Configuring Bolt Patterns in Smart Fasteners

Smart Fasteners added to hole patterns use a bolt pattern derived from the hole pattern. The fasteners are all the same and there is only one fastener listed in the Smart Fasteners PropertyManager. If you want to change the properties of some bolts in the pattern (for example, make them longer), you can specify different configurations of the bolt.

Each time you specify a Smart Fastener, you add it to your Toolbox database. Smart Fasteners are added based on the Files options in the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox - User Settings dialog box. You can add fasteners to an assembly as a configuration of an existing part or as a copy of an existing part. For information about configuring Toolbox, see Configuring Toolbox.

Changing the Parameters of an Individual Fastener

To change the parameters of an individual fastener in a pattern:

  1. Click to expand the Smart Fastener in the FeatureManager design tree.
  2. Click to expand the DerivedLPattern (or DerivedCPattern).
    All fasteners in the pattern are listed.
  3. Right-click one or more fasteners in the list and select Component Properties.
  4. Under Referenced configuration, select Use named configuration.
  5. Select a bolt from the list.
    If you do not see the configuration you want, you can add a new configuration to the Toolbox database using the procedure below.
  6. Click OK.
    The revised bolt appears.

Adding a New Fastener Configuration

To add a new fastener configuration to the Toolbox database:

  1. Click to expand the Smart Fastener in the FeatureManager design tree.
  2. Right-click the fastener component and select Edit Toolbox Definition.
  3. In the PropertyManager, select new parameters for the fastener. For example, choose a different length or drive type.
  4. Click .
    The selected instance of the fastener changes to the new configuration.