Skip to main content

Model a desk robot arm: the nut

The nut is the last part, and parametric in its diameter like the screw, so it fits whatever bolt it is inserted for.

Each step shows the Designer as you make it: a feature's dialog filled in with the step's values, with the tutorial card ringing OK, or what the step made. The first time a command appears, a picture shows where it is. The step numbers match the card's in Help > Tutorials.

  1. New part, from File > New part: name Nut.

    A hex nut, parametric in its diameter, for the bolts through the arm's pivots.

    Model a desk robot arm, step 112: New part made, and what it made selected in the panels

  2. Parameter, from Insert > Parameter: name d, value 8, unit mm.

    Add the parameter d, 8 mm: the diameter of the bolt the nut fits.

    Model a desk robot arm, step 113: Parameter made, and what it made selected in the panels

  3. Change parameter, from the Properties panel: name d, min 2, max 20.

    Give d its range, 2 to 20 mm: the values the design is drawn for.

    Model a desk robot arm, step 114: Change parameter made, and what it made selected in the panels

  4. Sketch, from Insert > Sketch: id hex, on the XZ plane, start 0.92 * d, 0.

    Sketch the nut's hexagon on the ground plane.

    Model a desk robot arm, step 115: the Sketch dialog filled in with the step's values, the tutorial card beside it ringing OK

  5. Extrude, from Insert > Extrude: id nut, profile hex, distance 0.8 * d.

    Extrude it 0.8 d.

    Model a desk robot arm, step 116: the Extrude dialog filled in with the step's values, the tutorial card beside it ringing OK

  6. Chamfer, from Insert > Chamfer: id topBevel, body nut, distance 0.08 * d.

    Chamfer the six top edges.

    Model a desk robot arm, step 117: the Chamfer dialog filled in with the step's values, the tutorial card beside it ringing OK

  7. Chamfer, from Insert > Chamfer: id underBevel, body nut, distance 0.08 * d.

    Chamfer the six bottom edges.

    Model a desk robot arm, step 118: the Chamfer dialog filled in with the step's values, the tutorial card beside it ringing OK

  8. Hole, from Insert > Hole: id bore, body nut, on the end face of nut, diameter d.

    Drill the bore through the middle, d across.

    Model a desk robot arm, step 119: the Hole dialog filled in with the step's values, the tutorial card beside it ringing OK

  9. Part properties, from the Properties panel: id nut, name Nut, material steel, color #1d1f22, metallic 0.85, roughness 0.35.

    Name the part Nut: black steel.

    Model a desk robot arm, step 120: Part properties made, and what it made selected in the panels

  10. Add connector, from Insert > Add connector: part nut, id seat, on the start face of nut, axis the wall face of bore.

    Add a connector on the underside, its axis along the bore.

    Model a desk robot arm, step 121: Add connector made, and what it made selected in the panels
Model a desk robot arm, after step 121

Verified against the product in October 2026