Solidworks accurate thread plugin

[Strostkovy]

Anyone know of any good thread plugins for solidworks? I want to click on a hole or hole location and select a thread size and standard and have dimensionally accurate threads with realistic thread starts and stops and possibly even drill bottoms. Happy to pay for it. The standard solidworks thread tools are extremely lacking and tedious to get accurate threads, and it seems unnecessary to model them manually every time.

 

[len_1962]

Anyone know of any good thread plugins for solidworks? I want to click on a hole or hole location and select a thread size and standard and have dimensionally accurate threads with realistic thread starts and stops and possibly even drill bottoms. Happy to pay for it. The standard solidworks thread tools are extremely lacking and tedious to get accurate threads, and it seems unnecessary to model them manually every time.

So why do you need to model the threads? 3D printing? Injection molding? HoleWizzard will give you drill points plus all the thread callouts in the drawings.......

 

[Strostkovy]

So why do you need to model the threads? 3D printing? Injection molding? HoleWizzard will give you drill points plus all the thread callouts in the drawings.......

Printing primarily, nut it's nice to have a model that's fully accurate regardless. Seems off to make everything exactly as the part and have to make a note to put threads here.

 

[len_1962]

Printing primarily, nut it's nice to have a model that's fully accurate regardless. Seems off to make everything exactly as the part and have to make a note to put threads here.

Well as a machinist\model maker\prototyper thread callouts are more accurate than how people model the threads as they do not understand the finer nuances of how they should be made.
As a CAD guy and SW user since 97 puting cosmetic threads in is a waiste of time unless it is need for 3D printing or to make electrodes for EDM to burn into the injection mold, otherwise a callout tells the story type-start-end and so on, HoleWizzard it both in the eature Tree and automatically dimensions in the drawings with the hole callot feature.

so even though you model the threads an machinist will still go to the Machinist Handbook and doupble check the solid to make sure it's correct for standard threads, custom stuff they'll make from the solid (if it doesn't work it's on the customer).

JMO

lenny

 

[mhajicek]

When designing medical device parts, it's often important to accurately model threads with their exact start and end conditions, because they're so often crowded or partially violated by other features. Solidworks does have a built-in thread feature, with nominal sizes which you can adjust for tolerance, but you'll have to manually model the starts and ends.

 

[implmex]

Holy Shit mhajicek...did you make that on your Haas CM-1?
That is one awesome looking part...you have my respect forever!

Cheers

Marcus
www.implant-mechanix.com
www.vancouverwireedm.com

 

[mhajicek]

Holy Shit mhajicek...did you make that on your Haas CM-1?

I could, but no, that was on the VF-3SS I was using before at Conventus.

 

[implmex]

Hi again mhajicek:
You still have my respect forever...that's one fine looking example of the true machinist's art.

You should be very proud of your skills...that level of ability is pretty rare, even with all the technology we now have available to help us out.

if I was hiring and you showed me something like that, I'd grab you in a heartbeat and pay you whatever it took to keep you happy.

So kudos to you.

Cheers

Marcus
www.implant-mechanix.com
www.vancouverwireedm.com

 

[len_1962]

When designing medical device parts, it's often important to accurately model threads with their exact start and end conditions, because they're so often crowded or partially violated by other features. Solidworks does have a built-in thread feature, with nominal sizes which you can adjust for tolerance, but you'll have to manually model the starts and ends.

View attachment 395931

So have you ever use a library feature for making the threads? you could have it setup with all the info so when you drop in the feature you can aline\rotate and dimension.
or model the solid thread (aka tap) place them thruout the part and then use the combine tool to subtract the "tap solids" from the main body inside the part file.
I do that shit all the time....model maker tricks of the trade, I use SW just like I use CAM to get what I want before even machining.

 

[mhajicek]

So have you ever use a library feature for making the threads? you could have it setup with all the info so when you drop in the feature you can aline\rotate and dimension.
or model the solid thread (aka tap) place them thruout the part and then use the combine tool to subtract the "tap solids" from the main body inside the part file.
I do that shit all the time....model maker tricks of the trade, I use SW just like I use CAM to get what I want before even machining.

That's a great idea, if you do a lot of the same or similar features. I think I've used a library feature once in my life; almost everything I do is unique. The threads in the above part are tapered two-start.

