Screw Thread

• Definition: A helical ridge produced by forming a

continuous helical groove of uniform section on the
external or internal surface of a cylinder or a cone.
• A screw thread formed on a cylinder is known as
straight or parallel screw thread, while the one
formed on a cone is known as tapered threads
 General Applications
• Fastening: Screws, nuts-bolts and studs are used for
temporary fixing of components
• Joining: Coaxial joining of rods, tubes etc., by
external/internal threads
• Controlled linear movement: Travel of slides, worktables etc.
• Motion & power transmission : Lead screw of machine tools
• Converting rotary motion to translatory movement: Rotation
of screws causes linear motion of nut
• Precision movement: e.g. in microscopes
• Precision measurement of length: Screw gauge
• Controlled automatic feeding in mass production ……
 Classification of Screw Threads
• According to location
– External thread: Formed on outside of a work piece. Eg: on bolts or studs etc
– Internal thread: Formed on inside of a work piece. Eg: on a nut or female
screw gauge
• According to configuration
– Straight- bolts, studs
– Taper- in drill chuck
– Radial: As a self centring chuck
• According to the direction of helix
– Right hand and left hand threads
• According to Standards
– BSW (British Standard Whitworth)threads: Specified as TPI
– Metric threads specified by pith or lead (in mm)
 Classification of Screw Threads
• According to form
– Vee threads (60 or 55 degrees)-common
– Acme threads (29 degrees)
– Square threads (generally in power screws)
– Buttress threads (45 degrees)
– Worm threads (29 degrees)
• According to the number of starts
– Single or Multiple (2 to 4)
• According to compactness of threads
– General threads
– Pipe threads( denser)
– Fine threads (leak proof)
• According to segmentation
– Full thread (common)
– Half turns; half nut in lathe
– Sector threads: Jaws on lathes
 Screw Thread Manufacture
• Thread machining:
Turning, Milling, Grinding, Lapping
• Thread Rolling
 Screw Thread Terminology

EXTERNAL THREAD TERMINOLOGY

Pitch
Crest

Flank
Ad dendum
Pitch line Flan
Flank
Thr ead angl
angle
An
Angle Dedendum
D
Axial th ickness

Root

Axis of thread

Major dia Pitch dia Minor dia

 Screw thread terminology
• Pitch: Distance from a point on one thread to a
corresponding point on the next thread measured parallel
to the axis.
• Thread Form: The cross section of thread cut by a
plane containing the axis
• Major Diameter: Diameter of an imaginary cylinder, co-
axial with the screw, which just touches the crests of an
external thread or roots of an internal threads. It is also
called as ‘Nominal diameter
• Lead: Distance advanced by a screw in one turn.
• For a single start threads: lead=pitch,
• For double start: lead=2xpitch, & so on
 Screw thread terminology
• Minor diameter: Diameter of an imaginary cylinder, co-axial with the
screw which just touches the roots of an external thread or the crest
of an internal thread. This is also referred to as ‘root’ or ‘core
diameter’.
• Effective diameter or Pitch diameter: Diameter of an imaginary
cylinder coaxial with the axis of the thread and intersects the flanks
of the thread such that width of the threads & width of spaces
between threads are equal.
• Flank: Thread surface that connects crest with root.
• Depth of thread: D istance between crest and root measured
perpendicular to axis of screw
 Screw Thread Terminology
• Angle of thread: Included angle between sides of
thread measured in axial plane
• Helix Angle: Angle that the thread makes with the
plane perpendicular to the thread axis
• Flank angle: It is half the included angle of the thread.
• Addendum: Distance between the crest and the pitch
line measured perpendicular to axis of the screw.
• Dedendum: Distance between the pitch line & the
root measured perpendicular to axis of the screw
 Elements of a Thread
Accuracy of a screw thread depends on:
• Major diameter.

• Minor diameter.

• Effective or Pitch diameter.

