QuickBolt Presets
The Presets tab enables you to quickly select a common type of thread and QuickBolt will generate all the parameters automatically. Then all you need to do is select which components you require to be included in the final model and click on the OK button at the top of the QuickBolt panel.
Thread Type
A dropdown selection list with options of UN (Unified National), Metric, Whitworth, NPT (National Pipe Taper Thread), and NPS (National Pipe Standard Straight Thread). To create a preset, select the Thread Type and Coarse/Fine settings that you require.
Coarse/Fine
A selection list with options of Coarse and Fine. In combination with the Thread Type selector, it enables you to generate UNC, UNF, Metric Coarse, Metric Fine threads.
Thread Size
Next, click on the Thread Size and select the size from the list presented.
Metric Coarse | Metric Fine | UN Coarse | UN Fine | Whitworth Coarse | Whitworth Fine | NPT | NPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Note that:
- The contents of this list changes to match the previous Thread Type and Coarse/Fine selections (see figure 3),
- If you go back and change the Thread Type or Coarse/Fine settings the Thread Size will automatically reset to "select",
- Metric Fine thread sizes are in the format of diameter#pitch (e.g. 3.0#0.5 represents a thread diameter of 3.0mm and a thread pitch of 0.5mm)
- Currently the Coarse and Fine presets for NPT and NPS threads do not differ.
- NPT threads are generated with a 1/16" per 1" taper over the whole length of the thread. NPS threads do not have this taper.
Thread Fit Class
The Thread Fit Class may be changed from the default Standard fit to either Loose or Close for UN and Metric thread types. When you do so the Values Calculated For display will update accordingly.
HiLo Profile
Values Calculated
Having chosen your Thread Type, Size and Coarse/Fine , the Values Calculated For display will now show the thread characteristics you have selected in a standard format.
Onwards
Having completed all your selections on the Presets tab you will find that the correct parameters will have been automatically filled in for you on the Thread, Thread Extras, Head, and Nut tabs. You should now go to these tabs to select further options (e.g. taper, shank, head, nut, etc.) prior to generating the object.
Note that selecting a thread using the Presets tab automatically enables the Thread tick-box on the Thread tab. Likewise, enabling the HiLo Profile on the Presets tab will also automatically enable this option on the Thread tab. The other tick-box options on the Thread, Thread Extras, Head, and Nut tabs are not automatically enabled and require you manually select what you want included in the object.
Like all the other QuickBolt tabs, the settings you select to generate a given bolt/screw/nut are remembered by QuickBolt, so that next time you run the plugin you save time by not having to select them again.
If you want to quickly clear all previous selections and reset values to default settings on all tabs, just click on the Reset To Defaults button at the top of the QuickBolt panel.