Toolbox Administration Overview

Understanding SOLIDWORKS
Toolbox Administration
SOLIDWORKS Toolbox includes a library of standard parts that is fully integrated with SOLIDWORKS.
Toolbox users select a standard and type of part and drag a Toolbox component into an assembly. As
Toolbox administrator, you can place the toolbox components in a central location on your network and
streamline Toolbox to include only parts that comply with your corporate manufacturing standards. You
can also control access to the Toolbox library to prevent users from changing the Toolbox components,
specify how component files are handled, and assign part numbers and other custom properties to
Toolbox components.

Who Administers Toolbox?

When you customize the Toolbox offerings to include only selected component sizes and standards, you
customize the hole sizes offered by the Hole Wizard and Smart Fastener offerings as well.

The Toolbox administrator manages the reusable CAD files in the SOLIDWORKS Design Library.

As administrator, you are familiar with the standards required by your organization, as well as which
components, such as nuts and bolts, your users require on a daily basis. In addition, you should know the
part number, description, and material required for each type of Toolbox component.

Specifying the Toolbox Folder Location

The Toolbox folder is the central location for the Toolbox components. The Toolbox folder must be
accessible to all users.

As Toolbox administrator, you decide where to locate the Toolbox folder on the network.
You can set the Toolbox folder location when you install Toolbox.

Streamlining Toolbox
By default, Toolbox includes more than 2000 component types of different sizes for 12 tool standards, as
well as other industry-specific content, resulting in millions of components.
As Toolbox administrator, you filter the default Toolbox offerings so that Toolbox users can access only
those components required by your organization. Trimming the size of Toolbox makes it more efficient.
Users spend less time searching for components or deciding which ones to use.

Specifying Component File Type

As Toolbox administrator, you decide how the different sizes of Toolbox component files are
defined in an assembly:
As configurations of a single part file
As separate part files for each size

Assigning Part Numbers

As Toolbox administrator, you can assign part numbers and other custom properties such as material to
Toolbox components before users reference them, making assembly design and BOM generation more
efficient. When you assign part numbers and properties in advance, users do not have to do this each
time they reference a Toolbox component.

Understanding Streamlining
Toolbox
As Toolbox administrator, you can streamline Toolbox by filtering out the default Toolbox components that
are not required by your organization.

Trimming the size of Toolbox makes it more efficient. Users spend less time searching for components or
deciding which ones to use.

When you customize the Toolbox offerings to include only selected component sizes and standards, you
customize the hole sizes offered by the Hole Wizard and Smart Fastener offerings as well.

You can select the standards and hardware for your Toolbox users based on your knowledge of the
hardware required by your organization. Exclude unnecessary standards and component types, and then
exclude unnecessary sizes.
You can filter out the default Toolbox hardware offerings by standard and by component
type from the Customize Hardware page of Toolbox Settings:
Exclude standards not used by your company.
Within a selected standard, exclude unnecessary component categories.
Within the component categories, exclude unnecessary component types.

You can filter out selected Toolbox hardware offerings by size from the Standard Properties section of
the Customize Hardware page of Toolbox Settings.

You can filter hole standards and types from the Hole Wizard page of Toolbox Settings.

Understanding Component File

Type Specification
As Toolbox administrator, you decide how Toolbox component files are defined in an assembly: as single
files with many configurations, or as new part files for each component size. You can configure Toolbox
component file options from the User Settings page of Toolbox Settings.

To open Toolbox Settings, click SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS Tools > Toolbox Settings from
the list of all programs on the Start menu of your computer.
To specify component file type, from Toolbox Settings, select 3 - Define User Settings.
You have three options for handling Toolbox component files:
With Create Configurations, (default), each component is represented by a single part file with
many configurations. With this option, a new configuration is added to a component file each time
users select a new size of the component. With use, the component file size increases, which
increases the assembly file size. For information on configurations, see SOLIDWORKS
Help: Configurations Overview.
With Create Parts, a new part is created for each instance of the Toolbox component, resulting in
many part files over time.
Create Parts on Ctrl-Drag creates a new configuration for each component file type unless a user
presses Ctrl + drags the component into the graphics area, in which case a new part file is
created.
Although file sizes differ, these options yield similar performance.

When you rely on a Product Data Management (PDM) system to manage document files, consult your
PDM documentation for guidance on whether to create new parts or configurations with each use of
component files.
Managing files can be difficult if you change how file types are defined once your users have
included Toolbox components in assemblies.

Working with Toolbox:

Customization
Toolbox administrators customize the Toolbox to ensure that their users can include Toolbox components
in their designs consistently and efficiently.
Toolbox administrators perform the following tasks:

Set up the Toolbox Specify the Toolbox folder location when you install Toolbox. Place the folder in a
location shared central location that is accessible to all Toolbox users.

Apply Toolbox To open Toolbox Settings, click SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
settings Tools > Toolbox Settings from the list of all programs on the Start menu of your
computer.

Streamline From the default Toolbox offerings on the Customize Hardware page of Toolbox
Toolbox standards Settings, select only the standards and components your organization requires.
and components

Specify part From the Customize Hardware page of Toolbox Settings, specify part numbers and
numbers and other custom properties for selected Toolbox components. To import a list of part
other custom numbers for all sizes of a selected type of Toolbox component, see Customizing
properties Parts with Part Numbers.

Define Toolbox From the User Settings page of Toolbox Settings, decide how Toolbox component
component file file types are defined.
types
Before you specify component file definition, familiarize yourself with
Configurations. See Configurations Overview in SOLIDWORKS Help.

From the Permissions page of Toolbox Settings, specify permissions for

Set permissions
access to administrative tasks.
If you move the Toolbox library after installation, you must also set some
operating system-specific access.

Select Hole Wizard From the Hole Wizard page of Toolbox Settings, select Hole Wizard holes.
holes

Set up default From the Hole Wizard page of Toolbox Settings, specify the default Smart Fastener
Smart Fasteners for standard Hole Wizard holes.

Set up Smart From the Smart Fasteners page of Toolbox Settings, specify Smart Fastener
Fasteners options, including smart fastener assignment for non-Hole Wizard holes.

Accessing Toolbox Customization

Customize Toolbox offerings from Toolbox Settings.

To open Toolbox Settings, click SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS Tools > Toolbox Settings from
the list of all programs on the Start menu of your computer.

Moving the Toolbox Library

You can migrate a standalone Toolbox library to a single shared library, or a shared library to
a SOLIDWORKS PDM vault.

Creating a Shared Toolbox from

Standalone
To create a multi-user environment from existing standalone installations:
1. Determine who has used SOLIDWORKS Toolbox most extensively.
2. Move the entire SOLIDWORKS Toolbox folder (for example, C:\SOLIDWORKS Data) from that
person's computer to a location on a Windows server system.
3. Share the new Toolbox folder:
a. Apply the Read-only Windows general attribute to all part files in the Browser folder,
which is located directly under the Toolbox folder.
b. From the Windows folder security properties, assign Full Control to the Toolbox folder for
all Toolbox users.
4. In SOLIDWORKS, click Options (Standard toolbar).
5. On the System Options tab, click Hole Wizard/Toolbox.
 6. For Hole Wizard and Toolbox folder, type or browse to the shared Toolbox folder (for
example, \\server\SOLIDWORKS Data). Specify a UNC path (recommended).
7. Click Configure and configure Toolbox as needed.
8. Click OK to close the System Options - Hole Wizard/Toolbox dialog box.
9. Migrate users to the shared Toolbox.

Migrating to a Shared Toolbox

A Toolbox administrator can migrate individual Toolbox installations to a shared Toolbox.
Users who migrate to the shared environment might have assembly documents that
reference local versions of the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox parts. Potential issues include:
A user's local SOLIDWORKS Toolbox parts might contain part configurations that do not exist in
the shared environment.
A user might have assigned part numbers and descriptions to local SOLIDWORKS Toolbox parts
that are different from the shared parts.

