Toolbox - Hardware Dialog Box: Bolts and Screws

Use the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box to access and configure the hardware components provided by a Toolbox and to insert them into drawings.

To display the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box for bolts and screws:

  1. Click Hardware Insert (Mechanical Toolbox toolbar) or Mechanical Toolbox > Hardware > Insert.
  2. In the left pane, select Bolts and Screws.

Hardware Categories

The left side of the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box lists the hardware categories:

Bolts and Screws

Nuts

Pins

Washers

The category you select determines the options that you can select on the right side of the dialog box. The options include:
  • Type
  • Size of hardware components
  • Properties that you can configure for the components

Right Pane - Top

Standard Sets the standard on which the hardware components are based.

The list contains basic standards provided by Toolbox and custom standards you have defined.

The default standard is determined by settings in the Standards dialog box:
  • If you select No active standard in the Standards dialog box, the default standard in the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box is ANSI Inch.

    If you select a different standard from the list:

    • When you return to the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box after inserting a hole, the software remembers your selection.
    • When you close and reopen the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box, the software remembers your selection.
  • If you clear No active standard in the Standards dialog box, the default standard in the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box is the Active Standard in the Standards dialog box.

    If you select a different standard from the list:

    • When you return to the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box after inserting a hole, the software remembers your selection.
    • When you close and reopen the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box, the Standard returns to the Active Standard in the Standards dialog box.
Type Sets the type of hardware component to insert.

Available components are determined by the hardware category and Standard.
Size Sets the size of hardware component to insert.

Available sizes are determined by the Standard and Type.
Scale Sets the scale factor by which the component size is enlarged or reduced.

The proportions are kept the same.

The value must be positive.
Preview Lets you see how the component will look with the current profile.

Hardware Assistant

The Hardware Assistant helps you combine bolts and screws with existing holes.

Specify holes Initiates hole selection.

The Toolbox - Hardware dialog box temporarily closes so that you can select holes in the drawing for use with the hardware you are inserting.

After you select holes, press Enter to return to the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box so you can adjust hardware properties to match the properties of the holes.
  Preview Temporarily closes the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box so you can see how the hardware fits the selected holes.

The software automatically uses the creation method, insertion point, and rotation that matches the selected holes.
  n holes specified.

No holes specified.

 Indicates the number of holes you select.

The default is No holes specified.
  Type Indicates the type of holes you select. For example, Binding.

Prior to hole selection, the value is None.

If you select more than one type of hole, the value is set to <Varies>.

Selecting holes of different types can cause unexpected results.

Properties

Lets you view or change the physical values for the component's 2D geometry.

Name Displays the automatically created name based on the description saved in the standard.

You can modify the name here or in the Verify BOM dialog box.

To change the name format, use the Toolbox Table Editor to edit a custom standard and specify a new name format. Then choose that standard as the standard in the Toolbox - Hardware dialog box.
Creation method Sets the method used to create the hardware component in the drawing.
You can select the following creation methods for all categories of hardware components:
  • Near side
  • Far side
  • Side view
  • Hidden side view

For bolts and screws, there are four side views and four hidden side views.

The Preview reflects your choice.
Head options Sets the head option to use for bolts and screws with multiple head options.
Thread display Indicates how threads are displayed in side views. There are four settings:
  • Simplified

  • Schematic

  • Detailed

  • Profile

The Preview reflects your choice.
Fastener length Sets the length of the hardware component to insert.

Options available are the standard fastener lengths based on the size selected.
Thread length Sets the thread length of the hardware component, based on the size and fastener length selected.
Material thickness Shows the material thickness of the component.

The material thickness affects several side and hidden side views. It is recommended that you set Fastener length > Material thickness.

Click 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 hardware component as a block and to change layer preferences.

The dialog box opens to the Bolts and Screws screen of the Hardware category.

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

Favorites

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

Favorites Manager Opens the Favorites Manager dialog box, where you can view, rename, or delete favorites 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 retrieve the settings for reuse.
You can use the default name, which is taken from the Description field, or enter a name.
The software remembers the following three settings the next time you open the Toolbox - Hardware 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 selected, 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 favorites for the active standard.
  • When selected, 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.