How to Use SOLIDWORKS Toolbox
Contents
SOLIDWORKS Toolbox provides standard hardware and components such as screws, nuts, washers, bearings, retaining rings, and structural items. It can save time in assemblies because common parts are already organized by standard, size, and type. Toolbox is most useful when it is configured consistently for your company or project.
Enable Toolbox
Toolbox is available in certain SOLIDWORKS packages and must be enabled as an add-in. Go to Tools > Add-Ins and enable SOLIDWORKS Toolbox and Toolbox Browser if they are available. If you do not see them, check your license and installation options.
In a managed company setup, Toolbox may already be configured by an administrator. If so, avoid changing shared settings without checking the standard workflow first.
Open the Design Library
Toolbox components are usually accessed from the Design Library task pane. Browse by standard, category, and part type. For example, you can choose a standard such as ANSI or ISO, then select bolts, washers, nuts, or other hardware.
Use the same standard that your drawings and purchasing process expect. Mixing standards can create BOM confusion even when the hardware looks similar in the assembly.
Insert a Toolbox component
- Open an assembly.
- Open the Design Library.
- Browse to the Toolbox component you need.
- Drag the component into the assembly.
- Select the size, length, thread, or other options.
- Add mates or use Smart Fasteners where appropriate.
Configure size and properties
After inserting a Toolbox part, choose the correct size and configuration. Check length, thread type, material, finish, and any custom properties your company uses. These details can affect BOMs, purchasing, and assembly documentation.
Do not assume the default size is correct. A bolt may insert quickly, but the assembly still needs the correct length, thread, washer stack, and clearance for the actual design.
Use Toolbox with BOMs
Toolbox parts can appear in bills of materials like other components. Make sure the part numbers and descriptions match your company standards. If your organization uses custom part numbers, configure Toolbox carefully before many assemblies depend on it.
For released assemblies, review a sample BOM after inserting hardware. This catches missing descriptions, inconsistent part numbers, and duplicate configurations before the assembly reaches purchasing or manufacturing.
Teams should avoid each user having a different Toolbox setup. A shared Toolbox location or controlled PDM setup helps prevent missing hardware, mismatched part numbers, and duplicate configurations. Ask your CAD administrator before changing Toolbox settings in a shared environment.
If Toolbox is stored on a network path, confirm that every user has access to the same path. Broken Toolbox paths can make assemblies open with missing or incorrect hardware.
Troubleshooting Toolbox
If a Toolbox part opens as the wrong size, edit the component configuration. If hardware is missing, check the Toolbox path and add-in status. If BOM information is wrong, review Toolbox custom properties and part numbering settings.
Toolbox can be a major time saver, but it should be treated as controlled library data. Set it up deliberately, use consistent standards, and verify hardware properties before releasing assemblies.
When in doubt, create a small test assembly and BOM before rolling a Toolbox change into active projects. A short test can prevent many repeated hardware errors later.
