There are functions in Solidworks that can make it much easier for you to create specific elements. One of them is the so-called Hole Wizard and in this lesson I will show you how to use it.

To begin with, I will select the upper surface of this object and then launch the Hole Wizard function with one click. After that, a series of icons representing different types of holes will appear on the left side of the screen, so I believe that you will easily find what you need among them. If it turns out that none of the offered types suits you, simply go down a little further and change one of the offered parameters. I will stick to the ANSI standard and check what types of heads I can use. As you can see, all the standard types are covered and I will opt for a hole that fits the flat head of the screw (Flat Head Screw). Of course, I will be offered only those options that correspond to the currently selected hole type, and if I click on another icon, the contents of the Type menu will be completely different.

The next group of parameters that I have to set are related to the physical characteristics of the hole (Hole Specifications). First of all, this implies the choice of size, drilling method (Fit) and depth (End Conditions). It suits me that the hole should not be bigger than the element being drilled, so I will choose the Up to Next option for the last parameter. The other parameters are not so important at this moment, so I will settle for their default values and immediately move on to the next section – Positions.

As you can see, it is completely empty, which means that the program expects me to determine the position of the future hole, so I will return the cursor to the selected surface and simply press the left mouse button. This will be enough for a new detail to appear on it, a simplified representation of the new hole. If you pay attention to the currently active parameters, you will notice that the program has automatically switched to Sketch mode and activated the Point function, which means that everything is ready to add new holes. This task is much easier to perform if the entire element is placed in the correct position because then there is a possibility to automatically locate some characteristic points. I will use the opportunity to position the hole at the point where two auxiliary lines meet, and there is a possibility to add some more elements to the existing sketch. To this end, it is necessary, for example, to start the function for drawing lines and set a new segment, and its exact dimension can be determined later. It works for me to place the hole exactly two inches from the center, so I’ll enter the appropriate length and activate the Point function again. After that, it won’t be difficult for me to click on this point and precisely position the new element. On the other hand, if you have changed your mind and want to move one of these holes, simply select it and move it to a new location, and if you no longer need one of them, you can remove it by pressing the Delete key. You will achieve the opposite effect if you activate the Point function again and click on the corresponding point, and I will use the opportunity to create a few more openings. Having fulfilled my goal in this way, all that remains for me is to complete this function and check what I have achieved. As you can see, the program automatically created several complex openings that fully correspond to the set parameters.

If it turns out that the holes you installed at some point no longer meet your needs, you can easily change them. To that end, you need to select the appropriate element and activate the Edit Feature option from the auxiliary menu. After that, you can simply choose another type (Hole Type), style or size (Hole Size) and as soon as you return to the normal working mode, the program will automatically change the appearance of all existing openings.

You probably remember that at the very beginning of the lesson I advised you that before starting the Hole Wizard, you should select the surface you want to drill. This is still true, but sometimes there is a need to place the holes in several different directions. In this case, you can immediately start the Hole Wizard, set the desired parameters and proceed to the second step, positioning. I will try to put a few new holes in this way, but it will obviously not be an easy task. Namely, for precise positioning in space, it is necessary to activate the 3D Sketch option so that the program allows me to choose any of the existing surfaces. With a few clicks, I will create openings on the side, top and bottom surfaces, which, admittedly, will lead to somewhat strange results, which are a consequence of the curvature of one of the selected substrates. This problem can be solved by good preparation, by creating an appropriate sketch that would include the positions of future openings and thus facilitate their positioning. I will still complete this procedure, although at first glance it can be seen that some holes are a bit problematic and require additional involvement.

Regardless of this drawback, it can be considered that the task was successfully completed and you now know how to use the “hole wizard”.