Creating Custom Hole Wizard Holes/ Toolbox Components

Have you wanted to edit or add custom hole wizard sizes or build a company standard of fasteners in the Toolbox? Continue reading below for a brief step-by-step for editing the Toolbox and Hole Wizard database. All data for the Toolbox add-in and Hole Wizard feature are contained in C:\SOLIDWORKS Data\ and the Toolbox Settings application allows us to create custom folders and sizes, and even add new parts to this database. Editing these folders outside of the Toolbox Settings wizard can lead to unintended behavior so our recommendation is to always use this application for these types of changes.

Creating a Custom Hole Wizard Standard

Creating a custom standard will allow you to maintain the existing default standards, giving you the safety to use the new folder as a sandbox. If at any point you want to scrap it and build another, you can copy one of the default standards again knowing it contains 100% default sizes. It is not required to create a new standard first for editing, but is generally recommended.

1. From the Windows Start Menu, search Toolbox and click on Toolbox Settings 20xx.
2. When the Toolbox Settings wizard appears, choose “1. Hole Wizard”.
3. On the left pane, choose the standard from which you want to base your new standard from, then in the flyout menu here is a stacked folder icon that will copy this folder and create a new one that you can edit.
4. Give your new standard a name, then click the green arrow to complete the command.

Creating Custom Hole and Thread Sizes

As mentioned before, you have the option of editing the default standards, but our recommendation is to create a custom standard first(steps above) which allows you to use that as a sandbox for settings and sizes. Follow the steps below for creating custom holes and threads.

1. From the same Toolbox Settings application, select the standard you intend to edit in the navigation pane on the left. For this example we'll choose the custom one (green folder at the bottom).
2. Choose the Hole Standard you would like to add to. For this example, we will choose Counterbore Holes> Hex Screw – ANSI B18.6.7M. 
3. Click “Sizes” and click the “+” at the top of the list. A window pops up. Input your custom size parameters and click “OK”.
4. Select “Thread Data” and click the “+” at the top of the list. A window will pop up. Input your custom thread parameters and click “OK”.
5. You also have the option to export/import Excel tables for editing multiple sizes at once per hole.
6. Before testing the new size, click the blue disk icon at the top of the Toolbox Settings application to save and commit these changes. 

Creating Custom Toolbox Fasteners

With the previously created custom standard, we can also choose to edit existing bolts and screws as well as add custom files either created manually or downloaded from a site like McMaster-Carr. 

1. To edit or add new fasteners, launch the Toolbox Settings application again and select 2. Customize Hardware.
2. Select the custom standard from before in the navigation pane on the left.
3. Choose the hardware standard you would like to add a custom size to. We will choose Bolts and Screws>Hex Head>Formed Hex Screw-ANSI B18.2.3.2M.
4. Choose “Size” and click the “+” at the top of the list. Input your custom parameters. You can also input custom parameters for the other “Standard Properties” in the same way.

Alternatively, you can right click on a sub-folder and add files, which allows you to point to .sldprt part files. Doing this will copy the part into the C:\SOLIDWORKS Data\ folder and add it to the Toolbox library to be used for drag/drop operations in your assemblies.