Fastener Data Files
All information for the fasteners assembled with Creo Intelligent Fastener is read from fastener data files. Fastener data files have the file extension .dat. Each DAT file is divided into two sections.
• The first section of the DAT file provides basic information about the fastener, such as the type of fastener and the unit for the fastener.
• The second section contains the definition of the fastener instances. There are two methods of providing the definition:
◦ Add a line for each single fastener instance
◦ Use the family table mapping to get the fastener instance information directly from the generic part.
For each fastener type there are some dimensions required for the 2D preview in the Screw Fastener Definition and Dowel Pin Fastener Definition dialog boxes. These values must be available even if your fastener instances exist.
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You must press TAB to separate the values in the DAT file.
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Section 1 of the DAT File
The first section of the DAT file is described in the tables below.
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Fastener Information
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Keyword
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Value
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One of the following types of fasteners:
• SCREWTYPE
• WASHERTYPE
• NUTTYPE
• INSERTTYPE
• PINTYPE
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Type and index of fastener.
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UNIT
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One of the following units for the fastener:
• MM
• INCH
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INFO or LABEL
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Optional value. The label for the fastener that you want to appear in the Screw Fastener Definition dialog box. If no value is provided then Creo Intelligent Fastener uses the library translation file to get the label for the Screw Fastener Definition dialog box.
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HELPTEXT
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Optional value. The help text you want to appear for the label in the Screw Fastener Definition dialog box. If no value is provided, then Creo Intelligent Fastener uses the library translation file to get the help text for the Screw Fastener Definition dialog box.
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SUBINFO
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Optional value. Enter the value of a column. If there is more than one instance of the selected size, the values from the column appear in a shortcut menu from which you can select the instance.
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To see placement references in the graphics window, set the Creo Parametric configuration option show_selected_item_id to yes. Then, when you place the pointer on the placement reference, the ID appears. If your fastener data file refers to fastener parts with different placement references, then add the pair of placement references after the first IDS. Be sure to separate the values by pressing the TAB.
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You can also add the placement references in section 2. Then you have to remove it from section 1.
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Placement References
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Keyword
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Value
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SURFACE
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The item ID or NAME of the reference plane. Flip the orientation by adding a minus sign (–) before the ID or the NAME.
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AXIS
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The item ID or NAME of the reference axis.
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ORIENT
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Optional value. The item ID or NAME of the orientation plane. Flip the orientation by adding a minus sign (–) before the ID or the NAME.
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Counterbore preselection is valid for the fastener types listed below:
• SCREWTYPE
• WASHERTYPE
• NUTTYPE
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Counterbore Preselection
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Keyword
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Value
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CBSCR
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Optional value. The name of the column from the ifx_screw_data.cfg file. This counterbore diameter is preselected for Side 1 – Counterbore in the Screw Fastener Definition dialog box, if the fastener is selected.
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CBNUT
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Optional value. The name of the column from the ifx_screw_data.cfg file. This counterbore diameter is preselected for Side 2 – Counterbore in the Screw Fastener Definition dialog box, if the fastener is selected.
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Selection of different tables from the configuration file. Enter the table you want to use for this DAT file. If no value is specified, the default table is used.
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Table selection
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Keyword
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Value
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THREAD
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Optional value. The name of the THREAD table from the ifx_screw_data.cfg file. Only valid for fastener types listed below:
• SCREWTYPE
• NUTTYPE
• INSERTTYPE
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RUNOUT
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Optional value. The name of the RUNOUT table from the ifx_screw_data.cfg file. Valid for fastener type SCREWTYPE only.
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ADDCB
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Optional value. The name of the ADDCB table from the ifx_screw_data.cfg file. Valid for fastener type SCREWTYPE only.
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ETSCR
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Optional value. The name of the ETSCR table from the ifx_screw_data.cfg file. Valid for fastener type SCREWTYPE only.
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MUSCR
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Optional value. The name of the MUSCR table from the ifx_screw_data.cfg file. Valid for fastener type NUTTYPE only.
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TOL
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Optional value. The name of the TOL table from the ifx_pin_data.cfg file. Valid for fastener type PINTYPE only.
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Use hole chart preselection if more than one hole chart is available. If a hole chart is specified in the header of the DAT file, then the hole chart is preselected. If the file does not exist, a warning appears.
