Inserting Cosmetic Threads

  1. On a cylindrical feature (a boss, a cut, or a hole), select the circular edge where the thread begins.

    If the feature is a conical hole, select the major diameter. If the feature is a conical boss, select the minor diameter.

    You can also select the feature after you click the tool.
  2. Click Cosmetic Thread Tool_Cosmetic_Thread_Annotation.gif (Annotation toolbar), or click Insert > Annotations > Cosmetic Thread.
  3. Set the properties in the Cosmetic Thread PropertyManager .
  4. Click PM_OK.gif.

Cosmetic Thread Feature Ownership

The ownership of cosmetic thread features is modified starting with SOLIDWORKS 2022.

This functionality applies to new parts created in SOLIDWORKS 2022 and later. To apply this functionality to legacy parts and upgrade them, right-click the part node in the FeatureManager® design tree and select Upgrade cosmetic thread features.

For part templates created in SOLIDWORKS 2022 and later, you can retain the legacy functionality for Depth and feature ownership. In part templates, before you add cosmetic threads, click Tools > Options > Document Properties > Drafting Standard > Annotations and clear Apply new cosmetic thread behavior to new parts. This option is selected by default for new part templates and cleared for legacy part templates. This option is enabled for new part templates only; it is disabled for part documents.

If you use the Insert > Mirror Part command, the mirrored part inherits the cosmetic thread behavior from the base part. For example, if the base part is created in SOLIDWORKS 2021, the mirrored part inherits the legacy behavior for cosmetic threads from the base part.

Cosmetic threads are owned by the latest feature in the FeatureManager design tree whose face shares the common edge selected for attaching the thread. In the image below, you create the cut extrude, add a chamfer, then add a cosmetic thread from the chamfer edge. In SOLIDWORKS® 2022, the chamfer feature owns the cosmetic thread because its face shares the common edge with the cosmetic thread.
Cut extrude + chamfer + cosmetic thread Before SOLIDWORKS 2022 SOLIDWORKS 2022 and later