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Program","\u002Fresources\u002Fpartnerships\u002Fsponsorshipinfo","resources\u002F4.partnerships\u002F1.sponsorshipinfo",{"title":181,"navigation":54,"icon":182,"path":183,"stem":184,"children":185,"page":50},"Developers","i-ph-code-duotone","\u002Fresources\u002Fdevelopers","resources\u002F5.developers",[186],{"title":187,"path":188,"stem":189,"navigation":54,"icon":54},"MCP","\u002Fresources\u002Fdevelopers\u002Fmcp","resources\u002F5.developers\u002F1.mcp",{"id":191,"title":192,"body":193,"categories":466,"date":468,"date_modified":54,"description":469,"extension":470,"featured":54,"img":471,"img_sizes":54,"img_srcset":54,"meta":472,"navigation":443,"path":473,"seo":474,"seo_description":475,"seo_title":476,"sitemap":477,"stem":478,"video":479,"__hash__":485},"blog\u002Fblog\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware.md","How to Auto-Add PEM Hardware to Your Parts",{"type":194,"value":195,"toc":455},"minimark",[196,200,203,208,211,224,230,244,248,264,273,293,318,322,325,334,339,343,351,360,369,373,376,385,398,402,405,414,419,422,426,429,432,444],[197,198,199],"p",{},"If your part only needs one or two PEM nuts, picking them out by hand in the quoting configurator takes a few seconds. If it needs twenty, across a dozen holes, that stops being a good use of your time. Fabworks can now read the hardware straight out of your CAD model: model each nut, stud, or standoff as its own body, name it with the correct PEM part number, and export the whole assembly as one STEP file. When you upload it, we match every named body to its nearest hole and add the hardware automatically.",[197,201,202],{},"This post walks through how to set that up in your CAD software, what happens when we can't find an exact catalog match, and how to add hardware by hand in the quoting software for the parts where that's still easier.",[204,205,207],"h2",{"id":206},"model-hardware-directly-in-your-cad-software","Model Hardware Directly in Your CAD Software",[197,209,210],{},"Start from your normal sheet metal part, then add the hardware as its own solid body positioned exactly where it mounts, on the correct side of the sheet. Most CAD packages have a standard content or fastener library with real PEM geometry you can drop in and mate to the hole, which is the easiest way to get placement right.",[197,212,213],{},[214,215],"img",{"alt":216,"className":217,"src":220,"style":221,"width":222,"height":223},"A sheet metal bracket modeled with PEM nuts as separate bodies, highlighted in blue, at each mounting hole",[218,219],"max-w-md","w-full","\u002Fblog\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware-1.webp","display: block; margin: 0 auto",1999,1414,[197,225,226],{},[227,228,229],"em",{},"The bracket's sheet metal body next to its PEM nuts, modeled and positioned as their own bodies at each hole.",[197,231,232,233,238,239,243],{},"You don't need to model the sheet part and hardware as separate files or link them with an assembly structure your CAD tool has to preserve, we only need everything to end up as bodies in one exported STEP file. If you're not using Onshape, the same idea applies in Fusion 360, SolidWorks, or any other package that supports multi-body parts or assemblies. For general STEP export steps, see our guides for ",[234,235,237],"a",{"href":236},"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-export-a-step-in-onshape","Onshape"," and ",[234,240,242],{"href":241},"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-export-a-step-in-fusion-360","Fusion 360",".",[204,245,247],{"id":246},"name-each-body-with-its-pem-part-number","Name Each Body With Its PEM Part Number",[197,249,250,251,254,255,259,260,263],{},"This is the step that makes auto-detection work: rename each hardware body to match its PEM part number from our ",[234,252,253],{"href":91},"hardware catalog",". We match on the part number pattern inside the name, so a body named ",[256,257,258],"code",{},"PEM S-M3-0ZI"," and one named just ",[256,261,262],{},"S-M3-0ZI"," both work, and it's not case-sensitive.",[197,265,266],{},[214,267],{"alt":268,"className":269,"src":270,"style":221,"width":271,"height":272},"Four part names in a CAD parts list: PEM S-M3-0ZI, S-M3-0ZI, and S-M3-0ZI-1 marked correct, M3 PEM NUT marked wrong",[218,219],"\u002Fblog\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware-2.webp",750,588,[197,274,275],{},[227,276,277,278,280,281,284,285,288,289,292],{},"The