Welcome to the Onshape forum! Ask questions and join in the discussions about everything Onshape.

First time visiting? Here are some places to start:
  1. Looking for a certain topic? Check out the categories filter or use Search (upper right).
  2. Need support? Ask a question to our Community Support category.
  3. Please submit support tickets for bugs but you can request improvements in the Product Feedback category.
  4. Be respectful, on topic and if you see a problem, Flag it.

If you would like to contact our Community Manager personally, feel free to send a private message or an email.

How to choose different length for standard content bolt?

Hi All! I am creating an assembly and following some plans that require an M5x14mm Hex Head Bolt. However when inserting said hardware I am not given a 14mm length option. Is there a way I can insert the part I want from the standard content library? Or do I have to separately import a bolt with the specifications I want from a source like McMaster-Carr?
Tagged:

Best Answer

  • martin_kopplowmartin_kopplow Member Posts: 515 PRO
    edited December 2023 Answer ✓
    When you need 14mm lenght, you can't use ISO, since ISO does not include 14mm length for M5 bolts, neither does DIN. You could use a customized bolt, though, which you could create out of one of the existing lengths.

    Here, I inserted a standard content M5x12 bolt as the closest available length. Then I created a subassembly from it (This is but a trick: Else, it would not export as a tab later!) then I exported that new subassy to a new tab in the same doument, opened it, made a change to it's lenght by +2mm. Finally, I used 'replace' on the original bolt and swapped it for the custom length bolt within my main assembly.

    I used the custom bolt's part studio for replacing, instead of the assembly, and so got rid off the temporary subassy created for the export earlier on. Mates will have to be reassigned after replacing!

Answers

  • martin_kopplowmartin_kopplow Member Posts: 515 PRO
    edited December 2023 Answer ✓
    When you need 14mm lenght, you can't use ISO, since ISO does not include 14mm length for M5 bolts, neither does DIN. You could use a customized bolt, though, which you could create out of one of the existing lengths.

    Here, I inserted a standard content M5x12 bolt as the closest available length. Then I created a subassembly from it (This is but a trick: Else, it would not export as a tab later!) then I exported that new subassy to a new tab in the same doument, opened it, made a change to it's lenght by +2mm. Finally, I used 'replace' on the original bolt and swapped it for the custom length bolt within my main assembly.

    I used the custom bolt's part studio for replacing, instead of the assembly, and so got rid off the temporary subassy created for the export earlier on. Mates will have to be reassigned after replacing!
  • kevin_french584kevin_french584 Member Posts: 4 EDU
    When you need 14mm lenght, you can't use ISO, since ISO does not include 14mm length for M5 bolts, neither does DIN. You could use a customized bolt, though, which you could create out of one of the existing lengths.

    Here, I inserted a standard content M5x12 bolt as the closest available length. Then I created a subassembly from it (This is but a trick: Else, it would not export as a tab later!) then I exported that new subassy to a new tab in the same doument, opened it, made a change to it's lenght by +2mm. Finally, I used 'replace' on the original bolt and swapped it for the custom length bolt within my main assembly.

    I used the custom bolt's part studio for replacing, instead of the assembly, and so got rid off the temporary subassy created for the export earlier on. Mates will have to be reassigned after replacing!
    Great! Though this is a bit of a work around I could see this trick being very useful for many other things! Thanks for the solution, it's very insightful and helpful.
  • martin_kopplowmartin_kopplow Member Posts: 515 PRO
    edited December 2023
    Yes, it is of course a workaround, but it is still a bit faster than downloading from most parts sites (of which some also may not have it in such lenghts!), and at least it keeps you going. Keep in mind that someone will have to source the custom length bolt later, which could be tricky. On the bottom line, it could be preferable to just make a counterbore 2mm deeper and use an easy to find 12mm ISO bolt instead.
  • nick_papageorge073nick_papageorge073 Member, csevp Posts: 835 PRO
    14mm is not a standard length, that's why its not in the standard content list. Redesign your parts to use a standard bolt length. If you go to McMaster and look for M5x14, there are only 4 options. If you look for M5x12, there are 14 options.

    If you must use that size, downloading the step from mcmaster is a good choice. Use the "no-threads" option on the download dropdown whenever possible.
Sign In or Register to comment.