 

[rcoope]

@mhajicek just to clarify, have you modelled with the Solidworks thread forming tool and then used those actual features for threadmilling? I've got the thread feature tool to work well for me including making custom thread forms, so, for example, to model M50 threads properly, but when the parts were made we didn't need anything clever with the thread starts so they were just programmed on a lathe in conversational. I will say for CAM it's useful to model the threads properly so you have the actual major and minor diameter so even if it's a standard thread you don't have to look it up in the handbook. As @implmex says, that's an awesome part.

 

[mhajicek]

@mhajicek just to clarify, have you modelled with the Solidworks thread forming tool and then used those actual features for threadmilling? I've got the thread feature tool to work well for me including making custom thread forms, so, for example, to model M50 threads properly, but when the parts were made we didn't need anything clever with the thread starts so they were just programmed on a lathe in conversational. I will say for CAM it's useful to model the threads properly so you have the actual major and minor diameter so even if it's a standard thread you don't have to look it up in the handbook. As @implmex says, that's an awesome part.

I'll import the model into Mastercam, use the built in threadmilling cycle, and adjust the angular start until the verify or stock model result lines up with the part model. Then comp in on the machine until the gauge (often a mating part) fits.

 

[Areo Defense]

...Solidworks does have a built-in thread feature, with nominal sizes which you can adjust for tolerance, but you'll have to manually model the starts and ends.

....Solidworks does have a built-in thread feature, with nominal sizes which you can adjust for tolerance, but you'll have to manually model the starts and ends.

I have modeled threads in SW and it seems like their development team went out for coffee in the middle of writing code and completely forgot to finish it. You would think that a company as big as Dassault with software usage as vast as SW, they would fully develop their software and not leave it half-finished.

 

[implmex]

Hi again mhajicek:
You wrote:
"Then comp in on the machine until the gauge (often a mating part) fits."

This comment has me puzzled...I always understood you couldn't comp a move that had a Z axis change in it (like a helix)...is that not true anymore?

When I have to fit things like that, my strategy has always been to lie to the CAM system about my cutter size and re-post the code.

Are you saying I don't have to do that anymore?

Cheers

Marcus
www.implant-mechanix.com
www.vancouverwireedm.com

 

[mhajicek]

Hi again mhajicek:
You wrote:
"Then comp in on the machine until the gauge (often a mating part) fits."

This comment has me puzzled...I always understood you couldn't comp a move that had a Z axis change in it (like a helix)...is that not true anymore?

When I have to fit things like that, my strategy has always been to lie to the CAM system about my cutter size and re-post the code.

Are you saying I don't have to do that anymore?

Cheers

Marcus
www.implant-mechanix.com
www.vancouverwireedm.com

I've been comping in threadmilling, helix bores, and ramp contours as long as I can remember. It may be that you've been using machines that don't like it, or that are picky about the lead-ins for them.

 

[Nmbmxer]

I don't model very many thread pitches, mostly M3-M5 in 3d printed parts. My solution in our older copy of Solidworks was to model the inverse of the female thread form as male part. Then when I need to model a tapped hole I do a body insert and mate the male threaded part where I need the hole then body subtract it away. It is a lot fewer steps.

 

[SeymourDumore]

Hi again mhajicek:
You wrote:
"Then comp in on the machine until the gauge (often a mating part) fits."

This comment has me puzzled...I always understood you couldn't comp a move that had a Z axis change in it (like a helix)...is that not true anymore?

When I have to fit things like that, my strategy has always been to lie to the CAM system about my cutter size and re-post the code.

Are you saying I don't have to do that anymore?

Cheers

Marcus
www.implant-mechanix.com
www.vancouverwireedm.com

Marcus, what is your machine or control?
Even a Milltronics from the mid 90-s can move all axes while comped!

 

[implmex]

Hi SymourDumore:
I run a Haas Minimill vintage 2001.
I have no idea whether it will run a comped helix or not...I learned somewhere in my distant past that you can't so I've just never tried.
You know what comes next, of course!
One of the great things about this place is that I can still learn all kinds of good things...I just have to be open to it!

Cheers

Marcus
www.implant-mechanix.com
www.vancouverwireedm.com