How to choose different length for standard content bolt?

kevin_french584

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?

martin_kopplow

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.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/42aa5b80a0275c4fde3491e3/w/228f67a71ac75e0f00d357ed/e/aa111605323afda5577f8ed3?renderMode=0&uiState=656c59db464e7708812e73af

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!

martin_kopplow

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.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/42aa5b80a0275c4fde3491e3/w/228f67a71ac75e0f00d357ed/e/aa111605323afda5577f8ed3?renderMode=0&uiState=656c59db464e7708812e73af

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_french584

martin_kopplow said:

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.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/42aa5b80a0275c4fde3491e3/w/228f67a71ac75e0f00d357ed/e/aa111605323afda5577f8ed3?renderMode=0&uiState=656c59db464e7708812e73af

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_kopplow

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_papageorge_dayjob

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.