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Hole Chart Preselection
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Keyword
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Value
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THREAD_NAME
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Optional value. Enter the THREAD_NAME value, such as ISO, from the hole chart to create the hole.
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THREAD_NAME_CLEARANCE
THREAD_NAME_COUNTERBORE
THREAD_NAME_COUNTERSINK
THREAD_NAME_THREAD
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Optional values. Use these keywords for special hole types. Separate values by TAB or semicolon. They are valid for the fastener types listed below:
• SCREWTYPE
• WASHERTYPE
• NUTTYPE
• INSERTTYPE
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THREAD_NAME_BLIND
THREAD_NAME_COUNTERBORE
THREAD_NAME_CLEARANCE
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Optional values. Use these keywords for special hole types. Separate values by TAB or semicolon. They are valid for the fastener type PINTYPE only.
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Family table keywords are only for the family table mapping.
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Family Table Information
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Keyword
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Value
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FAMPRT
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The name of the generic family table part without the extension.
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MUST
NOT
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Optional value. Use these keywords to filter the family table instances by parameter or dimension values, by indicating a value must conform or not conform. Be sure to use a valid Creo Parametric parameter or dimension name with the syntax MUST <NAME> <VALUE> or NOT <NAME> <VALUE>.
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Section 2 of the DAT File
The second section of the DAT file is described in the tables below. You must press TAB to separate the values in the DAT file.
In this section of the DAT file, the fastener sizes are defined. You must add one line for each fastener size.
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If you use #SURFACE or #AXIS or #ORIENT in columns in section 2, you have to remove it from section 1.
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Single Fastener Instances
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Keyword
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Value
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SYMBOL
INSTANCE
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Column with a valid Creo Parametric file name. The following instance names are valid:
• Existing fastener part
• Existing family table instance part
• Nonexistent fastener part. The part will be created on the fly while assembling the fastener.
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STRING
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Only for screw fasteners. The value appears in the Screw Fastener Definition dialog box in the Screw list.
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#THREAD_NAME
#THREAD_NAME_CLEARANCE
#THREAD_NAME_COUNTERBORE
#THREAD_NAME_COUNTERSINK
#THREAD_NAME_THREAD
#THREAD_NAME_BLIND
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Optional values. Separate more THREAD_NAME by semicolon. See table Hole Chart Preselection for more details.
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#SURFACE
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Optional value. The item ID or NAME of the reference plane. Flip the orientation by adding a minus sign (–) before the ID or the NAME.
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#AXIS
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Optional value. The item ID or NAME of the reference axis.
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#ORIENT
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Optional value. The item ID or NAME of the orientation plane. Flip the orientation by adding a minus sign (–) before the ID or the NAME.
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<COLUMN>
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The name of the dimension or parameter. You can define columns to add to the DAT files. If no dimension or parameter with the name of the column is found in the fastener template, then a string parameter with the given value is created.
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In this section you can also look up the fastener instance information directly from the generic family table part.
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Family Table Mapping
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Keyword
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Value
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SYMBOL
INSTANCE
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Enter #FAMTAB to use the family table mapping.
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#THREAD_NAME
#THREAD_NAME_CLEARANCE
#THREAD_NAME_COUNTERBORE
#THREAD_NAME_COUNTERSINK
#THREAD_NAME_THREAD
#THREAD_NAME_BLIND
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Optional values. Separate more THREAD_NAME by semicolon. See table Hole Chart Preselection for more details.
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#SURFACE
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Optional value. The item ID or NAME of the reference plane. Flip the orientation by adding a minus sign (–) before the ID or the NAME.
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#AXIS
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Optional value. The item ID or NAME of the reference axis.
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#ORIENT
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Optional value. The item ID or NAME of the orientation plane. Flip the orientation by adding a minus sign (–) before the ID or the NAME.
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<STRING>
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Only for screw fasteners.
• If UNIT=MM enter M<DN>.
• If UNIT=INCH enter the Creo Parametric dimension name.
The value appears in the Screw Fastener Definition dialog box in the Screw list.
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<COLUMN>
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The name of the Creo Parametric dimension or parameter. Do not use the renamed value. Depending on the type of fastener, different columns are required for the 2D preview in the Screw Fastener Definition and Dowel Pin Fastener Definition dialog boxes.
