Information sheet 6.

2-6
Thread and Thread cutting

Screw Thread
A ridge or uniform section in the form of a helix on the external or internal surface of a
cylinder, or in the form of a conical spiral on the external or internal surface of a
cone.

Threading
-Cutting of helical groove of a definite shape or angle, with uniform advance for revolution on
the surface of a round piece material or in cylindrical hole.

Used for several purposes:

1. Fasten devices such as screws, bolts, studs, and nuts
2. Provide accurate measurement, as in micrometer
3. Transmit motion
4. Increase force
External Thread
An external thread is a thread on the
outside of a member.
Internal Thread
An internal thread is a thread on the inside of a
member.

Thread-Cutting terms and parts

Major Diameter
-Commonly known as the outside diameter. On a screw
thread, the major diameter is the largest diameter of
the thread on the screw or nut.

Minor diameter

-. The inside diameter of the screw and the base of

the thread. It is also called the root diameter
Pitch
- The distance from one point on a thread to the
same point on the adjacent thread. The
reciprocal of the pitch is the number of threads
per inch (tpi).
Number of threads – the number of threads in one
inch in a length.
 The simplest method of finding the number of threads is to
use a rule

To solve for the pitch in inches

Example: if the TPI is 16 Threads per inch (16TPI) the pitch in
inches is;
1
𝑃(𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠) = TPI (no of thread per inch)
1 /16 = 0.0625inches
Pitch diameter-
The diameter of an imaginary cylinder whose surface would pass through the threads at
such points as to make the width of the thread cut equal to the width of the spaces cut
by the imaginary cylinder.
Crest – The top surface joining the flanks of the threads.
Root The bottom surface joining the flanks of the thread.
Flank - The slanted surface joining the crest and the root; the surface that is in Contact
with the nut.
Lead - The amount by which the nut advances along the screw with one turn if the screw is
held stationary.
Relation of linear pitch to lead in single – and multiple-thread screws

Single Thread
-Has a single ridge and groove. Most screw threads are single
Double Threads
-Has two threads and two grooves starting on opposite sides of the screw.
Triple thread
-Has three thread and three groves. The lead of a triple thread is three times that of the
single pitch.

Depth of thread
is the distance between the crest of thread, measured in axial plane
Axis of a Screw
– The longitudinal Central line through the screw
Helix angle
-The angle made by the helix of the thread at the
pitch diameter with the plane perpendicular to the
axis
Length of Engagement
The length of contact between two mated threaded
parts measured axially.
Depth of Engagement
The depth of thread contact of two mated parts, measured radially.
Pitch Line
An element of the imaginary cylinder or cone specified under "Pitch Diameter".
Thickness of thread
The distance between the adjacent sides of the thread measured along or parallel to the
pitch line.

Fit –
The relation between mating parts with the references to ease of assembly.
Loose fit
This class possess largest allowance and is used where rapid assembly of parts required
and looseness is not objectionable.
Medium fit
This is used on the bulk of Standard screws, bolts and nuts.
Close fit
This is used on fasteners where accuracy of fit is highly important and where no looseness
is permitted.

Understanding Fit as applied for threading

Classes 1A, 2A, and 3A - -apply to external threads
Classes 1B, 2B, and 3B - apply to internal threads

Classes 1A and 1B: (loose Fit)

-These classes are intended for ordnance and other special uses. They are used on
threaded components where quick and easy assembly is necessary and where a liberal
allowance is required to permit ready assembly, even with slightly bruised or dirty
threads.
Classes 2A and 2B (Medium Fit)
-Are the most commonly used for general applications, including production of bolts,
screws, nuts, and similar fasteners.

Classes 3A and 3B: (close Fit)

-May be used if closer tolerances are desired than those provided by Classes 2A and 2B.
The maximum diameters of Class 3A (external) threads and the minimum diameters of
Class 3B (internal) threads, whether or not plated or coated, are basic, affording no
allowance or clearance for assembly of maximum metal components.

Metric Screw Thread Designations

Metric screw threads are identified by the letter(M)
for the thread form profile, followed by the
nominal diameter size and the pitch expressed
in millimeters, separated by the sign (×) and
followed by the classification of fit separated by
a dash (−) from the pitch.

English Screw Thread Designations

The basic method of designating a screw thread is used where the standard tolerances or
limits of size based on the standard
length of engagement are applicable.
The designation specifies in sequence
the nominal size, number of threads per
inch, thread series symbol, thread class
symbol, and, finally, gauging system.
The nominal size is the basic major
diameter and is specified as the
fractional diameter, screw number, or
their decimal equivalent.

