nuts'n bolts FAQ

This page should be read in conjunction with the SolidWorks documentation. Please refer to the following topics:
- Feature Palette
- Smart Mates
- Geometric Mates
- Library Features
- Design Tables

Click here to jump to the sheetmetal fasteners FAQ.

i. After installation, none of the parts show up in the Feature Palette™!

A: Ensure SolidWorks is pointed at the library directories, by following the instructions in the READ-ME.txt file.

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ii. Why not use design tables to generate the fasteners?

A: In order to keep the parts as simple and the user base as broad as possible, we did not want to rely on add-in software (Microsoft® Excel) to generate the data.

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iii. Sometimes when I open an assembly containing IDEAL-PARTS, SolidWorks asks me to browse for a library-part manually!

A: Under no circumstances should you move the library or any of its components after you have started using it in assemblies! Although SolidWorks will prompt you to browse to the new location, this can be fairly tedious!

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iv. I didn't move the library, yet SolidWorks still prompts me to browse for the file!

A: SolidWorks sometimes "loses" the drive letter which precedes the name and location string. Instead of browsing from the working directory all the way to <install_drive>/Program Files/nuts'n bolts/<etc>, check if the <install_drive> is missing from the front of the file path ion the "OPEN" window.

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v. Why aren't the threads modelled in 3D?

A: 3D threads present a huge overhead to the system and have been left off for efficiencies sake. Threads are represented as SolidWorks Cosmetic Threads. These help determine thread-clearances and lengths and display correctly in drawing documentation.

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vi. I have drawn a section through my assembly, but the cosmetic-threads aren't visible!

A: In your drawing, go to Insert, Model Items and tick the Cosmetic threads checkbox.

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vii. I have drawn a section through my assembly, but I don't want the fasteners to be sectioned!

A: Right-click the Section View icon in the FeatureManager design tree, select the tab called Scope and delete the listed parts you do not wish displayed.

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viii. I have an old assembly, and the library has been moved since then, prompting me to manually browse to the new directory. How can I avoid this?

A: When an assembly is being signed-off for production, it is a good idea to copy all the required parts into that directory. SolidWorks will always look in the directory of the currently open assembly for any parts, before looking outside. Look in the user guide on how to find referenced files and copy them into a new directory. The idea is to end-up with a self-contained directory.

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ix. Isn't copying the parts against the licencing agreement?

A: Not if the part-files are kept with an existing assembly, within which they are used. This gives the option of assigning custom materials, sizes and properties to files without affecting the original part in the library. You cannot use these copied parts to create a new assembly, that would be a breach of the licence agreement.

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x. Why does the SolidWorks 98 library take up 70MB on my hard-disk. Isn't this going to inflate the size of my assemblies?

A: The library is only 70MB in the SolidWorks 98 version. When installed under SolidWorks 99, the library takes up less than 25MB. This is due to more efficient data-handling within later versions of SolidWorks. The overall size of the library is larger, in order to keep the individual part files smaller. For example, in a typical assembly are cap screws in sizes M4, M6, M8 and M12, but not M36 etc. Each one of those files is modelled with the correct head dimensions, the configurations representing different shank/thread lengths. By representing different diameters in separate files, better overview is maintained. While this makes it harder to program, it makes it easier to use - 1000 configurations in one part are easy to program, but much more difficult to use. Unless you use all 1000 sizes simultaneously, who wants to carry that kind of overhead in their files?

The installation size for the 99 and 2000 libraries is only about 12MB. Due to advances in purging files of redundant surface information.

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xi. After continued use, the size of the library files keeps growing - why is that?

A: When the files are originally installed, only the surface information of the active (default) size is contained in the file for 'featherweight' viewing. As more and more configurations are activated - and saved - more and more surface information is included in the file. While this increases file-size, it also speeds up regeneration as more and more surface info is already contained in the file and does not have to be recalculated.

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xii. How can I reduce the size of the library-files?

A: For day-to-day file optimisation, the UNFRAG routine (see the link on the download page), should be run at the end of each day (or week). This reduces file-size by "internally defragmenting" the data within the file. We have found this product to be perfectly stable. A detailed description is included on the linked download page.

To get the size of the files down to absolute minimum, open the file in SolidWorks, go to Save-as and precede the filename with an X eg SHCS-M8.sldprt will be saved as xSHCS-M8.sldprt. Go to the file in Windows® Explorer and remove the X by renaming the file (in our example back to SHCS-M8.sldprt).

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xiii. My company uses non-standard/special order sizes. Can I customise parts within the library?

A: Yes, Additional configurations can easily be created by following the instructions in the User's Guide, which is on the CD and in the installation directory.

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Can't find the answer here? Contact us at support@ideal-parts.com for a prompt response!