How Do You Do a Hole Callout in SolidWorks?

How Do You Do a Hole Callout in SolidWorks?

When working with SolidWorks, hole callouts are an essential part of documenting your designs accurately. They provide important information about the size, type, and location of holes in your models. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to create a hole callout in SolidWorks.

Step 1: Add Holes to Your Model

The first step is to add holes to your model using the Hole Wizard or any other appropriate tool. Once you have placed the holes at desired locations, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Inserting a Hole Callout

To insert a hole callout in SolidWorks, follow these steps:

  1. Select the ‘Annotations’ tab from the command manager.
  2. Click on ‘Hole Callout’ from the ‘Annotation’ toolbar or the ‘Insert’ menu.
  3. The cursor will change to a square with an arrow. Move it over the hole you want to dimension.
  4. Click once on the hole to insert the callout.

Note: You can also right-click on any existing dimension and select ‘Insert Callout’ from the context menu.

Step 3: Configuring Callout Options

After inserting a hole callout, you can configure various options based on your requirements. To access these options:

  1. Select the inserted hole callout.
  2. In the ‘PropertyManager’, choose different options such as text format, precision, and tolerance settings.

Hole Callout Options:

Text Format:

  • Prefix: Specify any prefix text you want to include before the hole callout.
  • Suffix: Specify any suffix text you want to include after the hole callout.

Precision and Tolerance Settings:

  • Precision: Set the number of decimal places to display in the dimension.
  • Tolerance: Define the tolerance values for the hole callout.

Step 4: Placing and Formatting Callout Text

The next step is to place and format the callout text as required. You can adjust its position, font size, alignment, and other properties using SolidWorks annotations tools. This ensures that your hole callouts are readable and well-presented in your design documentation.

Step 5: Updating Hole Callouts

If you make any changes to your model that affect the holes or their positions, you need to update the hole callouts accordingly. To update a hole callout:

  1. Select the hole callout you want to update.
  2. Right-click on it and choose ‘Update’ from the context menu.

This will refresh the dimensions and other information related to the hole in your model.

In Conclusion

Hole callouts are an essential part of documenting designs in SolidWorks. By following these steps, you can easily create accurate and informative hole callouts for your models. Remember to configure options, format text properly, and update callouts whenever necessary to maintain the accuracy of your design documentation.

Now that you have learned how to do a hole callout in SolidWorks, you can effectively communicate the specifications of your designs to others.