To migrate SOLIDWORKS files to a shared Toolbox:

1. Ensure that the existing seats in the shared environment and the seat that is migrating to the
shared environment have the same SOLIDWORKS and SOLIDWORKS Toolbox versions.
2. Instruct each user to point SOLIDWORKS to the shared Toolbox folder:
a. Click Options (Standard toolbar).
b. On the System Options tab, click Hole Wizard/Toolbox.
c. For Hole Wizard and Toolbox folder, type or browse to the shared Toolbox folder (for
example, \\server\SOLIDWORKS Data\). Specify a UNC path (recommended).
d. Click OK.
3. Rename the local SOLIDWORKS Toolbox parts folder.
Assembly documents that reference local SOLIDWORKS Toolbox parts now have broken
references. To fix broken references, users can browse for each part in the new shared Toolbox
location, or SOLIDWORKS can search for external references (recommended).
4. To configure SOLIDWORKS to search for external references, instruct each user to do the
following:
a. Click Options (Standard toolbar).
b. On the System Options tab, in the left pane, click External References.
c. Select Search file locations for external references.
d. In the left pane, click File Locations.
e. For Show folders for, select Referenced Documents, click Add, then browse to the shared
location of the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox parts.
f. Click OK.
g. Open and save each assembly document that used local referenced parts.
h. After updating all assembly documents, clear Search file locations for external
references.
5. Back up and delete the local SOLIDWORKS Toolbox parts folder.

Migrating to a SOLIDWORKS
PDM Vault
SOLIDWORKS PDM can manage the Toolbox library so that all data management operations are
performed for users automatically.
For information about using SOLIDWORKS PDM to manage Toolbox, including migrating your existing
Toolbox library to a SOLIDWORKS PDM vault, see the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration Guide.

Toolbox Administration Best

Practices
Follow these best practices when administering Toolbox.

Specify a common When you install Toolbox, point the Toolbox folder to a network location
location for the Toolbox accessible to all Toolbox users.
folder

Streamline Toolbox Reduce the number of Toolbox components to the extent possible to increase
offerings the efficiency of component use in your organization.

Specify Toolbox part Import part numbers for all Toolbox components before your users access
numbers Toolbox, so that BOMs reflect consistent part numbers.

Be familiar with Understand SOLIDWORKS Configurations before you decide how to specify
Configurations component files.

Address PDM Read the PDM documentation for how to If your PDM system
considerations specify component files. recommends you do so, deny
overwriting of read-only files.

Control Toolbox access Set permissions to prevent user access to

administrative tasks.

Distribute the Toolbox Define an administrative image that points to

configuration the Toolbox folder and distribute it to your
users.

Toolbox Administration
References
Use this reference to find help for the main Toolbox administration tasks.

How To References
Set the Toolbox root folder location at install or Hole Wizard/Toolbox Options
upgrade
Define an administrative image to deploy a single In the SOLIDWORKS Installation Help,
 How To References
SOLIDWORKS configuration to multiple clients see Deploying to Multiple Clients.
Filter Toolbox standards and components, Toolbox - Customize Hardware
excluding unnecessary components Understanding Streamlining Toolbox
Filtering Components by Size
Define custom properties such as the material for Custom Properties
selected components Custom Property Definition Dialog Box
Toolbox - Customize Hardware
Import component file part numbers Customizing Parts with Part Numbers
Set permissions on access to the Toolbox folder or Toolbox - Permissions
other administrative tasks
Set handling of read-only files Writing to read-only documents
Set Smart Fastener options Toolbox - Smart Fasteners
SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Overview
SOLIDWORKS Toolbox includes a library of standard parts that is fully integrated with SOLIDWORKS.
Select your standard and the type of part you want to insert, then drag the component into your assembly.
You can customize the Toolbox library of parts to include your company's standards, or to include those
parts that you refer to most frequently.

The Toolbox library contains a folder of master part files for supported standards along with component
size and configuration information. When you use a new component size in SOLIDWORKS, Toolbox
updates the master part file to record the configuration information or creates a part file for the size,
depending on your user preference.
Toolbox supports international standards, including: ANSI, AS, GB, BSI, CISC, DIN, GB, ISO,
IS, JIS, and KS. Toolbox includes the following hardware:

Bearings
Bolts
Cams
Gears
Jig bushings
Nuts
PEM inserts
Pins
The fasteners provided in Toolbox are approximate representations and do not include accurate
thread detail, which might make them inappropriate for certain analyses such as stress analysis.
Toolbox gears are representations for machine design purposes. They are not true involute gears
that you can use for manufacturing.
Rack gears must have fewer than 1000 teeth.
Additionally, Toolbox provides several engineering tools:
Beam calculator for determining the stress and deflection of a beam
 Bearing calculator for determining the capacity and life of a bearing
Grooves to add standard grooves to a cylindrical part
Structural steel cross-sections to add as a sketch to a part

Installation and Configuration

Installing Toolbox
You can install SOLIDWORKS Toolbox with SOLIDWORKS Premium or SOLIDWORKS Professional.

For details about installing Toolbox, see the SOLIDWORKS Installation and Administration Guide.
It is recommended that you install Toolbox data in a shared network location
or SOLIDWORKS PDM vault. By using a common location, all SOLIDWORKS users share a
consistent set of component information. Standalone Toolbox installations are recommended
only for single-user environments.

For details about managing Toolbox with SOLIDWORKS PDM, see the SOLIDWORKS
PDM Administration Tool Guide.

Activating the Toolbox Add-ins

Once installed, you must activate the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox add-ins.
Toolbox has two add-ins:
SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Utilities loads Beam Calculator, Bearing Calculator, and the tools for
creating cams, grooves, and structural steel.
SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Library loads the Toolbox configuration tool and the Toolbox Design
Library task pane, where you can access Toolbox components.

To activate Toolbox add-ins:

1. From the SOLIDWORKS menu, click Tools > Add-Ins .
2. In the Add-Ins dialog box, under Active Add-ins and Start Up, select SOLIDWORKS Toolbox
Utilities, SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Library, or both.
You can also activate the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Library add-in by clicking Add in now in the
Toolbox Design Library task pane.
3. Click OK.

Setting the Toolbox Root Folder

The SOLIDWORKS application must point to the Toolbox library.

By default, SOLIDWORKS points to the folder specified when Toolbox was installed. The Toolbox root
folder can be a local folder, a shared folder, or a SOLIDWORKS PDM vault folder.
Standalone installations are recommended only for single-user environments. For multiuser
environments, configure Toolbox to use a shared network location or a SOLIDWORKS
PDM vault.

To set the Toolbox root folder in SOLIDWORKS:

 1. In SOLIDWORKS, click Options (Standard toolbar).
2. In the System Options dialog box, click Hole Wizard/Toolbox.
If Toolbox is managed by SOLIDWORKS PDM and your administrator has configured Toolbox from
the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration tool, several prompts might appear:
If you have more than one local vault view and SOLIDWORKS PDM cannot determine
the Toolbox vault, you are prompted to select the Toolbox vault.
If you are not logged into the vault, you are prompted to log in.
If the current Hole Wizard and Toolbox folder setting in SOLIDWORKS does not match
the setting from the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration tool, you are prompted to change the
SOLIDWORKS setting. Click Yes.
3. For Hole Wizard and Toolbox folder, type or browse to the folder where the Toolbox library is
installed.
This folder contains the Browser and lang folders.
For standalone (single-user) Toolbox installations, specify a local
folder, c:\SOLIDWORKS Data by default.
For shared (multi-user) Toolbox installations, specify the shared network location as a
UNC path, for example, \\server\shared-folder.
For Toolbox installations managed by SOLIDWORKS PDM, specify the Toolbox vault
folder in your local vault view, for example, c:\VaultRoot\Toolbox.
4. To configure Toolbox, click Configure. For details, see Configuring Toolbox.
If you are using a shared Toolbox, your administrator should configure Toolbox.
5. To close the System Options - Hole Wizard/Toolbox dialog box, click OK.

Configuring Toolbox
Toolbox administrators use the Toolbox configuration tool to select and customize hardware, and to set
user preferences and permissions. The best practice is to configure Toolbox before using it.