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The following is an example of a DAT file for single fastener instances. You need one line for each instance.
! Fastener Information
SCREWTYPE 20
UNIT MM
INFO ISO 4014
SUBINFO BUW_SIZE
! Placement References
SURFACE 124 -12 PLACEMENT_SURFACE
AXIS 341 24 PLACEMENT_AXIS
! Hole Chart Preselection
THREAD_NAME ISO
! Counterbore Preselection
CBSCR DIN974-2 R1
! Fastener Instances
SYMBOL STRING DN LG B S K DG P BUW_NAME BUW_TYPE BUW_SIZE
INSTANCE STRING DN LG B S K DG P name type size
...
ISO4014-M10x65-5_6 M10 10 65 26 16 6.4 8.5 1.5 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M10 x 65 - 5.6
ISO4014-M10x65-8_8 M10 10 65 26 16 6.4 8.5 1.5 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M10 x 65 - 8.8
ISO4014-M10x70-5_6 M10 10 70 26 16 6.4 8.5 1.5 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M10 x 70 - 5.6
ISO4014-M10x70-8_8 M10 10 70 26 16 6.4 8.5 1.5 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M10 x 70 - 8.8
...
M12x60-5_6<ISO4014> M12 12 60 30 18 7.5 10.2 1.75 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M12 x 60 - 5.6
M12x60-8_8<ISO4014> M12 12 60 30 18 7.5 10.2 1.75 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M12 x 60 - 8.8
...
SCREWTYPE 20
UNIT MM
INFO ISO 4014
SUBINFO BUW_SIZE
! Placement References
SURFACE 124 -12 PLACEMENT_SURFACE
AXIS 341 24 PLACEMENT_AXIS
! Hole Chart Preselection
THREAD_NAME ISO
! Counterbore Preselection
CBSCR DIN974-2 R1
! Fastener Instances
SYMBOL STRING DN LG B S K DG P BUW_NAME BUW_TYPE BUW_SIZE
INSTANCE STRING DN LG B S K DG P name type size
...
ISO4014-M10x65-5_6 M10 10 65 26 16 6.4 8.5 1.5 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M10 x 65 - 5.6
ISO4014-M10x65-8_8 M10 10 65 26 16 6.4 8.5 1.5 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M10 x 65 - 8.8
ISO4014-M10x70-5_6 M10 10 70 26 16 6.4 8.5 1.5 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M10 x 70 - 5.6
ISO4014-M10x70-8_8 M10 10 70 26 16 6.4 8.5 1.5 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M10 x 70 - 8.8
...
M12x60-5_6<ISO4014> M12 12 60 30 18 7.5 10.2 1.75 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M12 x 60 - 5.6
M12x60-8_8<ISO4014> M12 12 60 30 18 7.5 10.2 1.75 hexheadscrew ISO 4014 M12 x 60 - 8.8
...
The following is an example of a DAT file for family table mapping. You only need one line, #FAMTAB, for the dimension and parameter mapping.
! Fastener Information
SCREWTYPE 1
UNIT MM
INFO DIN 912 Famtab
SUBINFO MATERIAL
! Placement References
SURFACE 28
AXIS 71
! Counterbore Preselection
CBSCR DIN974-1 R1
! Family Table Information
FAMPRT din912
MUST NORM DIN912
NOT DIA 22.0
NOT DIA 27.0
! Fastener Instances
SYMBOL STRING DN LG B S DK K DG P
INSTANCE STRING DN LG B S DK K DG P
#FAMTAB M<DN> d5 d3 d4 d8 d12 d7 d6 pitch
SCREWTYPE 1
UNIT MM
INFO DIN 912 Famtab
SUBINFO MATERIAL
! Placement References
SURFACE 28
AXIS 71
! Counterbore Preselection
CBSCR DIN974-1 R1
! Family Table Information
FAMPRT din912
MUST NORM DIN912
NOT DIA 22.0
NOT DIA 27.0
! Fastener Instances
SYMBOL STRING DN LG B S DK K DG P
INSTANCE STRING DN LG B S DK K DG P
#FAMTAB M<DN> d5 d3 d4 d8 d12 d7 d6 pitch