Author: Bryan Sprange, CSWE, Javelin Technologies 

Much like when SOLIDWORKS made your first sketch dimension auto scale your whole part back in 2014, with the release of SOLIDWORKS 2018, they have added another feature that users have asked for which makes modeling your designs easier even if it seems like a minor update at first glance.

If you change your mind on the choice of hole in the SOLIDWORKS 2018 Hole Wizard tool, you no longer need to remember and re-input your hole specifications!

Whether it is a design change late in your design process, or a change when you are first defining the part, it will be made easier by not needing to re-define your hole wizard settings every time a change is made.

This feature is configurable, so if the previous method of each hole type having a default setting is preferred, the setting can be changed in the system options under ‘hole wizard / tool box’ settings.

Lets see it in action

To take a quick look at the change to the Hole Wizard, we will use this shelf which currently has a counter bored hole to receive a pan head machine screw for mounting the slats. A design review has revealed that consumers MUCH prefer a counter sunk flat head screw on their shelf slats, and so you have been tasked with switching the configuration to use a counter sunk fastener.

While this is an over simplification, it would still require modifying the hole definition, and when changed to a counter sunk style, the current hole settings would previously be lost.

With SOLIDWORKS 2018, the settings used for the counter bored hole will be maintained when switched to a counter sunk hole.

This feature is configurable, so if the previous method of each hole type having a default setting is preferred, the setting can be changed in the system options under ‘hole wizard / tool box’ settings.

Javelin Technologies

Javelin Technologies is a provider of technology solutions since 1997. We are experts in 3D design and have helped thousands of companies with solutions for mechanical design, electrical design and 3D printing. Large or small, we have the skills, experience, and services to propel your organization to new heights so you can aim high.