To configure Toolbox:
1. From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings , or click Configure in the SOLIDWORKS System Options - Hole
Wizard/Toolbox dialog box.
2. If Toolbox is managed by SOLIDWORKS PDM, click Yes at the prompt to check out the Toolbox
folder.
If you click No or if you do not have permission to check out the Toolbox folder, you can view
Toolbox settings but you cannot save changes.
To configure Toolbox from Toolbox Settings when Toolbox is managed by SOLIDWORKS PDM,
Toolbox administrators must have the following SOLIDWORKS PDM folder permissions enabled:
Add or delete a folder
Add or rename a file
Check out file
Read file contents

3. To select Hole Wizard holes and to specify default smart fasteners for standard Hole Wizard
holes, click 1 - Hole Wizard.
 4. To select standards and hardware click 2 - Customize Your Hardware. After selecting the
hardware, you can select sizes or define custom properties and add part numbers.
To simplify Toolbox configuration, select only the standards and hardware that you use.

To reduce the number of configurations, select the hardware within each standard and clear unused
sizes and values.

For example, Hex Screw Grade AB ISO 4014 in the ISO standard has over 1000 configurations by
default. You can select the ISO standard fromToolbox Standards in the Toolbox Standards tree, and
from Bolts and Screws, select Hex Screw Grade AB ISO 4014. There are three standard properties
that determine the number of configurations: Size, Length, and Thread Display. The total number of
configurations is the product of the selected sizes, lengths, and thread display values. Selecting
sizes from M1.6 to M10, lengths of 30 or less, and a single thread display value, reduces the
number of configurations to fewer than 100.
5. To set Toolbox user preferences, click 3 - Define User Settings.
6. To password-protect Toolbox from unauthorized access and to set permissions for Toolbox
functions, click 4 - Set Permissions.
7. To specify other smart fastener preferences, including fasteners for non-Hole Wizard holes,
click 5 - Configure Smart Fasteners.
8. Click Save .
9. Click Close .

Welcome to Toolbox Setup

This page lets you access SOLIDWORKS Toolbox settings.

To display this page, do one of the following:

In SOLIDWORKS, click Tools > Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox > Configure .
From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .
When Toolbox is loaded and a document is open in SOLIDWORKS, click Toolbox > Configure.
If Toolbox is managed by SOLIDWORKS PDM, click Yes at the prompt to check out the
Toolbox folder. If you click No or if you do not have permission to check out the Toolbox
folder, you can view Toolbox settings but you cannot save changes.

Click a page in the list to begin configuring Toolbox.

Toolbar
Please Login Logs you in to Toolbox. If Toolbox is not password protected, the login
icon does not appear.
Save Saves changes to Toolbox data.
Main Menu Displays the Welcome to Toolbox Setup page.
1|2|3|4|5 Displays a Toolbox setup page.
Hole Wizard
Use the Hole Wizard page to configure Hole Wizard standards, types, and holes. You can also assign
smart fasteners for each standard hole type. To simplify configuration, select hole standards only for the
hardware that you use.

To access the Hole Wizard page:

From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .
Click 1 - Hole Wizard.
Navigate through standards using the left pane or by clicking folders in the right pane. You
can select or clear items in the right pane.
The first time you use this page, a tip covers the right pane. Click the tip to show the right
pane.

Left Pane
Under Hole Wizard Standards, the left pane lists standards, categories, and types:

Right Pane
To remove an item, clear the check box. Once you clear an item, it is disabled in the left and right panes
until you select it again.

To open a standard, category, or type, click a folder in the right pane. Click Back Up to navigate up one
level.

To define a copy of a hole standard, click Copy Standard . Click to delete selected user-defined
standards.

Standard Properties
Click a standard property name and select or clear values in the list on the right.

Hole properties

Global Property
Add New Size
Smart Fasteners
Smart Fastener Displays the smart fastener assigned to the selected
Hole Wizard standard.
Reassign Permits smart fastener reassignment for standard
Hole Wizard holes.
Reassigning Hole Wizard Smart
Fasteners
Copying standard Toolbox content from one folder to another does not affect smart fastener assignment.
For each hole type, you can reassign smart fasteners.
Smart fastener assignment is retained when you cut Toolbox content and paste it into
another Toolbox folder.

1. Click the 1 - Hole Wizard tab.

2. From the Hole Wizard tree, select hole type from a hole standard and category.

For example, expand the ANSI Inch folder and the Counterbore Hole folder, and select Heavy Hex
Bolt.

3. Click Reassign and select the target fastener.

Creating User-Defined Hole

Standards
You can create a user-defined hole standard by copying an existing standard.

To create a user-defined standard:

1. Click 1-Hole Wizard and select a standard in the left pane.
You cannot copy a user-defined standard.
2. Above the categories in right pane, click Copy Standard .
3. For Enter new standard name, type a name and click .
The new hole standard is created and an equivalent Toolbox standard populated with the copied
hardware is created.

Deleting User-Defined Hole

Standards
To delete a user-defined hole standard:
1. On the Hole Wizard page, select a user-defined standard in the left pane.
You can delete only user-defined hole standards.
 2. Above the categories in the right pane, click Delete Standard .
3. In the dialog box, select Delete associated part files? to delete part files on disk (or if managed
by SOLIDWORKS PDM, in the vault), and click OK.
If you do not select Delete associated part files?, the user-defined library cannot be accessed by
SOLIDWORKS or the Toolbox configuration tool, but its part files remain on disk or in the vault. You
can delete the part files manually.

Toolbox - Customize Hardware

Use the Customize Hardware page to select standards, categories, types, and components. At the
component level you can select component sizes, type property values, and type part numbers.
To simplify configuration, select only the hardware that you use.

Navigate through standards using the left pane or by clicking folders in the right pane.

To access the Customize Hardware page:

1. From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .
2. Click 2 - Customize Your Hardware.

To configure a particular type or component:

Right-click the folder or component in the SOLIDWORKS Design Library task pane and select Configure.

You customize hardware by selecting individual components and setting their property values.

To display a component:
Click a standard in the left pane and expand its categories and types, or click the folder icons in the right
pane. Under a type, select a component. The page shows the component icon, name, and the number of
possible configurations.
Reduce the number of configurations for a component by clearing sizes and configuration
values you do not use. As a result, you have fewer part numbers to enter and a smaller
Toolbox that is easier to use.

Left Pane
The Toolbox Standards tree in the left pane lists standards, categories, and types, in addition to the
custom folders and components you define.

You can right-click items in the left pane and perform the following on files in standards
folders, categories of standard folders, folders of types of components within a category, or
individual component files:
 Cut and paste files, retaining file names
Copy and paste files
Delete files
Insert new subfolders
Add new files

You can double-click file or folder names to rename them.

Right Pane
Only items that are selected in the right pane are included in your Toolbox. You can select or clear items
in the right pane.
To remove an item, clear the check box. Once you clear an item, it is disabled in the left and
right panes until you select it again.
If you delete an item or standard from the left pane it remains unavailable.

To open a standard, category, or type, click a folder in the right pane. Click Back Up to navigate up one
level.

To select or clear component sizes and edit component properties, select the individual component.

Standard Properties
Click a standard property name and select or clear values in the list on the right.

General Description. Names the component in the Toolbox Standards tree.

To rename a standard, modify the description.
Filename. Specifies the relative path to the master part for the selected component.

Use single Part Number per size, regardless of length is available for components
with editable length properties, such as structural steel. Select this option to assign
one part number for all lengths of a given size. Clear this option to assign a part
number to each length. When selected, the Length and Configuration
Name columns are removed and the table lists only configurations with unique
sizes.

Component The list of properties varies by component. Common properties include

properties dimensions (such as Size) and Thread Display.
The property values you select determine the total number of component
configurations. Clear size and other property values to reduce the number of
configurations.

Global Indicates the property is shared with other components in the standard.
Property
Add New Opens the Add New Size dialog box, where you can add a custom size to the
Size hardware size or length configuration property list.
 Color Specifies the display color for the component. Click a color, or click Default
Color to restore the default.