first three all resolve to the same part. The \"PEM \" prefix is optional, so ",[256,279,262],{}," on its own works fine. ",[256,282,283],{},"S-M3-0ZI-1"," works too, that trailing ",[256,286,287],{},"-1"," is what CAD software often appends automatically to keep multiple instances of the same part uniquely named, and we only read the part number, not whatever's tacked on after it. ",[256,290,291],{},"M3 PEM NUT"," fails: it's a description, not a part number, so we can't extract a SKU from it at all, and that body won't be recognized as hardware.",[197,294,295,296,298,299,301,302,305,306,309,310,313,314,317],{},"The part number itself has to be exact: series, thread size, and length code, separated by dashes, matching a real entry in our ",[234,297,253],{"href":91},". A few examples across hardware types: ",[256,300,262],{}," (nut), ",[256,303,304],{},"F-M4-0ZI"," (flush nut), ",[256,307,308],{},"FH-M6-12ZI"," (stud), ",[256,311,312],{},"SO-M4-6"," (standoff), ",[256,315,316],{},"BSO-M5-10ZI"," (blind standoff). Use the part number for the exact hardware you modeled, not a rough equivalent, the more precise the name, the better the match on the other end.",[204,319,321],{"id":320},"export-as-a-multi-body-step-file","Export as a Multi-Body STEP File",[197,323,324],{},"Once every piece of hardware is modeled and named, export the sheet part and all of its hardware bodies together as a single STEP file, the same multi-body export used for uploading assemblies. Don't export each body separately.",[197,326,327],{},[214,328],{"alt":329,"className":330,"src":331,"style":221,"width":332,"height":333},"Onshape STEP export dialog with the \"Export unique parts as individual files\" option unchecked",[218,219],"\u002Fblog\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware-3.webp",651,773,[197,335,336],{},[227,337,338],{},"In Onshape, leave \"Export unique parts as individual files\" unchecked so the sheet part and its hardware bodies all export together into one STEP file.",[204,340,342],{"id":341},"upload-it-and-let-fabworks-match-it","Upload It and Let Fabworks Match It",[197,344,345,346,350],{},"Drop the STEP file into an ",[234,347,349],{"href":348},"\u002F","instant quote"," like any other part. During processing, we look at every named hardware body, find the closest hole on the sheet part within about 3\u002F4\", and figure out which side of the part it mounts on. If the part number is an exact match for hardware we stock, it's added to that hole automatically, no extra clicks needed.",[197,352,353],{},[214,354],{"alt":355,"className":356,"src":357,"style":221,"width":358,"height":359},"Hole Ops panel showing a part with three holes already assigned #10-32 Nut hardware right after upload",[218,219],"\u002Fblog\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware-4.webp",1525,892,[197,361,362],{},[227,363,364,365,368],{},"All three holes on this part already show ",[256,366,367],{},"#10-32 Nut"," in the Type column, matched and applied automatically from the named hardware bodies in the STEP file, before anyone touched the Hole Ops panel by hand.",[204,370,372],{"id":371},"when-theres-no-exact-match","When There's No Exact Match",[197,374,375],{},"If the part number you modeled isn't in our stocked catalog, exactly, we don't just drop it. We look for the closest equivalent, same hardware type and thread size, and flag it with an \"Unrecognized PEM hardware\" notice so you can review it before your quote is finalized.",[197,377,378],{},[214,379],{"alt":380,"className":381,"src":382,"style":221,"width":383,"height":384},"An \"Unrecognized PEM hardware\" warning showing SOS-032-8 replaced by the closest supported option, SO-032-10ZI, with Configure and dismiss buttons",[219],"\u002Fblog\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware-5.webp",1501,137,[197,386,387],{},[227,388,389,390,393,394,397],{},"Here, ",[256,391,392],{},"SOS-032-8"," isn't a stocked part number, so we suggest the closest supported option, ",[256,395,396],{},"SO-032-10ZI",". Click Configure to accept the replacement, or the X to dismiss it and set that hole up yourself.",[204,399,401],{"id":400},"adding-hardware-manually-in-the-quoting-software","Adding Hardware Manually in the Quoting Software",[197,403,404],{},"You don't have to model hardware in CAD to use it. If it's just a hole or two, or you're working from a design that didn't include hardware bodies, you can still add PEM hardware directly in the quoting software: click a