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3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

(OP)
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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

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.

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

(OP)
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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

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 (www.mcmaster.com) They've got models of many fasteners and other hardware.

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

(OP)
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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

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

Bradley

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

(OP)
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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

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

DSLee

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

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.

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

(OP)
"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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

Quote (Beggar):

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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

(OP)
"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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

Quote:

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.

Quote:

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.

Quote:

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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

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.

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

NHEngineer,
Is this a leigt copy of SW97plus? If so.....I think you can upgade it for a couple of grand though a VAR. Hope hope your boss can least cough up a couple of bucks. Just a thought.

Scott and CorBlimeyLimey,
Am I all wet on this one? Sounds like NHEngineer is struggling here. The poor chap (that ones for you CorBlimeyLimey).

macduff

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

When we skipped our SolidWorks upgrade for about 5-6 months, we where told that we had to pay back support fees. Our VAR worked a deal because we had budget hardships in our department for a while. The wait still cost us extra when we did restart support. Skipping support is not saving anything. I would think that it would be cheaper to purchase the SolidWorks Office Pro than all the labor hours put into work a rounds.

Bradley

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks


Bradley
A previous company I worked for had the same problem with their CAM software, although we were several years without an upgrade. They insisted we had to pay back-support, even though we hadn't used it. We told them to stick it where the sun don't shine ... we will go elsewhere & purchase a new copy or an alternative program, as the cost was geeting close to buying new anyway ... they soon recognized the error of their ways & relented. We got the upgrade for cost of one years support.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

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

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

I would recommend you upgrade to the latest version and also upgrade the seat to SW Office. SW Office Pro is everything in Office plus PDMworks. If you don't need PDMworks, don't get SW Office Pro, stay with SW Office.

If he is struggling then he needs to go through a tutorial. The only way to learn is to do it yourself or pay for training. There is no one out there that would train him on 97. He either needs to find some 97 Tutorial books or one of the old 3rd party published books on SW97. I think David Murpy wrote one of his first books in that year.

NHEngineer,

You might try looking online to see if someone has some old SW books. Also, you might try posting a new thread here asking to see if someone has some old tutorial books. I would take it offline after you get a contact since selling items on this website is prohibited.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
http://www.3dvisiontech.com
http://www.scottjbaugh.com

FAQ731-376

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

NHEngineer,
         Tear the office upside down looking for the CIMLOGIC Toolbox/SE v2.5 or 3, that might have been purchased with your SolidWorks.  If you can find it, but can not find the authorization code, you can plead with SolidWorks customer service to fax you whatever the old registration record might have been.
Unfortunately, most of what you can get now, will not support 97Plus file format.  Building what you can from the feature palette sample parts and adding your own design tables is probably the best approach.  
Come to the local users group meeting in Nashua on April, 27; and I will talk you through it.
http://www.designsmith-services.com/designposts/viewtopic.php?t=28
Otherwise you might try getting ACIS or Parasolid files from a free copy of Thomas Register PartSpec or something similar. It will be very difficult to find any downloads still supporting 97Plus native file format.

Your boss doesn't want to know what I would charge to recreate the 1000 Toolbox items and their million plus size and length configurations.  It might be worth getting a VoTech student in for a couple of nights a week to generate library files for you.  Many cheap bosses don't view labor costs the same way the see equipment or software purchases.  And the kids cost will look darn good next to my quote.
Of course, upgrading to SW Office 2004 would cost less than 1/10 of what this little project will burn up in labor and overhead.

DesignSmith

Ps. CIMLOGIC Toolbox/Pro for AS went off the market in February 2001 and is no longer produced.  SolidWorks Customer Service will help with providing old registration records, as long as the seats keep running.  But that is all.

DesignSmith
www.DesignSmith-Services.com

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

(OP)
[quote MacDuff]Is this a leigt copy of SW97plus? If so.....I think you can upgade it for a couple of grand though a VAR. Hope hope your boss can least cough up a couple of bucks. Just a thought.
Scott and CorBlimeyLimey,
Am I all wet on this one? Sounds like NHEngineer is struggling here. The poor chap (that ones for you CorBlimeyLimey).
macduff[/quoet]

MacDuff,
Yeah, it's a legit copy.  I've seen the CD.  He won't spend a dime on engineering.  I have to bring my stuff to Kinkos for plotting big drawings.  In a month or so, he could have bought a plotter with the Kinko's bill.  The cylinder took all morning but it came out swell and I learned a lot about SW.
David Lee

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

(OP)

Quote (SBaugh):

You might try looking online to see if someone has some old SW books. Also, you might try posting a new thread here asking to see if someone has some old tutorial books. I would take it offline after you get a contact since selling items on this website is prohibited.

I did the 97Plus tutorial.  I must be missing something though.  Although 4 hours for a cylinder may have been a bit excessive, it came out slick.  Is there a way I can post it here and have you guys critique it and tell me where I went wrong?
David Lee

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

(OP)

Quote (DesignSmith):

Otherwise you might try getting ACIS or Parasolid files from a free copy of Thomas Register PartSpec or something similar. It will be very difficult to find any downloads still supporting 97Plus native file format.

Can ACIS or ParaSolid files be converted to SW files?

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

NHEngineer & CBL,

I'm pretty sure 97 did have design tables.  We started with 97+ and set up our fastener library using tables.  However, I do not recommend setting them up the way we did.

