- Default styling: light, standardized, legible in plan view.
- Intended solely for 3D printing, realistic rendering, or mesh simulation.
- Actual threads make the assembly much heavier: never use them on standard fasteners.
In 90 % of cases, we want a cosmetic threading : a standardized, simplified representation that appears correctly in drawings and bills of materials, without modeling the threads. It is created using the’Drilling Aid (tapped holes) or Insert → Annotations → Cosmetic Thread (on a cylinder). The actual thread pitch (Thread tool, from SOLIDWORKS (2016) is used only for 3D printing, local simulation, or a part where the mesh is the feature.
Cosmetic Threading on a Hole: The Drilling Wizard
- Functions tab → Drilling Aid.
- Type: Threaded hole ; ISO standard; size (e.g., M8); finish specification.
- "Positions" tab: Click the face, place the points, and add dimensions.
- Validate: The hole is drilled to the specified diameter and features an M8 decorative thread, with automatic dimensioning in the drawing.
Cosmetic threading on a cylinder (screw, shaft)
- Select the circular edge at the end of the cylinder.
- Insert → Annotations → Cosmetic Thread. Standard, size, depth (or «up to the shoulder»).
- In the drawing, enable the display of decorative threads (Options → Document Properties → Appearance): the standard thin lines will appear.
Actual Threading: The Threading Tool
- Functions tab → Thread (or Insert → Functions → Thread).
- Select the starting circular edge. Profile type: ISO metric, size, method: Remove (external thread on a cylinder) or Extruder (attached net).
- Length or number of turns, starting offset for the thread entry.
- Confirm. The mesh is modeled in 3D.
The Pitfall to Watch Out For
The actual thread on an M8 screw weighs more than an entire housing. In an assembly with 200 screws, that’s what causes the system to freeze up. Rule: Standard fasteners = Toolbox with cosmetic threads; actual threads are reserved for one-of-a-kind parts where they really matter.
FAQ
Frequently asked Questions
Do cosmetic threads appear in 3D prints?
No, that's an annotation, not geometry. To print a thread, you need the actual thread (Thread tool), and you often have to make it slightly larger depending on the printer.
How do I show cosmetic threads in a drawing?
Options → Document Properties → Layout → Check the box to display cosmetic fillets and, if necessary, shaded display. Cross-sectional views show them as standard thin lines.
See also in our knowledge base: Creating a Thread in SOLIDWORKS.
Further Reading : Find All of our SOLIDWORKS tutorials and the SOLIDWORKS Training by Ohmytraining.