Custom Properties
Custom properties are user-defined component properties. You can create custom text properties and
lists.

Once you create a custom property, it appears in the Custom Properties list. You select it to apply it to a
component:

You can then set property default values in the list on the right. The property has read-only values until
you select it.

Add New Creates a new custom property. See Custom Property Definition.
Custom
Property
Modify Edits an existing custom property. See Custom Property Definition.
Custom
Property
Delete Custom Deletes the property from Toolbox.
Property
Material Indicates a custom property that lists materials from the SOLIDWORKS
Custom Materials library. You can create only one property linked to the
Property SOLIDWORKS Materials library.

Property Value List

When you click a standard or custom property, the data pane displays a list of values for the property. You
use the value list to select or clear sizes of standard properties.

For custom text properties, you can set default values for the selected component.
For custom list properties:
To disable list items for the selected component, clear Enabled.
To designate the default value, click Default.

Configuration List
The configuration list contains all possible combinations of the standard and custom properties values for
a selected component.

If you clear a property value, the list is updated and the configuration count is reduced.

The list columns are the component properties. All of the columns except Part Number, Description,
and Comment are view-only. The values for Part Number, Description, and Comment appear in the
configuration properties in SOLIDWORKS.
 Configuration
Contains property values for each configuration in abbreviated form.
Name
Part Number Specifies the configuration part number.
In Toolbox, Part Number is the SOLIDWORKS bill of materials (BOM)
part number. If you use a different configuration-specific custom property
in SOLIDWORKS PDM for part numbers, use that custom property for
your Toolbox parts as well.
For example, the standard SOLIDWORKS PDM part data card maps to the
SOLIDWORKS Number custom property. To use the standard part data card with
Toolbox parts, create and populate a Number custom property in Toolbox instead
of using Part Number.

Description
Specifies a configuration description.

Comment
Specifies a comment for the configuration.

Import/Export
Import/Export is located above the configuration list scroll bar.

Click Import/Export and do any of the following:

To import customized parts from an Excel spreadsheet, click Import Data.
To export the configuration table to an Excel spreadsheet so that you can
enter configuration part numbers and other values, click Export Data.
See Customizing Parts with Part Numbers.
To create a new SOLIDWORKS part for each listed configuration in the
parts folder specified on the User Settings page, click Create parts.
SOLIDWORKS must be running to create parts. This command is available
if Create parts is selected (see Toolbox - User Settings).
Create Parts can create thousands of part files for a single component. Do
not select it unless you are a Toolbox administrator and know that part files
are needed.
To add all listed configurations to the master part file, click Create
Configurations. This command is available if Create parts is not selected
(see Toolbox - User Settings).

You can rearrange columns by dragging column headers.

Custom Toolbox Standards

You can customize Toolbox content from the Customize Hardware page of Toolbox Settings by copying,
pasting, deleting, and renaming Toolbox folders.

Creating New Toolbox Standards and

Folders
You can create a new Toolbox standard or standard subfolder by cutting and pasting content from an
existing standard or by creating a new folder and adding hardware to the folder.

To create a new Toolbox standard from a new folder:

1. On the Customize Hardware page, right-click a folder in the Toolbox Standards tree and
click New Folder.
The new folder appears in the left pane at the bottom of the list.
2. Double-click New Folder to rename it.
3. Add content to the folder:
Right-click existing content and click Copy to copy the content into the new folder.
Right-click the new folder and click Add File, and then select a file to add to the folder.
If Toolbox is managed by SOLIDWORKS PDM, the new files are automatically checked into the
vault.
RELATED TASKS
Adding Content to the Toolbox Library

Deleting Toolbox Standards or

Folders
To delete a Toolbox standard:
1. On the Customize Hardware page, right-click the folder to be deleted in the Toolbox Standards
tree and click Delete.
2. In the dialog box, click OK.
If you open an assembly that references a deleted Toolbox component, the assembly opens,
but the component is unavailable.

Filtering Components by Size

Toolbox administrators can filter selected Toolbox components and component sizes from Toolbox
Settings.

1. From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .

2. Click 2 - Customize Your Hardware.

3. From the Customize Hardware page, clear selections to exclude any unnecessary standards,
component categories, and component types.
4. Click a standard, component category folder, and a component type in the category.
The selected component type appears at the top of the Customize Hardware page.
5. From Standard Properties, click Size, and clear any unnecessary sizes.
You can also change other standard properties for selected components at this point.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for other components you do not require.
Exporting a Configuration List
Before assigning part numbers to a Toolbox component, you must first export a configuration list for the
component to a Microsoft Excel file.

To export configuration list:

1. From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .

2. Click 2 - Customize Your Hardware.

3. On the Customize Hardware page, select an individual component.

4. At the upper right of the configuration list, click Import/Export and click Export Data.
5. In the Save as dialog box:
a. Select a location for the spreadsheet file.
b. For Save as type, select Excel Workbook (*.xlsx) or Excel 97-2004 Workbook (*xls).
c. Click Save.
6. In Microsoft Excel, open the spreadsheet.
7. In the row for each configuration, type part numbers, descriptions, and comments in the
appropriate columns.
Do not change other values or add columns. The other property values must not change for the
import to succeed.
8. Save and close the spreadsheet.
9. In Toolbox, on the Customize Hardware page, click Import/Export and click Import Data.
10. Browse to the spreadsheet file and click OK.

Customizing Parts with Part

Numbers
After exporting a component configuration list to a Microsoft Excel file, you can assign configuration part
numbers to a Toolbox component and import the part numbers back to Toolbox.

To assign configuration part numbers to a Toolbox component:

1. Export a configuration list for a selected component to a Microsoft Excel file.

2. In Microsoft Excel, open the spreadsheet.

3. In the row for each configuration, enter a part number, description, and comments in the
appropriate columns.
Do not change other values or add columns. The other property values must not change for the
import to succeed.

4. Save the spreadsheet file.

5. In Toolbox, on the Customize Hardware page, select the component whose part numbers you
have modified.
 6. At the upper right of the configuration list, click Import/Export and click Import Data.
7. In the Open dialog box, select the modified spreadsheet file containing the Toolbox data and the
part numbers, and click Open.
You can repeat this procedure for other Toolbox components, and click Save to save the
changes to Toolbox

Custom Properties
From the Customize Hardware page, Toolbox administrators can add custom properties to Toolbox and
apply them to individual components or to all components in a standard.

You can create text properties, list properties, or material properties.

Once you create a property, you can apply it to an entire standard, category, or type, or an individual
component. For text configuration-specific properties, you can type values directly in the configurations
table. The custom properties you assign appear in the component PropertyManager. When using the
component, Toolbox users can enter custom property values in the PropertyManager.
To apply a custom property to a standard, select the standard in the left pane and select the
property in the right pane.
You can use the Property Tab Builder utility to assign custom properties to SOLIDWORKS
files. For more information, see SOLIDWORKS Help: Property Tab Builder Overview.

Creating Text Properties

You can create a custom property that has a text value.

Users can add text for the property in the PropertyManager.

To create a custom text property:

1. From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .
2. Click 2 - Customize Your Hardware.
3. On the Customize Hardware page, select the folder or indivdual component to apply the custom
property to.
4. Under Custom Properties, click Add New Custom Property .
5. In the Custom Property Definition dialog box, type the Property Name.
6. Under Type, select Textbox.
7. Under Options, set options as needed.
8. Type an optional Overall default value.
9. Click OK.

Text Property Example

In the Custom Property Definition dialog box:
1. Create a custom text property called myNotes.
2. Select Add as configuration specific property.
3. Specify a default value of useForYourNotes.
After you create the property, it appears in the Custom Property list, but is not selected.
After you select it, you can edit the default text to change its value for the currently selected
component.

When you drag the component into an assembly, the PropertyManager displays the custom property with
the default text you specified. You can edit the text value in the PropertyManager. After you create a new
size, the configuration properties contain the custom property and value.

