Hole Callouts 9

[mncad]

Is it possible to force SW2004 to add information to the hole callouts? For example, on tap drill sizes I would like it to automatically add either the Letter or Number size of the drill so it would read something like "0.257 (F)". Can that be done?

Thanks,
mncad

 

[SBaugh]

Check out the Calloutformat.txt - C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\lang\english

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[DesignSmith]

MnCAD,

You can edit the C:\Program Files\SolidWorks\lang\english\calloutformat.txt file and use the <hw-fstsize> variable to get what you want.
For instance, the first entry in the PLAIN HOLES section of the file could be changed to:
HOLE-BLIND=;<MOD-DIAM> <hw-diam> (<hw-fstsize>) <HOLE-DEPTH> <hw-depth>
To give you the effect you want. Look at the header and footer of the calloutformat.txt for proper syntax and variable cross reference.
If you do not want to have the letter or number designation for the drills show on every hole, you can make the change on individual callouts using the Dimension property manager. Click on the callout, then click in the Dimension property manager where you want the size to appear in the dimension text. Below the dimension text is a [Variables] button, from that list choose &quot;Fastener Size&quot; (which means drill or screw size) and the <hw-fstsize> variable will be automatically added to your hole callout.
Note that the same techniques can be used to add other variables to hole callouts or to change items like the Thru versus Thru All designations added to callouts. Calloutformat_2.txt is a sample file that is included in SolidWorks to show what kinds of editing can be done.



DesignSmith

http://www.DesignSmith-Services.com

 

[Gigatt]

Is it possible to edit the number of pieces in hole callouts? I want to automatically put parenthesis around the value?
2X 5/16-18 UNC-2B becomes (2X)5/16-18 UNC-2b.
The command is <NUM_INST>. I thought I could put parenthesis around that command, but when I searched calloutformat.txt I cannot find it? Thanks in advance, GIGATT

 

[DesignSmith]

Gigatt,
Unfortunately, <NUM_INST> which was added with SW 2004, was done programatically, and not via the calloutformat.txt file. So you can not easily put parenthesis around it.

What you would have to do is to manually type them into the callout that the system generates, by means of the dimension property manager that pops up when you first create the callout.
Another approach might be copy and paste the callout values, with parenthesis, into a plain diameter dimension for that same hole, and then save that as a dimension favorite. The catch then, is that it would need to be done for every hole type that you want that style of callout.

DesignSmith

http://www.DesignSmith-Services.com

 

[badboggs]

DesignSmith,

I was looking through the calloutformat.txt file and I don't see where you can change the callout from THRU ALL to THRU. Am I missing something? I searched for All and ALL and didn't find anything.

Thanks,
Boggs

 

[DesignSmith]

Boggs,

<hw-thru> is the variable you are concerned about in the calloutformat.txt file.
As shown below, you can replace it with your own text.
COUNTERBORE-THRU=<MOD-DIAM> <hw-thruholedia> <hw-thru>;\
<HOLE-SPOT><MOD-DIAM> <hw-cbdia> <HOLE-DEPTH> <hw-cbdepth>
-----
COUNTERBORE-THRU=<MOD-DIAM> <hw-thruholedia> THRU;\
<HOLE-SPOT><MOD-DIAM> <hw-cbdia> <HOLE-DEPTH> <hw-cbdepth>
-----
If that is all you wanted to do, a sample file is already provided in your SolidWorks installation, calloutformat_2.txt, simply change the file names around to switch which file is active.

-------------
If you leave the existing variable in place, it changes the text in the callout depending on what you set as the end condition when you originally created the hole feature.

FYI,
DesignSmith

http://www.designsmith-services.com/designposts/viewforum.php?f=8

DesignSmith

http://www.DesignSmith-Services.com

 

[drawoh]

mncad,

Once, many years ago, a machinist showed me someone's drawing with the tap drill sizes listed, and he remarked that this was an insult. Machinists know what size tap drill to use, better than you or SolidWorks does.

If you are suspicious about a tapped hole someone has fabricated to your specifications, you need to run a thread gauge down it. If the go gauge goes in, and if the no-go gauge goes down no more than three threads, the thread is good. As far as you can tell. The no-go gauge tests the pitch diameter, only. You do not care about the tap drill diameter. The tables in the Machinery's Handbook vary this with the hole depth. A machinist might vary this for the material. Stricly speaking, you do not care how the machinist put the hole in. If he uses EDM, or a trained gerbil, the tap drill is irrelevant.

A thread specification like 8-32UNC-2B or M4X0.7-6H specifies the thread form and the tolerances. You have the accept/reject criteria you need.

I systematically delete the tap drill line when I use the SolidWorks hole callout.

