How to add Custom Parts to the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Library

On many occasions, designers need to add SOLIDWORKS Toolbox custom parts to their library. Some special items might be downloaded from various websites and due to their repetitive usage for company design applications, the part needs to be saved into the shared SOLIDWORKS Toolbox library. In this blog article, the steps for saving a custom file in SOLIDWORKS Toolbox is demonstrated.

Part Preparation

Before adding a part file to Toolbox, some presets must be completed:

1. First of all, if the part model has a number of configurations, the configurations must be created and saved under that file.
2. Also, if the file is imported from another CAD system or if it’s a neutral format, the part needs to be saved as a SOLIDWORKS format.

For instance, an eye-bolt part is downloaded from Mcmaster-Carr and then configurations have been created in the file for longer and shorter versions of the bolt. More configurations could also be added for different diameters.

Configurations are added to downloaded Eye-bolt

Next, custom properties are added for all the properties that we want to appear in a BOM or notes in future drawing sheets. For instance, the size and length of the bolt, part number, etc.

Add custom properties for a BOM or drawing notes

Adding the part to Toolbox

To add SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Custom Parts, expand the SOLIDWORKS Task Pane on the right-hand side of the screen. Expand Toolbox and select one of the folders. Any folder will do it. As shown below, right-click on an empty space under that folder items and select “Configure…”.

Right-click and select “Configure…”

Now in the Toolbox Configuration window, right-click on a folder that the new item needs to be saved under and select “New Folder”. In the following image, ANSI Inch folder is selected to save the imperial eye-bolt. The new folder could also be completely separate from existing standards. In that case, right-click must be done on the Toolbox Standards folder name. One may decide to create sub-folders under the newly created folder.

Create a new folder for the custom items

Next, right-click on that folder and select “Add File…”. Then, find the required item from the popped-up open window and add to the list. Continue adding more files as needed.

Right-click on new folder and select “Add File…”

Finally by clicking on each individual new item, General settings such as file name, description and other custom properties of the part can be modified. In addition, the Colour settings of the part can be modified in this window. Now this part can be added to an assembly in the same manner as the other toolbox items and save time in your design process.

Modify General and Colour settings of each individual new toolbox items.