3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

[nhengineer]

Greetings,

Does anyone know of a threaded fastener library for Solidworks available on the Internet. Freeware would be good. Shareware would be OK.

Regards,
DSLee

 

[macduff]

Are you unhappy with the toolbox supplied by SW? Your best bet is to copy the toolbox parts that you desire and rename them accordingly. You might want search the past threads on fasteners for more information.

 

[SBaugh]

There are fasteners at the SW model library, plus there maybe some at 3D content Central.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[nhengineer]

Thanks for the responses. I'm new to Solidworks (and this job). The box I've been assigned to has Solidworks 97Plus. Nobody here know how to run the software. I've been here a month and all I know is what I've learned from the tutorial. I didn't enen know that there is a SW model library or toolbox. Would someone be so kind as to tell me where to find them or what to look for.

What is 3D content Central.

My CAD experience up to now have been with AutoCAD and VisualCADD.

Best regards,
David Lee

 

[testy]

http://www.cadalog.com

Cheap and fairly extensive.

Ray Havermahl
Independent Engineering Labs

http://www.ielinc.com

 

[Beggar]

SW toolbox is an ancillary package shipped with SolidWorks Professional. If it's installaed you should have a tab it in your assembly browser.

The model library/content central are available through the SWX website. However, I'm not sure you can get at them if you don't have a subscription which I'm guessing you don't since you're running 97.

Check out McMaster-Carr (

http://www.mcmaster.com)

They've got models of many fasteners and other hardware.

 

[nhengineer]

Thanks to both. I've found SW97P to be fairly easy to learn and quite powerful but I don't get much help from the error messages. I drew a .750-10 hex nut with not problem at all but I just couldn't get the top a bottom corner radii. The nut looks acceptable to most here except me. I'll try McMaster.

Thanks again,
DSLee

 

[Standing]

NHEngineer,
Are you going to get SolidWorks Pro 2004 SP3?

Bradley

 

[nhengineer]

Bradley,

Not unless I buy it myself. The owner bought SW97Plus years ago and could never figure out how to drive it. He's as tight as the paper on the wall. We even have to pay for our own the coffee. Being the owner of a small business doesn't necessarily mean you have an IQ above your body temperature.... ROOM temperature even.

DSLee

 

[nhengineer]

McMaster's 3-D library can't be read by my version os SW. I'll try cadalod.com.

DSLee

 

[ctopher]

I worked at a company with an owner like that...I didn't last long. You have to spend money to make money. Show your boss you can not download parts with your current version and you need an upgrade. Good luck.

 

[Standing]

DSLee,
My heart goes out to you. You have a big challenge ahead of you. You do not have PDM, ToolBox, automate mating of hardware, and tech support, nor upgrades. I bet that he would upgrade if you could get SolidWorks to work for him. SolidWorks 2004 SP3 is so much better now, than SolidWorks 97.
Start with what you have, create templates, automatically fill in title block and BOM’s. Do not cheat and use every tool that SolidWorks 97 has to offer.
How many people are there in your company? Are others using some other type of CAD?


Bradley

 

[breese]

DSLee,
CHeck out EMT software, Bellingham,WA...look for Solid Mech

 

[Standing]

DSLee,
What I would suggest about the hardware is to model the smallest screw that you use, say a 6-32 X 1/4. Copy that screw, change the description and length to next screw say 6-32 X 3/8. Continue with all screws you use changing the description, diameter and length. The reason I say this is because you are not using ToolBox. Then if for some unforeseen reason you want to replace an 8-32 x ½ with a 10-24 X ¾, your mates do not have to be remated.

Bradley

 

[nhengineer]

"How many people are there in your company? Are others using some other type of CAD? -Bradley"

Bradley; Let me count - the receptionest, the GM, the owner, me and five shop grunts. The owner has AutoSwindle light and he can't drive that either. I use my own VisualCADD for 2-D.

"What I would suggest about the hardware is to model the smallest screw that you use, say a 6-32 X 1/4. Copy that screw, change the description and length to next screw say 6-32 X 3/8. Continue with all screws you use changing the description, diameter and length. The reason I say this is because you are not using ToolBox. Then if for some unforeseen reason you want to replace an 8-32 x ½ with a 10-24 X ¾, your mates do not have to be remated."

What I've done so far is to use my symbol library from VisualCADD, save the fastener as a DXF, copy the DXF to SW and go from there. Yeah, I know it's cumbersome but it's all I can do think of to do right now. I'll be damned if I'm going to buy software for that cheapskate. He told me when he hired me that he didn't think any CAD was worth the money and he's only making CAD drawings because his best customer wants it.

Regards,
David Lee

 

[ctopher]

Remember Titanic? Get on the first life boat before it sinks!!

 

[SBaugh]

SW toolbox is an ancillary package shipped with SolidWorks Professional.

Today SW04 - Toolbox is shipped with SW Office and Office Pro, not just Pro.

Back in SW97 I think Cimlogic was the company making Toolbox (before SW bought them up). If you go to Tools\Add-ins do you see Toolbox or Cimlogic in your add-ins if you do then all you need to do is check mark it. If not then you maybe stuck to building your own Database. If that's the case you could build them and place them in your Feature Palaette parts and drop them in your assemblies as needed.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[nhengineer]

"Today SW04 - Toolbox is shipped with SW Office and Office Pro, not just Pro.
Back in SW97 I think Cimlogic was the company making Toolbox (before SW bought them up). If you go to Tools\Add-ins do you see Toolbox or Cimlogic in your add-ins if you do then all you need to do is check mark it. If not then you maybe stuck to building your own Database. If that's the case you could build them and place them in your Feature Palaette parts and drop them in your assemblies as needed.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP"

Scott,
That was going to be my next question. Once I have a fastener as a part, how do I use it other places? I have a great deal to learn about SW. It took me all morining to draw a cylinder (hydraulic). Didn't Cimlogic make a fastener library for AutoSwinble too?
Regards,
David Lee

 

[SBaugh]

Once I have a fastener as a part, how do I use it other places?

You need to read in the help on Library features.

You need to only save the part as "library feature". Change the save as type to get this option. C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\data\palette parts - is the location you would want to save it (Your path location may differ from mine). You will probably want to make yourself a new directory.

It took me all morining to draw a cylinder (hydraulic).

If it took you that long then you need to go through the online tutorial - Help\Online Tutorial. If it is not available in 97, then you should have some tutorials laying around somewhere. find them and go through them.

Didn't Cimlogic make a fastener library for AutoSwinble too?

It's been so long since I saw Cimlogic I couldn't tell you.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

97 ??? ... jeez, & I thought I had it bad with the I work for.

Did SW97 have Design Tables? If so I recommend using them to create a range of parts (configurations). As others have said make one model of each type of standard hardware you use & then control the variable dimensions (eg. the length of a screw) from the DT. You will have to read the Help files for using DT's (if it's included). Save all your standard hardware in a "Library" folder seperate from your working jobs folder so that they are easier to find the next time you need to reference a part.

If you send me your email address (see my profile) I will send you a couple of things that you will be able to copy & modify to suit your needs.

Like a couple of others in this thread have said ... I would seriously look for another job with an employer who has the sense to recognize the benefits of CAD.

Good luck.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.