JHG

 

[mncad]

drawoh,

That may be in some shops, but the machinists here like it called out so they only have to go retrieve the tap and tap drill they need, they don't have to waste time sorting thru the machinist handbook looking something up that can be easily called out on the print, especially since I was a machininst before my current CAD life and know all about the tap drill sizes.

mncad

 

[badboggs]

I systematically delete the tap drill line when I use the SolidWorks hole callout.**************

Designsmith.

What sort of a process would it be to make what drawoh says here happen automatically. Would it be possible to modify the calloutformat.txt file to remove this line. I hate having to delete the drill info each time I insert a hole callout. Would it be as simple as removing the top line from...

TAP-BLIND=<MOD-DIAM> <hw-tapdrldia> <HOLE-DEPTH> <hw-tapdrldepth>;\
<hw-threaddesc> - 2B <HOLE-DEPTH> <hw-threaddepth>

Thanks,
Boggs

 

[Standing]

mncad,
drawoh, is right on this one. I have been in design for 30 years and every machinist I have talked to in California does not want the tap drill size. My bosses do not want his drafters, designers, and engineers to take responsibility for the tap drill size anyway.
At the end, all I care about this the thread size went the part is done.


Bradley

 

[ctopher]

I never list tap drill size unless it has some kind of interference and I have to call out a different tap size drill than normal. If you call out tap size, some inpection depts will check for the tolerances. Best to be left off, unles different. The machinist knows what size to use.

 

[DesignSmith]

Boggs,

Yes, it can be that simple. The ;\ characters denote the line feed in each callout. Removing everything from the = up to and including the ;\ will stop the tap drill information from displaying.
If you edit the calloutformat.txt too much and get some blank callouts, the calloutformat_2.txt can serve as an effective backup for you.


DesignSmith

http://www.DesignSmith-Services.com

 

[Heckler]

ctopher,

I totally agree with you. If it's on the drawing it's an inspectable item. I believe if the machinist can not or do not want to figure it out.....then it should be done for them on a process sheet by a manufacturing engineer or process engineer. If I did that in my shop I would be hung from the rafters. With that said the machinist know better than trying to play engineer guessing at my design intent.



Best Regards,

Heckler

 

[Mandrake22]

The other side of this would be an example where a tapped hole may be placed through at least two parts of a weldment, after welding. The nearest "machinist" may be miles away. The person doing this job may be capable of drilling and tapping the hole in a perfectly acceptable manner but he may not have access to, or know how to read if he did, a tap drill chart. In this case the drill size is vitally important.
I used to subscribe to the theory that the basic thread data was sufficient but now feel that the more info the better. If the "machinist" is somehow offended by this he better learn to deal with it.

 

[Heckler]

One of the Fundamental Rules - Description of manufacturing methods should be avoided. The geometry should be described without expicitly defining the method of manufacture.


Best Regards,

Heckler

 

[drawoh]

Mandrake22,

Tapping through two welded pieces in the field sounds to me like a bad design idea. In your example, it sounds like the tap drill will be done with a hand drill. Who knows what size the hole will be?

Machinery's Handbooks are ubiquitious in the industry. If someone does not have one, or they do not know how to interpret the tables, I am not sure I want them fabricating my stuff.

JHG

 

[chancey]

Great thread! I haven’t been here in awhile but it seems there’s a new sheriff in town and his name is DesignSmith-Kudos. I to delete out the drill in the tap callout and would bet money if you did a survey most users would choose not to have it in. At the very least have it as an option. Besides, have you ever seen a Tool Room without a Tap-Drill chart or a Machinist toolbox without a pocket size chart? I to used to make chips.

 

[ctopher]

I 100% agree with Drawoh

 

[macduff]

Fellas,
Let me prove out drawoh's comment about the machinist being insulted.

Last month I was finishing up detail drawings on a hydraulic fuel pump design for Cessna. I had #8 Helical Coil callout with the pilot drill stated in the drawing note. Well, I copied and paste this from someone else’s drawing (why, I don't know) on a different program. Got a call from the supplier machining the part....He was stating how can I have a pilot drill for a #10 helical coil for a #8. I was embarrassed to no end. I told the supplier I would review the specification for the helical coil, and revise the print. He told me don't bother and just simply remove the pilot drill callout from the note all together. He said he did not need it, because the spec was called out and he would follow that. I said, "I thought I would be helping you out by calling out the pilot drill on the drawing" there was a pause on the phone....and he said "your not".

Here's another thought. Why do we keep repeating things that are all ready covered in specifications and books? If that info ever changes, we have to go make drawing changes. Do we really want to create more work for ourselves? I know that the drill sizes are pretty much not gonna change, but makes you think other things in design.

Regards,


Macduff
Meggitt Airdynamics Inc.
Dell Precision 370
SW2004 Pro SP4.1
XP Pro SP2.0
NIVIDA Quadro FX 1300