Creating List Properties

You can create custom properties with lists of multiple values.

To create a list property:

1. From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .

2. Click 2 - Customize Your Hardware.

3. On the Customize Hardware page, select the folder or indivdual component to apply the custom
property to.

4. Under Custom Properties, click Add New Custom Property .

5. In the Custom Property Definition dialog box, type the Property Name.

6. Under Options, set options as needed.

7. Under Type, select List.

8. Under Value, type a list value.
9. For properties that require a configuration name, under Suffix, type an optional separator and
suffix.
You can delete a list value by clicking Delete in the value row.
10. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to add more values.
11. Click OK.

List Property Example

In the Custom Property Definition dialog box:
1. Create a custom list property called Color.
2. Select Each value for this property requires a new configuration name and Add as configuration
specific property.
3. Use these values and suffixes (suffixes contain hyphens as separators):

Value
Red
Green
Blue
On the Customize Hardware page, select (enable) the custom property for a component. The
configuration list changes to include a column called Color. Each configuration list row contains a color
value, and the configuration names include the suffixes you specified.

With Color selected in the Custom Properties list, you can specify Green as the default color for this
component in the right pane. You can also disable a value for the current component by clearing it in the
list.

Creating Material Properties

You can create a list custom property that is linked to the SOLIDWORKS Materials library.
You can create only one property in Toolbox that is linked to the SOLIDWORKS Materials
library.

To create a material property:

1. From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .

2. Click 2 - Customize Your Hardware.

3. On the Customize Hardware page, select the folder or indivdual component to apply the custom
property to.

4. Under Custom Properties, click Add New Custom Property .

5. In the Custom Property Definition dialog box, type the Property Name.

6. Under Options, set options as needed.

7. Under Type, select List.

8. Select Link to SW material.
9. Under Material, click Select and select a material from the list.
10. Under Value, type a name for the material in the list.
11. For properties that require a configuration name, type a Suffix and an optional separator.
You can delete a list value by clicking Delete in the value row.
12. Repeat steps 6 though 8 for additional list items.
13. Click OK.

Material Property Example

In the Custom Property Definition dialog box:
1. Create a list property called Material.
2. Select Add as configuration specific property and Link to SW material.
3. In the value list, select the materials and type the values:

Material
Plain Carbon Steel
ABS PC
 Brass

Because you did not select Each value for this property requires a new configuration name, no suffixes
are required.

On the Customize Hardware page, select (enable) the custom property for a component. In the right
pane, you can specify Plain Carbon Steel as the default value and clear any material value that is not
used for this particular component.

Custom Property Definition

Dialog Box
Use the Custom Property Definition dialog box to create or modify a component custom property.

To open this dialog box:

On the Customize Hardware page, click Add new Custom Property .

Property Name
Specifies the name of the property. The name appears in the PropertyManager when you use the
component in an assembly.

Options
Add as configuration specific property
Each value for this property requires a new configuration name
Show in PropertyManager

Type
Textbox
List
Link to SW material

Textbox Value
Overall default value

List Values
Value Specifies an item in the list.
Suffix Available when Each value for this property requires a new configuration
 name is selected. Specifies the configuration name suffix. Type an optional
separator character and a suffix that identifies the property value. For
example, if the value is ABSplastic, type:
-abs

When you select the custom property, the suffix is used in the configuration name.

Material Available when Link to SW material is selected. Specifies materials from the
SOLIDWORKS Materials library. Click Select and select a material from the
list.
Deletes a value from the list.

Creating Parts or Configurations

An administrator can create part files for all listed configurations or add the full list of configurations to the
master part file.

To create part files or configurations:

1. From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .

2. Click 2 - Customize Your Hardware.

3. On the Customize Hardware page, select a single component.

4. At the upper right of the configuration list, click Import/Export and select either:
Create parts
Create configurations
The command you see depends on the part or configuration option on the User Settings page.
Part files are created in the part folder specified on the User Settings page.

Renaming Toolbox Folders

You can rename folders in the Toolbox Standards tree.

To rename Toolbox folders from the Toolbox Standards tree:

1. On the Customize Hardware page, slow double-click a folder in the Toolbox Standards tree.
If you double-click a folder quickly, you expand or collapse the folder.

2. Type a new name for the folder and click outside the name to save the change.

To rename folders from the Customize Hardware page, modify Description.

Toolbox - User Settings

Use the User Settings page to set preferences for Toolbox operations.

To access the User Settings page:

 From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .
Click 3 - Define User Settings.

Files
Create Configurations

Create Parts

Create Parts on Ctrl-Drag

Create parts in this folder

Writing to read-only documents

Always change read-only status of document before writing

Error when writing to a read-only document

Part numbers
You can assign the same part number to more than one configuration of a Toolbox part if the parts are
geometrically equal. For example, you might want to change the value of a custom property but retain the
same part number because the geometry is the same.

Allow duplicate part numbers for geometrically equal components

Display options
A designation is the component name specified in the governing standard. Designations are listed
under Designation in the component configuration list on the Customize Hardware page. You can
customize designations.
To display custom configuration names or other properties in the FeatureManager design
tree or Bill of Materials, select:
Show as Component Name in FeatureManager to change the component name in the
FeatureManager design tree.
Show as Part Number in Bill of Materials to change the part number in the Bill of Materials.
Show as Description in Bill of Materials to change the description in the Bill of Materials.
Then, for each customization, select from:
Filename
Configuration Name
Description
Designation
Part Number
Toolbox Custom Properties
Designation applies only to the AS, DIN, GB, ISO, IS, and KS standards.

Toolbox - Permissions
Use the Permissions page to create a Toolbox password and set permissions for Toolbox functions.

To access the Permissions page:

From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .
Click 4 - Set permissions.
If Toolbox is managed by Enterprise PDM, ensure that you also set appropriate Enterprise
PDM permissions for Toolbox users. For details, see the SOLIDWORKS Enterprise PDM
Administration Tool Guide or online help.

Password
Users can view restricted functions without the Toolbox password, but cannot modify them.

Create/Change
Remove

Permission Options
Administrators can control access to different parts of Toolbox.

Allow editing of Content

Allow editing of Custom Properties
Allow adding of parts to Toolbox
Allow editing of part numbers
Allow editing of Configuration Name/File Name

User Settings
Set separately for each user
Allow user to change
Set the same for all users
Smart Fasteners
Set separately for each user Sets Smart Fastener options on the Hole Wizard and Smart
Fasteners pages separately for each user as Windows Registry
values.
Allow user to change Lets users change their own settings.
Set the same for all users Sets Smart Fastener options on the Hole Wizard and Smart
Fasteners pages globally for all users.
Create Password Dialog Box
Use the Create Password dialog box to set up or change a password used to access Toolbox.

To open this dialog box:

On the Permissions page, click Create/Change.

Toolbox does not require a user name.

After you create a password, you can set permissions for access to different parts of Toolbox.

Enter password Specifies the password. Use any combination of letters and numbers.
Enter password again
Create a secret question Specifies the security question that is displayed when you
click Forgot Password? during log in.
Secret question answer Specifies the security question answer.
Toolbox - Smart Fasteners
Use the Smart Fasteners page to set defaults and preferences for fasteners used with Hole Wizard holes
and non-Hole Wizard holes.

To access the Smart Fasteners page:

From Windows, click Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS
Tools > Toolbox Settings .
Click 5 - Smart Fasteners.

Washer sizes
Select from the options to limit the available washer types, depending on the size of the Smart Fastener.

Exact match
Greater than tolerance
Unrestricted

Automatic fastener change

You can make the fastener's length change when the hardware stack changes, and make the stack
hardware size change when the fastener's size changes.

Change fastener length to ensure minimum thread engagement

Change stack components when fastener size is changed

Fastener to use with Non-Hole Wizard holes

You can specify the default Smart Fasteners components to use with nonstandard hole types.

Fastener to use with Specifies the Smart Fastener for non-Hole Wizard holes when you
Non-Hole Wizard holes click Browse (...) and select the fastener.
Toolbox Library
You can browse Toolbox components in the Toolbox library and use them in your designs.

