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Threaded Fasteners
Threaded fasteners are the principal devices used for assembling components and
they are usually grouped into three main categories as shown in the figure:
Bolts: A bolt has a head on one end and threads on the other end and it is
paired with a nut.
Screws: Screws are used to join two mating parts together and similar to
bolts, they have head on one end and threads on the other end. However,
screws usually have longer threads than bolts, also they can be made with
slotted heads.
Screws are sometimes divided into two sub-categories; Cap Screws and
Machine Screws. Machine screws are generally smaller in size than cap
screws and they are used for screwing into thin materials.
Studs: A stud is a rod that is threaded on both ends and joins two mating
parts. A nut may be used on one end.
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
Metric bolts are specified by the major diameter and the pitch (both in mm).
Example: 𝑀10 × 1.25 (10 mm major diameter and 1.25 mm pitch).
Profile
Unified (ANSI):
There are two standard profiles UN and UNR where the UNR has a filleted root.
Unified threads are specified by the major diameter (in inch) and the number of
threads per inch (𝑁).
Example: 1⁄4 − 20 𝑈𝑁𝐶
Coarse or F (Fine)
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
Note that there is Coarse-pitch and Fine-pitch (more threads) where the fine-
pitch has better tensile strength.
If the thread being specified is "coarse" pitch thread (which is considered the
default), the pitch can be omitted from the designation:
𝑀10 × 1.5 or 𝑀10
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
Threads are usually dimensioned by giving a thread note in the drawing as seen
in the figure.
It should be noted that threaded holes are first drilled at a diameter smaller
than the nominal size of the bolt that will fit into it, then a tap is used to cut
the desired thread (see the internal thread note shown in the figure).
o For blind threaded holes, standards recommend that the depth of the thread is
twice the major diameter.
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
There are standards and common practices related to all aspects of the form and
geometry of threaded fasteners.
While bolts mostly have Hexagonal Heads, there are several head styles that are
being used for cap screws. The figure shows some of the common head styles
that are used for cap screws.
All head dimensions are standardized and they are usually given in tables
according to the nominal size.
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
The length (𝐿) and the threaded length (𝐿 𝑇 ) of a bolt are used in size designation.
Example: 𝑀14 × 1.5 × 80 × 34
Some of the common head styles used for Machine Screws are shown in the
figure.
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
Nuts
A nut is the counterpart of a bolt. Bolts and nuts are used together to clamp two or
more parts having unthreaded holes together. While the most commonly used type
of nuts are the regular hexagonal nuts, there are different types of nuts where each
is more suitable for a different type of applications. The figure shows some of the
common types of nuts.
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
Washers
Washers are commonly used under the heads of bolts and screws and they are used
under nuts as well. The most common type of washers is the Flat Washer, such as
that seen in the figure, where it is used to increase the bearing areas of the head,
and protect the material finish during assembly. The use of
washers also prevents the sharp corner of the hole into which
the bolt or screw is being inserted from biting into bolt head
fillet where that can cause the failure of the bolts during service.
The other common type of washers is the Lock Washers where they are used to
prevent loosening of screws and nuts by providing continuous friction due to their
spring action. Some of the common types of lock washers are shown in the figure.
Fastener's Holes
The holes into which threaded fasteners are inserted are of two basic types;
clearance holes (unthreaded) and threaded holes.
Clearance holes are larger than the nominal diameter of the bolt or screw and
the amount of clearance depends on the desired type of fit.
The table gives the diameter of clearance holes for the different types of fits.
Thread Close Fit Medium Fit Free Fit Thread Close Fit Medium Fit Free Fit
M1.6 1.7 1.8 2 M8 8.4 9 10
M2 2.2 2.4 2.6 M10 10.5 11 12
M2.5 2.7 2.9 3.1 M12 13 14 15
M3 3.2 3.4 3.6 M14 15 16 17
M3.5 3.7 3.9 4.2 M16 17 18 19
M4 4.3 4.5 4.8 M20 21 22 24
M5 5.3 5.5 5.8 M24 25 26 28
M6 6.4 6.6 7 M30 31 33 35
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
How many threaded holes are needed to connect several parts using a bolt
and a nut or using a cap screw?
In most cases, cap screw holes have a constant diameter (Plain holes), however,
in some cases it is desired that the screw head is not sticking-out of the surface.
For such cases, Counter-bored or Countersunk holes may be used. The figure
shows the shape of counter-bored or Countersunk holes as well as the symbols
used to give their specifications in drawings. Countersunk holes are used for flat
head screws, while counter-bored holes may be used with almost any type of
screw heads (socket head screws are the most commonly used since they require
small counter-bore diameter).
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
Thread Fits
In some cases, the required looseness or tightness of fit between the internal and
external threads may vary.
There are two classes of metric thread fits that are generally used:
General purpose fit (6H/6g). A tolerance class of 6H/6g is assumed if it is not
specified.
Closer fit (6H/5g6g).
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
𝐹𝑖 = 8333.3 𝑁
Power Screws
Power screws are NOT used as mechanical
fasteners, but their work principle is very similar to
screws and bolts. Power screws are used to change
rotational motion to linear motion (they are
commonly used in vices, jacks, lathes, etc.). Because
of their design, they are capable of providing very
high force from a small value of applied torque.
The terminology used for defining the thread
profile of power screws is very similar to that used
for screws:
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
The thread profiles used for power screws are different from those used for bolts
and screws. There are four types of thread profiles used for power screws and
these are: Square, Acme, Knuckle and Buttress as shown in the figure.
o Square and Acme threads are more commonly used than other types.
Square threads give better efficiency than Acme threads.
However, Acme threads are more commonly used because they are
easier to machine and split-nuts (to compensate for wear) can be used.
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
Ball Screws
Ball screws are very similar to power screws but
they provide much higher precision. Instead of
using a friction nut such as in regular power
screws, ball screws use a nut filled with balls and
that results in better precision (no backlash) and
higher efficiency (due to the reduced friction).
Such screws are commonly used in machines
requiring high precession such as CNC machines.
Rivets
Rivets are regarded as permanent fasteners, unlike removable (or nonpermanent)
fasteners, such as bolts and screws. Rivets are generally used to hold plates or sheet
metal together.
Rivets are used in a very wide variety of applications ranging from aircraft structures
to civil steel structures to automobiles to boats and ships to clothing, etc.
There are many different types of rivets where
each type is more suitable for certain types of
applications. The most common and distinct two
types of rivets are the Solid rivets and the Pop
rivets.
o Solid rivets are one of the oldest and most
reliable types of rivets. They consist simply of a
cylindrical shank with a single head. When the
shank it is inserted inside the hole, the other
end of the rivet is deformed with a hammer or
rivet gun as illustrated in the figure. Such type
of rivets are used in civil steel structures such as
bridges and they usually require heating in
order to make it easy to deform the other end.
A somehow similar type of rivets is used in
aircraft structures, but it does not require
heating.
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi
MENG 204 - Mechanical Drawing Lecture Notes by: Dr. Ala Hijazi