Chapter 17: Using Hole Wizard and Toolbox
Favorites quirks
Hole Wizard Favorites seem to have a couple of quirks that are possibly “sub-optimal,” as they say.
First, you can only see the favorites for a specific type of hole when that type of hole is activated in
the interface. For example, if you have a number of favorites for countersunk holes, but you cur-
rently have the counterbored hole icon activated, you will not be able to see the countersunk
favorites until you switch to the countersunk icon.If you have a lot of favorites, this may be beneficial, but if you have only a few favorites, or you do
not use favorites frequently, it may be confusing and can create some unnecessary steps to find all
your favorites.A second quirk occurs when you allow SolidWorks to name the favorites and you have fractional
values such as^1 ⁄ 4 — which happens now and then in hole sizes — and then try to save the favor-
ites. Each favorite is saved as a separate file, using the name that was automatically assigned to it by
SolidWorks as the filename. Unfortunately, the character “/” is not allowed in a filename, so it fails.Using the Hole Series
The Hole Series enables you to make a series of in-context hole features in individual parts that are
connected by a Hole Series assembly-level feature. It is intended for a stack of parts where, for
example, the top part has a counterbored hole, the middle part has a clearance through hole, and
the final part has a blind threaded hole.
Hole Series interface
The Hole Series used to be part of the Hole Wizard, but has since been exported as a separate tool.
It is now a five-step, wizard-based feature, ending with populating the new hole with a fastener
using Smart Fasteners functionality. The Toolbox add-in is required to use Smart Fasteners.
Figure 17.8 shows the interface for the various steps.Basic Hole Series steps
When using the Hole Series feature, you must follow these basic steps:- Have an assembly open with two or more parts in it that need to be fastened together.
- Initiate the Hole Series tool by choosing Insert ➪ Assembly Features ➪ Hole ➪ Hole
Series. It is also available as a toolbar button, but it is not on the toolbar by default. - If the Hole Series is to be started from an existing hole, then select it in the Hole
Position panel. If not, then use sketch points, construction geometry, dimensions, and
sketch relations to locate the hole centerpoints. - Use the tabs at the top of the PropertyManager to advance from one panel to the next.
l (^) The Start Hole Specification refers to the part where the series of holes starts.
l The Middle Hole Specification is for all parts between the first part and the last part.
l (^) The End Hole Specification is the last part and is either a through clearance hole or a
threaded hole.