Creating Parts
To create a part from a Toolbox component:

1. In the Design Library task pane, under Toolbox , expand the standard, category, and type
of the component.
Images and descriptions of available components appear in the task pane.
2. Right-click the component and click Create Part.
3. In the PropertyManager, under Properties, specify property values.
For parts included with SOLIDWORKS Toolbox, the values in the list are valid standards-based
values for the selected part. For parts that you add, the values in the list are preset by the
configurations built into the selected part.

4. Click .
The part appears in its own window.

Adding Parts to Assemblies

To insert a Toolbox component into an assembly:
1. Open the assembly.
2. In the Design Library task pane, under Toolbox , expand the standard, category, and type
of the component to insert.
Images and descriptions of available components appear in the task pane.
3. Do one of the following:
Drag a component into the assembly.
If you drop a component near an appropriate feature, a SmartMate positions the part in the
assembly. For example, if you drag a bolt and drop it onto a hole, the SmartMate mates the
bolt to the hole.
 Right-click the component and click Insert Into Assembly.
You can populate one or more holes in the assembly by preselecting the circular edges of the
holes and then using Insert Into Assembly. If you do not preselect a hole, the part is placed at
the assembly origin.
4. In the PropertyManager, do one of the following:
To add a part with saved part number settings:
a. Under Part Numbers, select a part from the list.
b. Under Properties, optionally change values.
To add a new part:
a. Under Properties, specify property values.

For parts included with SOLIDWORKS Toolbox, the values in the list are valid standards-
based values for the selected part. For parts that you add, the values in the list are preset
by the configurations built into the selected part.
b. To make reusing this part easier, optionally save the part number settings.
See Managing Part Number Settings.
5. Click .
The part appears in the assembly.

Adding Content to the Toolbox

Library
You can add parts to existing Toolbox folders, or create new folders.

Administrators can control who can add parts to a shared library. See Toolbox - Permissions.

To add a part to the Toolbox library. from the Customize Toolbox page of Toolbox Settings,
right-click a folder, and click Add File.

Toolbox Favorites
The Toolbox Favorites folder is a local folder where you can store shortcuts to frequently used Toolbox
components.

In the SOLIDWORKS software, the Favorites folder appears under Toolbox in the Design Library Task
Pane. The content you add to the folder is stored as Windows shortcut files on your local computer.

The Toolbox Favorites folder is visible by default. To hide the folder, click Tools > Options > System
Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox and clear Display Toolbox Favorites. This does not remove your favorites
- it just hides them on the Design Library Task Pane.

You can add content directly to the Favorites folder or create subfolders to organize the content. You then
drag components from a Toolbox standard folder in the lower part of the Task Pane to the Favorites folder
or subfolder.
You should not share favorites with other users.

To save and use Toolbox favorites:

1. In the Task Pane, on the Design Library tab, expand Toolbox.

2. Select the Favorites folder and click Create New Folder .

3. Type a name for the subfolder.

If you use standard Toolbox folder names such as Bearings or Bolts and Screws, the software
displays the names with the appropriate icons. Otherwise a generic folder icon represents the folder.

The new folder appears under the Favorites folder and is created on your local computer
in C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKSrelease\Toolb
ox\Favorites.

4. Using the Toolbox library of components, expand the standard, category, and type of component
to save as a favorite.

5. Select the component and drag it to the subfolder.

Each favorite you save appears as a shortcut in the Favorites subfolder and in
the Favorites directory on your local computer.

If a Toolbox component is moved, deleted, or disabled, a warning flag appears on the shortcut.

Hover over the favorite to display a tooltip that describes the problem.

6. To use a favorite, select it in the Favorites subfolder and drag it to the graphics area, just as you
would a component in one of the other Toolbox folders.
Auto Sizing Toolbox Components
Some Toolbox components can adapt to the size of the geometry to which they are dragged.

To use auto-sizing Toolbox components:

1. Drag a Toolbox component that supports auto sizing into an assembly.
The following Toolbox components support auto sizing:
Bolts and screws
Nuts
Retaining rings
Pins
Washers
Bearings
O-Rings
Gears
2. Select the hole where you want to place the component.

The component resizes and an exact preview is displayed.

Toolbox displays a message if no matching size is available.

3. In the PropertyManager:
Under Properties, adjust the values.
Under Options, select Auto size to mated geometry.
When you select Auto size to mated geometry, the component updates when you change the
geometry to which the component is mated.
b. Drag the next component that includes your adjustments and place it.
 c. Click .

Configuring Components
You can configure a standard, category, or type, or single component from the Toolbox Configuration tool
or the Configure Component PropertyManager in SOLIDWORKS.

Configuring Components with the

Toolbox Configuration Tool
The Toolbox configuration tool opens to the Customize Hardware page for the component or folder you
selected.

To configure components with the Toolbox configuration tool:

1. In the Design Library task pane, under Toolbox , select the parent folder of the component
or folder you want to configure.
For example, to configure all ANSI inch hex-head screws, expand Ansi Inch and click Bolts and
Screws.
2. In the lower part of the Design Library task pane, right-click a component or folder and
click Configure.
For example, right-click Hex Head and click Configure.
3. If Toolbox is managed by SOLIDWORKS PDM, click Yes to check out the Toolbox folder.
To configure Toolbox components, you must have sufficient permissions to check out the Toolbox
folder.

Editing Toolbox Components from

the Configure Component
PropertyManager
You can edit Toolbox components from the Configure Component PropertyManager in SOLIDWORKS,
including editing multiple configurations of the same component in one editing session.
To edit Toolbox components from the Configure Component PropertyManager:

1. In the FeatureManager design tree, Shift + select the configurations to modify.

2. Right-click and click Edit Toolbox component.

If you do not select configurations of the same component, Edit Toolbox Component does not
appear on the shortcut menu.

In the Configure Component PropertyManager, under Properties, the values listed are those of the
last item you select.

3. Modify component properties.

The changes you make in the PropertyManager are reflected in the graphics area for all selected
configurations of the component.

4. Click .

Modifying the Length of Multiple

Components from the Graphics
Area
When a model contains multiple configurations of the same Toolbox component, you can edit them
simultaneously. You can initiate the edits from the FeatureManager design tree or from the graphics area.

To modify the length of multiple configurations from the graphics area:

1. In the graphics area, select the configurations to modify.

Unselected configurations Selected configurations.

The arrow indicates that the last selected configuration will
control the change.

2. On the last component you select, drag the arrow to the new length for the components.

The length of all the selected components adjusts to match the size of the modified component.
Replacing Toolbox Components
You can replace multiple instances of a Toolbox component with another Toolbox component by editing
the components.

The components you replace must be configurations of the same parent component. For example, you
can replace different lengths and sizes of the same socket head cap screw, but you cannot replace a nut
and a bolt in the same operation.

To replace Toolbox components:

1. In the FeatureManager design tree, select the components to replace.

2. Right-click and click Edit Toolbox Component.

3. In the PropertyManager, under Replace Component, click Change Fastener Type.

4. In the dialog box, select the replacement component and click OK.

The graphics area shows the updated preview geometry, manipulation arrows, and configuration
flags for the components you replace.

If one of the components is a seed for one or more component patterns, the components contained
in those patterns are replaced.

All applicable mates are updated with new references from the replacement components. If the
software cannot automatically recreate any mates, the Mated Entities PropertyManager opens to let
you edit and fix the mates.

Managing Part Number Settings

You can save part number property settings so you can easily select the same part size later. You assign
a part number and a description for each set of saved property settings.

To manage part number settings:

1. Drag a part from the Design Library into the assembly.

2. In the PropertyManager, do any of the following:
 To save new settings for a part number:
a. Set properties.
b. Under Part Numbers, click Part Number Unassigned and click Add.
c. In the Part Number dialog box, enter a part number or type a description.

