Free Hardware Parts List Maker

A 30 mm screw and a 35 mm screw look almost identical in a bag. If an instruction says "use screw C" and the reader can't tell which is C, they'll guess. Sometimes that means a screw through the front of a panel. A true-to-scale hardware chart solves this, because the customer can lay the part on the page and match it.

What to include. Each row needs four things: a short ID (A, B, C), the type of part, its size and the quantity in the box. The quantity matters more than it might seem, since it lets someone check for missing parts before they start, rather than at step 12.

Use the same IDs everywhere. The chart only works if every step uses the same letters. Letters are generally easier than long part numbers, and they don't need translating.

How to read hardware sizes. Metric screws and bolts are usually written like M6×30, which means a 6 mm thread diameter and a 30 mm length. Dowels are often written as Ø8×30. Imperial sizes come in forms like 1/4"-20 x 1", where 1/4" is the diameter, 20 is threads per inch and 1" is the length, or #8 x 1-1/4" for screws sized by gauge.

How length is measured. Length conventions differ by part. Bolts and pan-head screws are measured from under the head, and countersunk screws usually include the head. The drawings here follow those conventions, so a bolt's drawing is its stated length plus its head.

Printing at the right scale. Scale only holds if the print does. Print dialogs often default to "Fit to page", which shrinks everything slightly. Choose "Actual size" or 100%. The PDF includes a ruler, so you can check the result with a real ruler. If you're printing a production manual, check a proof from your print vendor as well.

What the drawings represent. Each drawing is a simplified line-art symbol based on the size you enter. It's accurate in length and diameter, but it's not a copy of your specific part. If your part has an unusual head or shape, you can upload your own image for that row instead, though images aren't to scale.

The bill of materials. The CSV download gives you the same list as a simple bill of materials that opens in Excel or Google Sheets, which helps when working with suppliers.

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