• Pitch

• Thread angle and form

Measurement of Major Diameter

Bench micrometer

Bench micrometer
 Measurement Using Ordinary
Micrometer
• Used for measuring external major diameter.
• Procedure:
– Gauge setting: It is adjusted for appropriate cylindrical
size (S) having the same diameter (approximately).
– Reading R1 is noted
– Then the micrometer is set on the major diameter of
the thread, and the new reading is ‘R2’
– Thus, Major diameter D = S + (R1 - R2)
• Where S = Size of setting Gauge
• R1= Micrometer reading at setting gauge
• R2 = Micrometer reading over thread
 Measurement by Bench Micrometer

Indicator

Anvils Holding centres

 Measurement Using Bench
Micrometer
• Used for measuring the major diameter.
• Fiducial Indicator ensures measurements at same pressure
• It has a micrometer head with a Vernier scale (accuracy of
0.002mm).
• Procedure:
• Reading is taken with the calibrated cylinder held between anvils (R1)
• The cylinder is replaced by the threaded work piece and the new
reading is taken (R2)
• Thus, Major diameter D = S + (R1 - R2)
Where S = Size of setting Gauge
Measurement by Bench Micrometer:

Holding centre Holding centre

Standard Cylinder

Measuring anvil Measuring anvil

Thread
Screw
Measurement of Major Diameter
 Measurement of the Major Diameter of an
Internal Thread

• Major diameter is obtained by measuring a cast of the thread.

• Major diameter of internal thread = D + (R2 – R1)
Where:
D= Diameter of standard cylinder
R1 = Thread reading
R2 = Dial indicator reading on standard
 Measurement of Minor Diameter
• Minor diameter is measured using floating carriage
diameter measuring machine
• The floating carriage diameter-measuring machine is a
bench micrometer mounted on a carriage
• Small ‘ V pieces make contact with the root of the thread.
• V pieces are made of hardened steel with suitable radii at
the edges.
 Measurement of Minor Diameter
• Threaded work piece is mounted between the centres of
the instrument and the V pieces are placed on each side of
the work piece and then the reading is noted.
• After taking this reading the work piece is then replaced by
a standard reference cylindrical setting gauge.
• Major diameter of internal thread = D + (R2 – R1)
– Where:
D= Diameter of standard cylinder
R2 = Micrometer reading on threaded work-piece
R1 = Micrometer reading on cylindrical gauge
 Measurement of Minor Diameter of
Internal threads:

• The minor diameter of Internal threads are

measured by:
• Using taper parallels
• Rollers.
 Measurement of Minor Diameter:
Using Taper Parallels

• Used for diameters less than 200mm.

• Taper parallels are pairs of wedges having reduced and parallel
outer edges.
• The diameter across their outer edges can be changed by sliding
them over each other.
 Measurement of Minor Diameter: Using Rollers

• Used for more than 200mm diameter.

• Precision rollers are inserted inside the thread and proper slip
gauge(s) are inserted between the rollers.
• The minor diameter is then the length of slip gauges plus
twice the diameter of roller
 Pitch Errors
Types of Pitch Errors:
• Progressive errors:
• The result of constant but incorrect tool work velocity
• Periodic Pitch Errors:
• Caused by changes in tool work velocity
• Drunken threads:
• Thread is not a true helix, it is a curve instead of a straight
line
• Generally occur at an interval of one pitch
 Pitch Measurement

Commonly used methods for measuring pitch are:

• Pitch measuring Machine
• Tool makers microscope
• Screw pitch gauge
 Tool Makers Microscope:
Optical head
Eye piece

Column

work table
with carriage

Hollow base

Lamp

Collimator lens
C
Mirror
Base
Tool Makers Microscope:
 Tool Makers Microscope
• Worktable is placed on the base of the instrument.
• The optical head, mounted on a vertical column, can be moved up &
down.
• Work piece is mounted on a glass plate.
• A light source provides horizontal beam of light which is reflected
from a mirror by 90° upwards towards the table.
• Image of the outline of contour of the work piece passes through the
objective of the optical head.
• The image is projected on a ground glass screen by a system of three
prisms. The screen can be rotated through 360°.
• Measurements are made by means of cross lines engraved on the
ground glass screen.
• Different types of graduated screens and eyepieces are used
 Pitch Measuring Machine

Spring loaded head permits the stylus to

move up the flank of the thread and
down into the next space as it is moved
along

Accurate positioning of the stylus

between the two flanks is obtained
by ensuring that the pointer T is
always opposite to its index mark
when readings are taken.