Part number defaults to the configuration name or file name, depending on your part-
creation mode (see Toolbox - User Settings).
d. Click OK.
To change the part number or description of the saved settings:
a. Under Part Numbers, select the part number saved settings.
b. Click Edit.
c. In the Part Number dialog box, change Part number, Description, or both.
d. Click OK.
To delete saved settings for a part number:
a. Under Part Numbers, select the part number saved settings.
b. Click Delete.
c. In the confirmation box, click Yes.

Toolbox Part PropertyManager

Use the Toolbox part PropertyManager to set part properties, such as sizes.

To open this PropertyManager:

With an assembly open, drag a Toolbox component into the assembly or right-click the component and
click Insert Into Assembly.

Part Numbers

Add/Update
Delete

Properties
Depending on the component, properties might be editable or read-only.

Comment
Configuration Name
File Name
Component Properties
Restore Values

Options
Auto size to mated Adapts the part size to the size of the geometry to which it is dragged.
geometry The following Toolbox components support auto sizing:
 Bolts and screws
Nuts
Retaining rings
Pins
Washers
Bearings
O-rings
Gears

Opening Models with Referenced

Toolbox Components
When you open an assembly, SOLIDWORKS automatically finds references to Toolbox components in
your Toolbox folder, even if the assembly is created from a separate Toolbox installation, for example,
from outside your company. You can set this behavior, which is applied to all new SOLIDWORKS
installations by default, from a Hole Wizard/Toolbox system option.
To set SOLIDWORKS to search the Toolbox folder for referenced Toolbox components:

1. Click Options (Standard toolbar).

2. Click Hole Wizard/Toolbox and select a folder for Hole Wizard and Toolbox folder.
3. Select Make this folder the default search location for Toolbox components.
The system option Make this folder the default search location for Toolbox components is
useful when you open models whose Toolbox components do not reference your Toolbox
folder. If you clear the system option, SOLIDWORKS does not automatically search the
Toolbox folder for references to Toolbox components.

Cams
You can create cams with fully-defined motion paths and follower types.

You can choose circular or linear cams with many motion types. You can select the follower track as a
blind cut or cut through the entire cam.

Circular cam with Blind track

Linear cam with Thru track

Creating Cams
To create a cam:

1. Click Cams (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Cams .

2. In the Cam dialog box, on the Setup tab, for Cam Type, select Circular or Linear and set property
values for the cam type you selected.
You can also create a cam based on a previously saved favorite cam. See Using Favorite Cams.
3. On the Motion tab, create at least one cam motion definition.
4. On the Creation tab, set creation properties.
5. Click Create.
Toolbox creates a new cam as a new SOLIDWORKS part document.
6. Optionally, save your cam as a favorite. See Favorite Cams.
7. Click Done.

Cam - Setup
The Setup tab of the Cam dialog box specifies basic information such as units, cam type, and follower
type.

To open this tab:

Click Cams (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Cams.

General Parameters
Units
Cam Type

Circular Cam Parameters

These parameters are available when Cam Type is Circular.

Follower Type
Follower Diameter
Starting Radius
Starting Angle

Rotation Direction
Offset Distance (A)
Offset Angle (B)
Arm Pivot X Offset (A)
Arm Pivot Y Offset (B)

Arm Length (C)

Linear Cam Parameters

These parameters are available when Cam Type is Linear.

Follower Type Specifies the follower type. Select one of the following:
Translating - Moves perpendicular to the motion of the cam.

Inclined - Moves at an angle (not perpendicular) to the motion of the

cam.
 Swing Trail or Swing Lead - Swings about a pivot point. To determine
leading or trailing, compare the follower to the pivot point. If the follower
trails the pivot point as shown, it is a Swing Trail follower.

Follower Diameter Specifies the follower diameter, which is equal to the diameter of the
groove that is cut in the cam.
Starting Rise Specifies the vertical distance from the base corner of the cam to the
center of the follower.
Starting Run Specifies the horizontal distance from the base corner of the cam to the
center of the follower.
For a Translating or Inclined follower, type the value. For a Swing follower,
select Computed or Adjusted. If you select Computed, Toolbox calculates the
value. If you select Adjusted, type the value.

Cam Motion Specifies the cam motion direction. Select Left or Right.
Follower Angle Inclined follower only. Specifies the angle between the follower and a
line that is perpendicular to the motion of the cam. The value must be
+/- 45.

Arm Pivot X Swing follower only.

Offset (A)
Arm Pivot Y Offset (B)

Arm Length (C)

Cam - Motion
The Motion tab of the Cam dialog box specifies information about how your follower moves around the
cam.

To open this tab:

Click Cams (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Cams . In the Cam dialog box, click Motion.

Starting Parameters
Displays read-only values from the Setup tab.

Starting Radius
Starting Angle
Starting Rise
Starting Run

Motion Parameters
Set parameters from the Motion Creation Details dialog box when adding a new circular cam
motion definition.

Motion Type
Ending Radius
Degrees Motion
Ending Rise
Run Distance
Total Motion

Motion Definition Management

Use these buttons to manage your motion definitions.

Add Adds a motion definition after the other motion definitions.

1. Click Add.
2. In the Motion Creation Details dialog box, define a new motion definition
and click OK.
Insert Inserts a motion definition before an existing motion definition.
1. Select the row where to insert the new motion definition.
2. Click Insert.
3. In the Motion Creation Details dialog box, define a new motion definition
and click OK.
Edit Modifies an existing motion definition.
1. Select the row to edit.
2. Click Edit.
3. In the Motion Creation Details dialog box, edit the motion definition and
click OK.
Remove Deletes one or more motion definitions.
1. Select one or more rows to remove.
2. Click Remove.
Remove All Deletes all motion definitions.
Cam - Creation
The Creation tab of the Cam dialog box specifies values for the cam such as blank thickness and hub
diameter.

To open this tab:

Click Cams (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Cams . In the Cam dialog box, click Creation.

Circular Cams
Description
Creation Method
Blank Outside Dia & Thickness
Near Hub Dia & Length
Far Hub Dia & Length
Blank Fillet Rad & Chamfer
Thru Hole Dia
Track Type & Depth

Resolution Type & Value

Track Surfaces

Arcs

Linear Cams
Description (Read-only.) Displays the cam type and number of motion definitions.
Creation Method
Blank Thickness
Blank Width
Blank Length
Track Type & Specifies the track type and depth. Select one of the following:
Depth Blind - Type the depth of the cam track into the cam surface. Depth cannot
be greater than Blank Thickness.
Thru
Resolution Type Specifies the maximum Motion Increment per motion definition.
& Value
Track Surfaces Specifies how the cam track is created. Select Inner, Outer,
or Both depending on your Track Type.
 Upper

Lower

Both

Arcs Creates the cam track using a series of tangent arcs. When this check box is
cleared, the cam track is created using a series of lines.
Favorite Cams
Use favorites to save and reuse cam settings.

Creating Favorite Cams

To create a favorite cam:

1. Click Cams (SOLIDWORKS Toolbox toolbar) or click Toolbox > Cams .

2. In the Cam dialog box, on the Setup, Motion, and Creation tabs, set required options and
parameters.
3. Under Favorites, click New.
4. In the New Favorite Name dialog box, type a Favorite Name.
5. To avoid being prompted to save changes when using a favorite, select Template.
6. Click OK.

Using Favorite Cams

To create a cam from a previously saved favorite:

1. Click Cams (SOLIDWORKS Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Cams .

2. In the Cam dialog box, under Favorites, click List.
3. In the Favorites dialog box, select a favorite and click Load.
The Cam dialog box updates with data from the favorite.
4. Optionally, modify the cam data on the Setup, Motion, and Creation tabs.
To save your changes to the favorite, click Update, then click Yes at the confirmation prompt.
5. Click Create.
Toolbox creates a new cam as a new SOLIDWORKS part document.
6. Click Done.
7. If you modified the cam data before creating the cam and the favorite is not a template,
click Yes at the prompt to update the favorite.
Editing Favorite Cams
To edit a favorite cam:

1. Click Cams (SOLIDWORKS Toolbox toolbar) or click Toolbox > Cams .

2. In the Cam dialog box, under Favorites, click List.
3. In the Favorites dialog box, select a favorite and click Edit.
To remove a favorite, click Delete.
4. In the New Favorite Name dialog box, edit Favorite Name, Template, or both, and click OK.
5. Click Done.

