How Do I Turn Off Cosmetic Threads in SolidWorks?

by

How Do I Turn Off Cosmetic Threads in SolidWorks?

Cosmetic threads can be a great way to enhance the visual representation of your designs in SolidWorks. However, there may be instances when you want to turn off these cosmetic threads either for better performance or to simplify the display.

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps of turning off cosmetic threads in SolidWorks.

Method 1: Turning Off Cosmetic Threads Globally

If you want to disable cosmetic threads for all parts and assemblies in your SolidWorks session, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open SolidWorks and go to Tools > Options.
  2. In the Options dialog box, select the Document Properties tab.
  3. In the left-hand sidebar, click on Detailing.
  4. Under Detailing, uncheck the box that says “Use cosmetic thread display”.
  5. Click on OK to save the changes.

With this method, all future parts and assemblies will no longer display cosmetic threads by default. If you want to enable them again, simply follow the same steps and check the “Use cosmetic thread display” box.

Method 2: Turning Off Cosmetic Threads Per Part/Assembly

If you only want to disable cosmetic threads for specific parts or assemblies while keeping them enabled for others, you can use this method:

  1. Select the part or assembly for which you want to turn off cosmetic threads.
  2. In the Feature Manager Design Tree (usually located on the left-hand side of the SolidWorks window), right-click on the part or assembly name and select Properties.
  3. In the Properties dialog box, go to the Display/Selection tab.
  4. Under Display/Selection, uncheck the box that says “Use cosmetic thread display”.

By following these steps, you can turn off cosmetic threads for specific parts or assemblies without affecting others. Remember that if you want to enable them again for a particular component, simply repeat the steps and check the “Use cosmetic thread display” box.

Troubleshooting:

If you have followed these methods and are still seeing cosmetic threads in your designs, make sure that you have not accidentally applied them as sketch entities. Cosmetic threads created at the sketch level will still be visible even if you disable their display at the part or assembly level.

To remove sketch-level cosmetic threads, edit your sketches and delete any thread entities present.

In conclusion, turning off cosmetic threads in SolidWorks can be done either globally for all parts and assemblies or on a per-part/per-assembly basis. By utilizing these methods, you can tailor your design display to suit your preferences and improve performance when necessary.