We have one part for each type of fastener and table the sizes (diameter, thread pitch and length).  The problem with this method is that our most frequently used fastener (hex head bolt) has over 310 different configurations and the part file is over 2.5 MB.  Get a hundred of these in an assembly and you will see a major performance hit.

I would recommend tabling the length only, and making copies of that file to change the diameters.  Also look into Mate References which will allow you to drag the fastener directly to a hole, and all mates will be added automatically.  Great time saver!

Michelle

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

NHEng,

SolidWorks will read in ACIS or Parasolid files, but you will not get feature dimensions.  So you might import the longest screw you can and then use a cut feature and a design table to get all your various lengths.  The catch is that if you download an ACIS or Parasolid file from a vendor's website, you may have to be carefull to choose an ACIS version 97 Plus supported.  (the importers are upgraded nearly every release)  Look in the Help or in the File Save options to determine which versions of ACIS and Parasolid 97 Plus worked with.

DesignSmith
www.DesignSmith-Services.com

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

Michelle,
Mate References did not happen until SW 2003. We have to put every screw into our assemblies. This feature saved us thousand's of dollars.

Bradley

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

Bradley,

I just did a little research and mate references were added in SWx99 (I knew we were using them before 2003), but you could only have one.  I also found out that the feature pallet wasn't added until SWx98.

It looks like NHEng is out of luck for those two.  

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

Michelle,
Thanks, wish I would have known this back then. Could have saved even more time.

Bradley

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

SW Toolbox parts use Equations with the combination of a Access DB. I'm not saying build it like this, but I think Equations would work better than a DT would. I believe DT can not be saved in a Library feature. That's why I suggest using Equations.

NHEngineer,

You could honestly make those parts pretty quick, now adding a equations will come with practice. If you can't find the Cimlogic Toolbox, re-making the fasteners maybe your only option left.

As for posting files you will need  or find someone that is willing to share his\her Web space. Then they can post your file and place a link here for everyone to download your file(s).

Regards

Scott Baugh, CSWP
http://www.3dvisiontech.com
http://www.scottjbaugh.com

FAQ731-376

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

NHEng,
You mentioned that you had seen the disks.  Can you also find the box with the books?  The tutorial for 97+ was a book then instead of being online and should be in the box along with a user's guide.

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

NHEng,
   Without Feature Palette examples in 97 Plus, and most downloadable files supporting only newer SW versions, you are pretty much stuck with importing dumb Parasolid files wherever you can get them from or making your own.
If you want to do your own, you can at least learn from prior mistakes. I have a long tip about the subject posted:
http://www.designsmith-services.com/designposts/viewtopic.php?t=34
If you want further direct technique tips like that, you can email me off-line.

DesignSmith
www.DesignSmith-Services.com

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

(OP)

Quote:

MElam (Mechanical)    Apr 6, 2004
NHEng,
You mentioned that you had seen the disks.  Can you also find the box with the books?  The tutorial for 97+ was a book then instead of being online and should be in the box along with a user's guide.

There was only one CD in the owner's desk drawer.  I printed the User's Guide and the Tutorial while he was with a customer.  I returned the CD before he came back.  It wasn't in a box.  It wasn't even in a case.  It was in there with a bunch of other CD's.  I feel like a kid in high school doing stuff I'd get yelled at if the teacher came back and caught me.  This guy is a skinflint.

David Lee

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

(OP)

Quote:

DesignSmith (Mechanical)    Apr 6, 2004
NHEng,

SolidWorks will read in ACIS or Parasolid files, but you will not get feature dimensions.  So you might import the longest screw you can and then use a cut feature and a design table to get all your various lengths.  The catch is that if you download an ACIS or Parasolid file from a vendor's website, you may have to be carefull to choose an ACIS version 97 Plus supported.  (the importers are upgraded nearly every release)  Look in the Help or in the File Save options to determine which versions of ACIS and Parasolid 97 Plus worked with.

I can see that I've got a great deal to learn.  What do I look for on the Thomas Register WEB site?  Is it called PartSpec?

David Lee

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

NHEng,

Goto www.CADRegister.com (a Thomas Register site) and click on PartSpec.  You need to register and sign in, but it is free.  You can download from there, or you should be able to find a request form to get CDs in the mail.  Most of the content is 2D DXF, but there are few items that are 3D. (such as cylinders) I haven't used it in a long time, so I can't say which catalog will have good bolts and screws sort of hardware. But its free, and could be worth searching through.
Don't bother downloading 3D DXF files, stick to Parasolid or ACIS. If you can't get those, it may be time to make them yourself.

DesignSmith
www.DesignSmith-Services.com

RE: 3-D Fastener Library for Solidworks

NHEngineer:

Our local VAR (value-added reseller) offers free 3-hr intro classes one night per month. It's obviously for marketing and just barely skims the surface but if you've got somebody local doing the same, it would be a way to at least get a glimpse.

Granted, your software's much older and many features aren't present, but it might help you with some basic concepts of how to model parts and assemblies. It's a very different mind-set than with traditional CAD or drafting.

On the other hand, it's likely to frustrate you when you see what you don't have.

I feel for you. My boss is not much better than yours although he did ultimately agree to aquire the software. Now if I can only convince him to pop for some RAM I'll really be cruising.

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