Tolerance symbol designation:

Designations of Tolerance Grade, Tolerance Position, and Tolerance Class: The
tolerance grade is given first followed by the tolerance position, thus: 4g or 5H. To
designate the tolerance class the grade and position of the pitch diameter is shown first
followed by that for the major diameter in the case of the external thread or that for the
minor diameter in the case of the internal thread, thus 4g6g for an external thread and
5H6H for an internal thread. If the two grades and positions are identical, it is not
necessary to repeat the symbols, thus 4g, alone, stands for 4g4g and 5H, alone, stands
for 5H5H.
Internal threads G, H
External threads e, f, g, h
For general purpose grade is 6
Tolerance position “g” for external thread and “H” for internal threads are preferred
M20 X 2 6H / 5g 6g

Tolerance Class Designation External threads

Tolerance symbol internal threads

When a special rounded root is required, its external thread designation is suffixed by the
minimum root radius value in millimeters and the letter R.

Example: M42 × 4.5 − 6g − 0.63R

Note: other information may also be conveyed by the ISO metric thread designation.
Complete specifications and product limits may be found in the ISO recommendations
or in the ASME/ANSI recommendations of screw thread.

The standard and most widely used threads are as follow

(Threads Forms)
The ISO metric thread
This thread is based on the recommendation of the
ISO technical committee and was published in
British Standard Specification No. 3643 in 1963. It
was intended that this thread become a British
standard. As a part of the International System of
Units (SI), pitches are in millimeters, and the
system allows for coarse and fine pitches. The
thread form is identical with the unified thread
V-Sharp thread
The top and button of the thread are theoretically sharp, but they are made slightly flat in
actual practice. The sides form an angle of 60 degrees.
Unified thread.
This thread standard was published in 1949 as a result of a conference held in Ottawa
between the United States, Canada, and Britain in 1945
Coarse-thread series
(UNC) Unified national course – the most commonly – used series in the bulk productions
of bolts, screws and nuts and other general applications

Fine thread series

(UNF) Unified national Fine– this series is suitable where the coarse series is not
applicable for production of bolts, screws and nuts.
 - is used where the length of thread engagement is short and wall thickness demands a
fine pitch.
Extra fine Thread (UNEF) – Unified national extra fine – this series can be used in most
conditions applicable for fine threads. It used where even finer threads are desirable, as
for thin walled tube, couplings, nuts or ferrules.
Unified National
(8 UN) unified national 8-pitch – used for high pressure pipe flanges, cylinder head, and
studs.
(12 UN) unified national 12 pitches – is used for modern machine and boiler construction
for thin nuts or for shafts and sleeves.
(16 UN) unified national 16 pitch – is intended for adjusting collars, bearing retaining,
nuts or any part requiring a fine thread.

Taper Pipe Series NPT

The taper of the external thread forms a joint with the taper of the internal thread.
When used with a sealer (such as pipe dope or teflon tape) will produce a pressure tight
joint.

Whitworth thread.
This thread, form was proposed by sir J. Whitworth in 1840s. It has been used
as the British standard Whitworth (BSW) ever since. This thread is used only for spare
Or replacement.

British association (BA) thread.

This thread has been used for screws of
diameters less than 1/4 in. and for electrical fitting
and accessories

Square thread
This thread is used for power transmission.
It is the most difficult to cut and is not
compatible for using split nuts.
 Acme thread
This thread often employed instead of the square
thread because it is easier to cut; also it is easier
to engage a split nut with an acme thread than
with the square one. It has 29° thread angle.
Trapezoidal metric thread.
Similar to the acme thread, except that it has a 30°
thread angle.

Allowance
Permissible difference between largest external
thread and smallest internal thread
Difference produces tightest fit acceptable for any given classification

The allowance for a 1- 8 UNC Class 2A and 2B

Minimum pitch diameter of the
Internal thread (2B) = .9188 in.
Maximum pitch diameter of the
External thread (2A) = .9168 in.
Allowance = .002 in.

Tolerance
Variation permitted in part size
Total tolerance is sum of plus and minus tolerances
In Unified and National systems, tolerance is plus on external threads and minus on
internal threads

The tolerance for a 1 in.—8 UNC Class 2A thread is

Maximum pitch diameter of the
external thread (2A) = .9168 in.
Minimum pitch diameter of the
external thread (2A) = .9100 in.
Tolerance = .0068 in.

Thread Formulae

Example M12 x 1.75 – 2B

1.75 x .866 = 1.56mm

To cut right hand external threads on the lathe the

compound rest is turned at a 29 degrees angle

- This prevents tearing of the thread and make it easier to

re-chase the thread if the tool must be reset.

Center gage
– is used to check the angle of the ground on the
thread cutting tool, and to align the cutting tool with the
workpiece.

The Thread-chasing dial is used in conjunction with the

workpiece for increasingly deeper cuts in a thread cutting
operation.
 Other methods can be used is reverse method.

Pitch gauge - used to

measure the pitch or
lead of a screw thread