Toolbox - Holes Dialog Box: Slot

Use the Toolbox - Hole dialog box to access and configure counterbore and countersink holes provided by Toolbox and insert them into drawings.

To display the Toolbox - Holes dialog box for slot holes:

  1. Click Holes (Mechanical Toolbox toolbar) or Mechanical Toolbox > Holes > Insert.
  2. In the left pane, click Slot.

Hole Categories

The left side of the Toolbox - Holes dialog box lets you select the category of hole to create.

The hole category determines what you can select on the right side of the dialog box, including the Type and Size of hole and the Properties that you can configure for the hole.

Counterbore Inserts counterbored holes with a blind or through clearance.
Countersink Inserts countersunk holes with a blind or through clearance.
Thru Hole Inserts plain holes with a blind or through clearance and with or without near and far side countersinks.
Tap Inserts tapped holes with a blind or through clearance.
Slot Inserts straight or curved slots.

Preview

Lets you see how the component will look with the current profile.

Properties

The Properties section shows the hole name and lets you select a creation method and view or change physical values for the holes.

The properties that are available depend on whether you choose Curved or Straight as the Slot Style.

The software validates property values to avoid broken geometry. Invalid values are highlighted in a light red color.

Straight Slots

Name Derived from the Slot style you select.
Creation method Sets the method used to create the hole in the drawing.
You can select the following creation methods:
  • Near side
  • Far side
  • Hidden
  • Section

The Preview reflects your choice.
Scale Sets the scale factor by which the size of the slot is enlarged or reduced in the drawing.

The proportions are retained.

The value must be positive.
Slot style Determines the slot name and whether the inserted slot is straight or curved.
Slot type & depth Controls the depth of the slot.

The options are Blind or Thru.

If you select Blind, you can modify the value in the depth field.
Draft angle Specifies an angle that is incorporated into the slot so that the opening of the slot is wider than the base.

When the slot is used as a mold, the draft angle makes it easier to eject the part from the mold.
Left and right radii Specifies the size of the radius for each side of the slot.
Reference point Specifies the initial location of the reference point used when inserting the slot.

Options are:

  • Left
  • Midpoint
  • Right
While you are inserting instances of the slot, you can change the reference point by using the Command window reference Point option or the reference Point option on the short-cut menu.
Slot length Specifies the length of the slot.

Do one of the following:

  • Select Center to Center and specify the length from the center of the left radius to the center of the right radius.
  • Select Overall and specify the total length of the slot.
Material thickness Shows the material thickness of the component.

The material thickness affects section and hidden views when the slot type is Thru. Blind slots have fixed depths.

Click to graphically measure the material thickness value by picking two points in the graphics area.

Curved Slots

Name Derived from the Slot style you select.
Creation method Sets the method used to create the hole in the drawing.
You can select the following creation methods:
  • Near side
  • Far side
  • Hidden
  • Section

The Preview reflects your choice.
Scale Sets the scale factor by which the size of the slot is enlarged or reduced in the drawing.

The proportions are retained.

The value must be positive.
Slot style Determines the slot name and whether the inserted slot is straight or curved.
Slot type & depth Controls the depth of the slot.

The options are Blind or Thru.

If you select Blind, you can modify the value in the depth field.
Draft angle Specifies an angle that is incorporated into the slot so that the opening of the slot is wider than the base.

When the slot is used as a mold, the draft angle makes it easier to eject the part from the mold.
Base radius Lets you specify the base radius and select whether it is applied to the Outer edge, Center, or Inner edge of the slot.
Reference point Specifies the initial location of the reference point used when inserting the slot.

Options are:

  • Left
  • Midpoint
  • Right
  • Arc
  • Center
While you are inserting instances of the slot, you can change the reference point by using the Command window reference Point option or the reference Point option on the tracker's short-cut menu.
Slot width Controls the width of the slot.
Slot angle & amount Controls the angular length of the slot.

Select one of the following:

  • Through centers
  • Outside
Material thickness Shows the material thickness of the component.

This value is required for all creation methods.

Use the measure tool to graphically measure the material thickness value by picking two points in the graphics area.

Settings

Click Settings to open the Toolbox - Settings dialog box, where you can choose whether to insert the hole as a block and to change layer preferences.

The dialog box opens to the Thru Hole screen of the Holes category.

When you finish specifying settings, click OK to close the Toolbox - Settings dialog box and return to the Toolbox - Holes dialog box.

Favorites

Buttons on the right side of the screen provide access to component configurations that you save as favorites.

Favorites Manager Opens the Toolbox - Holes Favorites dialog box, where you can view, rename, or delete favorite holes you have saved.
Add to Favorites Opens the Toolbox - Add to Favorites dialog box, where you can save the current component settings as a favorite so that you can easily retrieve the settings for reuse.
You can use the default name, which is taken from the Description field, or type a name.
The software remembers the following three settings the next time you open the Toolbox - Holes dialog box.
Show/Hide Favorites Toggles the Favorites pane on and off.

The favorites that are listed depend on the settings for Display all categories and Display favorites for all standards(see below).
  Display all categories Lets you choose whether the Favorites list contains all favorites or just favorites for the current category.
  • When checked, extends the favorites list to include favorites you have saved for all categories, including the current one.

    Icons to the left of the favorite name indicate the category for which you saved the favorite.

  • When cleared, restricts the list to favorites that are in the current category.
  Display favorites for all standards Lets you choose whether the Favorites list contains favorites for all standards or just favorites for the active standard.
  • When checked, extends the favorites list to include favorites you have saved for all standards, including the active standard.

    An icon in the lower right corner of the category icon indicates the standard that was active when you created the favorite.

  • When cleared, restricts the list to favorites that use the active standard.