hole, filter by hardware type, Nut, Flush Nut, Stud, Standoff, or Rivnut, and pick the exact size from the list.",[197,406,407],{},[214,408],{"alt":409,"className":410,"src":411,"style":221,"width":412,"height":413},"Hole Ops panel with a hole selected and the Standoff filter active, showing a list of standoff sizes with one marked \"closest\"",[218,219],"\u002Fblog\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware-6.webp",1650,938,[197,415,416],{},[227,417,418],{},"Click a hole, filter by hardware type, and search or scroll to the exact size you need. If a size you've used elsewhere on the part is close but not exact, it's flagged \"closest\" in the list.",[197,420,421],{},"This also works alongside the auto-add feature. Anything we detect from your STEP file shows up already configured; anything you'd rather add or change by hand, you still can.",[204,423,425],{"id":424},"bringing-it-together","Bringing It Together",[197,427,428],{},"Modeling and naming your hardware correctly turns a repetitive manual step into something that happens automatically when you upload. It's most worth doing on parts with several pieces of hardware; for a single hole, adding it by hand in the quoting software is just as fast.",[197,430,431],{},"Having trouble picking out which hardware you need in the first place? Watch our guide on how to pick out hardware for your parts.",[433,434],"iframe",{"width":435,"height":436,"src":437,"title":438,"loading":439,"referrerPolicy":440,"frameBorder":441,"allow":442,"allowFullScreen":443,"style":221},315,560,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFdfYgkAo6Uc","How to Pick Out Perfect Hardware!","lazy","strict-origin-when-cross-origin","0","accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share",true,[197,445,446,447,238,451,454],{},"Our ",[234,448,450],{"href":449},"\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-to-design-with-pem-hardware","guide to designing with PEM hardware",[234,452,453],{"href":91},"PEM hardware guidelines"," also cover how to choose the right nut, stud, or standoff for your material and thickness.",{"title":456,"searchDepth":457,"depth":457,"links":458},"",2,[459,460,461,462,463,464,465],{"id":206,"depth":457,"text":207},{"id":246,"depth":457,"text":247},{"id":320,"depth":457,"text":321},{"id":341,"depth":457,"text":342},{"id":371,"depth":457,"text":372},{"id":400,"depth":457,"text":401},{"id":424,"depth":457,"text":425},[467,39],"Design","2026-08-19","How to model PEM hardware directly in your CAD assembly, export it as a multi-body STEP file, and have Fabworks automatically match and add it to the right holes in your quote.","md","\u002Fblog\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware\u002Fthumbnail.webp",{},"\u002Fblog\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware",{"title":192,"description":469},"Skip manually configuring every hole. Learn how to model PEM nuts, studs, and standoffs in your CAD assembly, name them by PEM part number, and let Fabworks auto-detect and add the correct hardware to your quote.","Auto-Add PEM Nuts, Studs, and Standoffs From Your CAD Model",{"loc":473},"blog\u002Fauto-add-pem-hardware",{"name":438,"description":480,"embed_url":437,"thumbnail_url":481,"upload_date":482,"duration":483,"transcript":484},"A quick guide to picking the right PEM hardware type and size for your part.","https:\u002F\u002Fi.ytimg.com\u002Fvi\u002FFdfYgkAo6Uc\u002Fhq2.jpg","2026-06-10T17:27:35-07:00","PT29S","Not sure which hardware to add to your sheet metal parts? Start with what the part needs to do. Need threads in a thin sheet? Use a PEM nut. It gives you strong threads without needing thick material. Need both faces to be flat? Use a flush nut. The steel threads replace tapping, especially in thin aluminum. Need to space two panels apart? Use a standoff. It's also a clean way to mount PCBs. Normal standoffs are open, while blind standoffs are closed. Need a threaded post sticking out? Use a PEM stud. Now you can attach panels with nuts instead of bolts.","N_5CsYQdDGKK4xFn8Z3CY45_LxVX9oOQShxVh2_7RRc",[54,487],{"title":488,"path":489,"stem":490,"description":491,"children":-1},"How to Choose the Right Material for Your Parts","\u002Fblog\u002Fchoosing-the-right-material","blog\u002Fchoosing-the-right-material","A practical framework for picking sheet metal material, thickness, and finish, weighing cost, weight, and corrosion resistance, plus when to powder coat versus order galvanized steel.",1787350380097]