexibility to customise hardware according to their specific requirements. By following the steps outlined above, users can modify sizes, add custom properties, and configure various settings to suit their needs.

Fixing incorrectly-sized Toolbox hardware

If you've opened an assembly and found that the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox hardware is the wrong size, there are a few reasons why this might be happening. The Toolbox works through a database that governs what sizes are available for each piece of hardware. When a specific size of hardware is inserted into an assembly, the Toolbox Database generates either a new configuration or new part, depending on your Toolbox settings. If you are missing sizes, you should contact the Support team. However, if you need a quick fix, try the following:

Sync your Toolbox with your coworkers

Use a network location to store the SOLIDWORKS Data folder. First, move the appropriate network folder or create it when installing SOLIDWORKS. Then, make sure SOLIDWORKS is pointed to it in System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox > Hole Wizard and Toolbox folder.

Generate the sizes you need

If you open an assembly with the wrong sizes, right-click a component and select "Edit the Toolbox components". Choose the correct sizes for each of the incorrectly-sized types of hardware. Do not save the assembly. Reload or close and reopen the assembly, and the correct sizes should appear. These sizes will also be available for future assemblies.

Receiving an assembly from someone you don't share a toolbox with

Have the other user check the "Include Toolbox components" checkbox in the Pack and Go for the assembly. Then, before opening the assembly, go to System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox on your machine and uncheck the option "Make this folder the default search location for Toolbox components".

Generate all possible sizes for specific pieces of hardware

Through the Toolbox Settings, all possible parts/configurations for hardware can be created. This is done per individual types of hardware and can generate many parts/configurations, often in the thousands. If you are using configurations, this will dramatically increase the file size of the part. The Toolbox Settings can be found in System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox > Configure.

Adding custom Toolbox component sizes

The SOLIDWORKS Toolbox is a database that allows for the quick addition of fasteners and other hardware to a SOLIDWORKS Assembly. The Toolbox can be customised to create new sizes not included in the database, specify different materials for items, or add custom properties.

To get started, open SOLIDWORKS and go to Tools > Options > System Options tab > Hole Wizard/Toolbox. Then click on the ‘Configure‘ button to bring up the Toolbox Settings. Choose ‘2. Customize Your Hardware’. You can then either customise the existing Toolbox standards or make a copy of an entire standard and rename it so you have a separate customised standard.

Next, select the Standard, Type and Fastener you wish to customise. You will need to add data to three areas: Size, Length and Thread Data. To add a new size, select ‘Size’ and click the ‘+’ button. You can add as many lengths as needed and can have multiple instances of the same length but different thread lengths. The thread length must be equal to or less than the overall length. Select ‘Length’ and click the ‘+’ button to add each length.

In the Thread Data section, search to see if the thread data is available for your size. If not, click the ‘+’ button to add the data for your custom size.

Once you have added all the relevant data to each of the properties sections, the database needs to be updated by saving the changes. Now the custom sizes have been added to the list and can be selected when adding the Toolbox component to an assembly.

It is also possible to add custom properties to any toolbox component. This allows companies to track data that is unique to their organisation, such as manufacturer, ordering information, or component cost. To do this, create a custom property for each piece of information that the user would like to track.

Replacing Toolbox components

To replace Toolbox components in SOLIDWORKS, follow these steps:

• Open SOLIDWORKS and go to Tools > Options > System Options tab > Hole Wizard/Toolbox.
• Click on the “Configure” button to access the Toolbox Settings.
• Choose "2. Customize Your Hardware". Here, you have the option to either customize the existing Toolbox standards or create a copy of a standard and rename it for a separate customized standard.
• Select the Standard, Type, and Fastener you want to customize. You will need to add information to three areas: Size, Length, and Thread Data.
• To add a new size, select 'Size' and click the '+' button. Enter the required size.
• You can add as many lengths as needed. Multiple instances of the same length with different thread lengths are possible. Ensure that the thread length is equal to or less than the overall length. Click the '+' button under 'Length' to add each length.
• If there is no thread data available for your size, click the '+' button to add the necessary data for your custom size.
• Scroll down to find the sizes you've added. You can now select your custom size when adding the Toolbox component to an assembly.
• Click "Save" to update the Toolbox database.

If you encounter incorrectly sized Toolbox components, such as gigantic bolts, washers, or nuts, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take:

• Sync your Toolbox with coworkers by using a network location to store the SOLIDWORKS Data folder. Ensure that SOLIDWORKS is pointed to this location in System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox > Hole Wizard and Toolbox folder.
• If you open an assembly with the wrong sizes, right-click a component, select "Edit Toolbox Components", and choose the correct sizes for each type of hardware. Do not save the assembly. Instead, reload or reopen it to see the correct sizes, which will also be available for future assemblies.
• If you receive an assembly from someone who does not share a toolbox with you, ask them to check the "Include Toolbox Components" checkbox in the Pack and Go for the assembly. Before opening this assembly on your machine, go to System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox and uncheck the option "Make this folder the default search location for Toolbox components".
• Generate all possible sizes for specific hardware pieces through the Toolbox Settings. This can be done per individual hardware type and may generate a large number of parts/configurations.

Frequently asked questions