Smart Fasteners PropertyManager

Use the Smart Fasteners PropertyManager to insert fasteners and associated hardware into assemblies. Smart Fasteners are fully parameterized SOLIDWORKS parts from the Toolbox library.

To open this PropertyManager, do one of the following:

  • Add a new Smart Fastener to an assembly. Click Smart Fasteners (Assembly toolbar) or Insert > Smart Fasteners.
  • Edit an existing Smart Fastener. Right-click Smart Fastener in the FeatureManager design tree and select Edit Smart Fastener.

Selection

Populate All Adds fasteners to all holes in the assembly.
Add Adds fasteners to selected holes. You can select holes, faces, or components. If you select a face, Smart Fasteners find all available holes that pass through the surface. If you select a component, Smart Fasteners find all available holes in that component.

When you click Populate All or Add, new fasteners are added to the assembly. The length of a new fastener is the next smallest national standard length for a blind hole, and the next longest national standard length for a through hole. When holes are deeper than the longest fastener length, the longest hole is used.

  • For a Hole Wizard hole, the fastener type matches the type of hole, and the diameter is the appropriate size.
  • For a Simple Hole or cylindrical cut, you can specify a default fastener type. The fastener diameter is the next smallest national standard size.

Results

Lists groups of fasteners that you are adding or editing. Select a group to make changes to its fastener type and properties under Series Components and Properties below.

Edit Grouping Displays a fastener tree. You can:
  • Expand the tree to show holes and hole series belonging to each group.
  • Combine two Series by dragging one into the same Group as another.
  • Split a Series by dragging a hole to a different Group.
  • Right-click a Series and select:
    Change fastener type Opens the Smart Fastener dialog box where you can select a fastener.

    The dialog box lists fasteners from the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox library.

    Delete  
    Flip (Available for through holes only.) Flips the heads of the fasteners to the other side of the joint.
    Properties Displays fastener properties in the lower portion of the PropertyManager.
Edit Fasteners Returns to the list of groups of fasteners.

Series Components

Displays the fastener type for the item that you select in the Results list.

Fastener Right-click to change the fastener type or to revert to the default fastener type.
  Auto size to hole diameter Automatically updates the hardware size whenever the hole diameter changes. In the FeatureManager design tree, fasteners and their associated mates are identified with a lightning bolt if they have this option applied. For example: fastener and concentric mate .
  Auto update length Automatically updates the length of the bolt or screw when you add stack hardware such as a washer or a nut. In the FeatureManager design tree, fasteners and their associated mates are identified with a lightning bolt if they have this option applied. For example: fastener and concentric mate .
Top Stack Lists the washers that you select for use under the head of the fastener. Click Add to Top Stack and select hardware to add to the top stack.
Bottom Stack (Available for through holes only.) Lists the washers and nuts that you select for use at the end of the fastener. Click Add to Bottom Stack and select hardware to add to the bottom stack.

Properties

Displays the properties of the hardware selected under Series Components. Available properties vary depending on the hardware type. You can edit properties such as size and length.