Procedure:
• The pointer is accurately placed in position & micrometer reading is noted.
• The stylus is then moved along into the next thread space, by rotating the
micrometer, and a second reading taken.
• Difference between the two readings is the pitch of the thread.
Screw pitch gauge
 Gauge Design
• Plug gauges are used to check external thread forms
• Ring gauges are used to check internal threads
• Taylors principles are applicable for thread gauging
also i.e.:
• GO gauge should check both size and geometry
and thus be full form
• NOT GO gauges should check only one dimension
so it is designed to check only the effective
diameter which is not influenced by errors in pitch
or form.
Measurement of Screw Thread Angle
(Flank angle)
 Measurement of Effective Diameter

• Effective diameter can not be measured directly but can

be calculated from the measurements made.
• It may be measured by the following methods:
• Two wire method
• Three wire method
• Micrometer method
 Two Wire Method
• Wires of exactly known diameters are chosen such that
they contact the flanks at their straight portions.
• Screw thread is mounted between the centers & wires
are placed in the grooves and reading M is taken.
• Effective diameter
E =T+P
Where,
• T =M-2d (distance under the wires)
• P depends on diameter of wire, pitch & angle of the screw
thread.
 Two Wire Method:

M-Dimension over the wire

 Two Wire Method
• If P’ is the pitch of the thread then
– P = 0.9605*P’- 1.1657d For Witworth threads
– P = 0.866*P’- d For Metric threads
Where P is the difference between the effective
diameter & the diameter under the wires
Two Wire Method
Two Wire Method
P

AP=OP-OA
 Three Wire Method
• The three-wire method is more accurate as it ensures
the alignment of micrometer anvil faces parallel to the
thread axis.
• Three wires of equal & precise diameter are used.
• One wire is placed on one side and two on the other
side in the groves of the screw.
• The wires either may held in hand or hung from a
stand
Three Wire Method
 Three Wire Method
M= Diameter over the wires
E= Effective Diameter (to be evaluated)
d= Diameter of wire
h = Height of wire center above the pitch line
r = Radius of wire
H = Depth of thread
E M D = Major diameter of thread

Dia 'd'
P


A
h B
C
H 

D E

M
E
 Three Wire method

 d 
From the triangle ABD, AD  AB cosec  cosec
2 2 2
CD  H  P cot 
2 4 2
d  P 
Further h  ( AD  CD)   cosec    cot 
2 2  4 2
Distance over the wires, M  E  2h  2r
  P    P 
i.e. M  E  2rcosec  cot   2r  E  2r 1  cosec   cot
 2 4 2  2 2 2
  P 
Or M  E  d 1  cosec   cot
 2 2 2
 Best Wire Size

P/4


Pitch line
B A




P/2

BEST SIZE OF WIRE

 Best Size Wire
Definition
Best size wire is the one which makes contact
at the pitch line or effective diameter of the
screw thread
 Best Size Wire
• For best size wire, OB is
perpendicular to the flank
• In triangle AOB
Sin (BOA) = AB/OB
• But Angle BOA = 90 – θ/2
• AB = P/4
• OB = Radius of the wire= d/2
Sin (90 – θ/2) = (P/4)
(d/2)
Or d = 2 * (P/4)
Cos (θ/2) Where,
P = Pitch of the thread
d = (P/2) * Sec (θ/2) d = Diameter of best size wire
 Screw thread designation
• Example
– M12 X 1 – 5g6g
• M: Metric thread
• Nominal diameter: 12mm
• Pitch 1mm
• 5g: Tolerance class of pitch diameter
• 6g: Tolerance class of major diameter
• Fit Example
– M12 X 1 – 6H/5g6g
 Example 1
Calculate the diameter of the best size wire for
an M20 X 2.5 screw.
Solution
Metric thread so θ = 600
Pitch 2.5mm
So,
do = (P/2) * Sec (θ /2) = 1.4433 mm
 Example 2
Determine the effective diameter of a metric screw
using the three wire method. The following data is
available:
Diameter of the best size wire = 0.74 mm
Distance over the wire = 25.58 mm
Pitch = 1.25 mm