Grooves
You can add industry standard O-ring and retaining-ring grooves to your cylindrical model.

O-Ring Groove

Retaining Ring Groove

The light blue faces in the following image represent a groove.

Creating Grooves
To create a groove:
1. Select a cylindrical face on a part where you want to place the groove.
By preselecting a cylindrical face, Toolbox determines the diameter for the groove and suggests
appropriate groove sizes.

2. Click Grooves (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Grooves .

3. In the Grooves dialog box:
To create an O-ring groove, click the O-Ring Grooves tab.
To create a retaining-ring groove, click the Retaining Ring Grooves tab.
4. Select a standard, groove type, and available groove size from the lists on the top left of the tab.
The Property and Value columns update. Selected Diameter is set for you because you selected a
cylindrical face in step 1.
5. Click Create.
The groove is cut into the model. A feature appears in the FeatureManager design tree with a name
that matches the Description.
6. To add more grooves, select a new position on the model and repeat steps 4 and 5.
7. Click Done.
8. To precisely locate the groove on the face:
In the FeatureManager design tree, expand the groove feature.
Right-click the sketch under the feature and select Edit Sketch.
The sketch opens for editing.

To make adding dimensions and selecting sketch entities easier, click Normal To (Standard
Views toolbar) to change the view orientation so it is normal to the sketch plane.
Add dimensions and relations to the sketch to define its position.
Exit the sketch.

Grooves - O-Ring Grooves

The O-Ring Grooves tab lets you select and create standard O-ring grooves.

To open this tab:

Click Grooves (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Grooves.

Groove Selection
Select a groove from the lists in the top left corner.

Standard
Type
Size
Sketch
Properties
Read-only properties for the selected groove.

Description Describes the groove.

Selected Diameter
Mate Diameter
Groove Diameter (A)
Width (B)
Displays the diameter of the selected cylindrical face, or No
selected diameter.
Displays a reference value for the diameter of the non-grooved
mating part that completes the seal.

Radius (C)

(A) is shown as a radius rather than a diameter.

Grooves - Retaining Ring Grooves

The Retaining Ring Grooves tab lets you select and create retaining ring grooves.

To open this tab:

Click Grooves (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Grooves . In the Grooves dialog box, click Retaining
Ring Grooves.

Groove Selection
Select a groove from the lists in the top left corner.

Standard
Type
Size
Sketch
Properties
Read-only properties for the selected groove.

Description Describes the groove.

Selected Diameter Displays the diameter of the selected cylindrical face, or No
selected diameter.
Groove Diameter (A)
Groove Width (B)

Radius )

(A) is shown as a radius rather than a diameter.

Other Tools
You can use Toolbox tools to perform beam and bearing calculations, and to add structural steel beams to
your designs.

Performing Beam Calculations

You can perform deflection and stress calculations on structural steel cross sections.

1. Click Beam Calculator (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Beam Calculator .

2. In the Beam Calculator dialog box, select a Load Type.
3. Under Type of Calculation, select Deflection or Stress.
The Input area displays the properties for your selection.
4. Select a beam:
a. Click Beams.
b. In the Structural Steel dialog box, select a beam and click Done.
Some Input property values automatically update based on the beam you selected.
5. Select an Axis to determine the value for Moment of inertia or Section modulus.
6. Type values for the remaining Input properties except for the one to be calculated, and
click Solve.
 For example, if you are calculating deflection, make sure there are values for all properties
except Deflection.
Beam Calculator calculates the remaining value for you.
7. Click Done.

Beam Calculator Dialog Box

The Beam Calculator dialog box performs deflection and stress calculations on structural steel cross
sections.

To display this dialog box:

Click Beam Calculator (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Beam Calculator.

Load Type
Load Type
Type of Calculation

Input
Click Beams to select a beam from the Structural Steel dialog box. Some Input values
update automatically when you select a beam.

Axis Determines the value for Moment of inertia or Section modulus.

Units Specifies the property units. Select Inch or Metric.
Deflection Deflection calculation only.
Modulus of elasticity Deflection calculation only.
Moment of inertia Deflection calculation only.
Length
Load
Offset
Stress Stress calculation only.
Section Modulus Stress calculation only.
Performing Bearing Calculations
You can calculate bearing capacity ratings and basic life values.

1. Click Bearing Calculator (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Bearing Calculator .

2. In the Bearing Calculator dialog box, select a standard, a bearing type, and an available bearing
from the lists on the bottom left of the dialog box.
3. Select the Units of measurement.
4. Under Reliability, select a non-failure rate.
5. Under Capacity, select Calculated to determine the capacity or Rated if the capacity is known.
If you selected Calculated, accept the defaults or type values for # Balls and Ball
Diameter (or # Rollers and Roller Diameter for roller bearings), and click Solve Capacity.
If you selected Rated, type the Capacity.
6. For Equivalent Load, type a load value of the combined radial and thrust loads for the bearing.
 7. For Speed, type the revolutions per minute.
Speed is required only for calculating Life in hours.
8. Click Solve Life.
Bearing Calculator calculates Life in Revs (in millions of revolutions) and Life in hours.
9. Click Done.

Bearing Calculator Dialog Box

The Bearing Calculator dialog box calculates bearing capacity ratings and basic life values.

To display this dialog box:

Click Bearing Calculator (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Bearing Calculator.

Bearing Type
Sketch
Standard
Bearing Type
Bearing

Units
Specifies the property units. Select US (English) or SI (metric).

Reliability
Specifies the desired non-failure rate for the selected bearing, which is used in the basic life
calculation.

Capacity
Specifies how the capacity is determined. Select Calculated to have Bearing Calculator calculate the
capacity or Rated if you know the capacity.

Bore
OD
# Balls
Ball Diameter
# Rollers
Roller Diameter
Capacity
Solve Capacity
Load
Equivalent Load

Basic Life
Life in Revs Specifies the life of the bearing in millions of revolutions. Bearing
Calculator calculates this value when you click Solve Life.
Speed Specifies the speed in revolutions per minute. Enter a value to calculate Life
in hours.
Life in hours Specifies the life of the bearing in hours. Bearing Calculator calculates this
value when you click Solve Life.
Solve Life Calculates Life in Revs and, if Speed is specified, Life in hours.
Adding a Structural Steel Beam to
a Part
You can insert the cross-section sketch of a structural steel beam into a part. The sketch is fully-
dimensioned to match industry standard sizes. You can extrude the sketch in SOLIDWORKS to create the
beam.
You can also drag structural steel parts into your assembly from the Toolbox Browser. For
details, see Adding Parts to Assemblies.

To add a sketch of a structural steel beam to a part:

1. Make sure you are not currently editing a sketch, then select a plane or planar face in your part.
2. Click Structural Steel (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Structural Steel .
3. In the Structural Steel dialog box, select a standard, a beam type, and an available cross-section
from the lists on the top left of the dialog box.
The Section Property and Value columns are updated to reflect your selections.
4. Optionally:
Click Beam Calculator to use the Bean Calculator dialog box to help you determine which
beam to select.
Click Send To to send the structural steel properties to a printer or text file.
5. Click Create to add the sketch of the cross-section of the structural steel member to a part.
If you did not select a plane or planar face in step 1, the sketch appears on the Front plane.
6. Click Done.
7. To precisely locate the cross-section, right-click the new sketch, select Edit Sketch, and add
dimensions or relations to position the sketch.
Structural Steel Dialog Box
The Structural Steel dialog box lets you select a structural steel beam that you can insert into a part as a
cross-section sketch.

To display the dialog box:

Click Structural Steel (Toolbox toolbar) or Toolbox > Structural Steel.

Load Type
Standard
Beam Type
Cross Section
Sketch

Properties
Displays the Section Properties and read-only Values of the selected beam.

Buttons
Beam Calculator
Send To
Create