Threads

What is thread?
 Helical ridge of uniform section formed on inside or
outside of cylinder or cone

Thread Applications:
 Used to fix temporarily one part to another
 Provide accurate measurement, as in micrometer
 Transmit motion
Worms transmit motion on
shafts perpendicular to each
other

Worm & Gear

THREAD TERMINOLOGY
External (male) A thread cut on the outside of
thread a cylindrical body.

Internal (female) A thread cut on the inside of

thread a cylindrical body.

External thread
Internal thread
THREAD TERMINOLOGY
Right-hand Thread that will assemble when
thread turned clockwise.

Left-hand Thread that will assemble when

thread turned counter-clockwise.
THREAD TERMINOLOGY
Crest The peak edge of a thread.

Root The bottom of the thread cut into

a cylindrical body.
Thread angle The angle between threads faces.
External Thread Internal Thread
Thread angle

Root Crest

Root Crest
THREAD TERMINOLOGY
The largest diameter on
Major diameter an internal or external thread.
The smallest diameter on
Minor diameter an internal or external thread.

External Thread Internal Thread

Minor dia.

Major dia.

Major dia.
Minor dia.
THREAD TERMINOLOGY
The distance between crests of
Pitch
threads.

Lead The distance a screw will advance

when turned 360o.
External Thread Internal Thread

Lead

Pitch
Pitch
 THREAD TERMINOLOGY
The lead and the pitch of a single lead thread
are the same.

On double lead threads, the lead is twice the pitch.

A double lead thread has two start points.

Single Double

Start Start

Single Lead Double Lead

THREAD TERMINOLOGY
Angle that thread makes with plane
Helix Angle perpendicular to thread axis
Distance between crest and root
Depth of thread
measured perpendicular to axis
Thread surface that connects crest
Flank with root
External Thread Internal Thread
Helix Angle
Helix Angle
Depth of Thread Depth of Thread

Flank

Flank
THREAD TERMINOLOGY
Form is the profile shape of the
Thread Form
thread.

Example :
“knuckle thread form”
Thread Forms

According to use and shape, threads are
classified as follows:

V Thread

Square Thread Power Thread

Acme Thread Used for power
transmission

Buttress Thread

Knuckle Thread

Worm Thread
V Thread
These are classified as follows:

Metric

International Standard

British Standard Whitworth (BSW)

British Standard Fine (BSF)

British Standard Pipe (BSP)

American National or Seller Thread

ISO (METRIC) THREAD
Internal
60o
thread

P/4

External
thread
Pitch, P

Center of thread assembly

The pitch, p of the thread is expressed in mm
ISO (METRIC) THREAD
60° included angle
D (Internal) = 0.6143 x pitch
Crest = .125 x pitch
Root = .250 x pitch
METRIC COARSE THREAD
Nominal Major Pitch Minor Tap drill size
size diameter diameter
M6 6.00 1.00 4.92 5.00
M8 8.00 1.25 6.65 6.75
M10 10.00 1.50 8.38 8.50
M12 12.00 1.75 10.11 10.00

Metric thread Minor diameter ≈ Tap drill size

In thread drawing, the following relationship is used.
Minor diameter = Major diameter – Pitch
METRIC FINE THREAD
Nominal Major Pitch Minor Tap drill size
size diameter diameter
0.75 7.188 7.25
M8 8.00
1.00 6.917 7.00
0.75 9.188 9.25
M10 10.00 1.00 8.917 9.00
1.25 8.647 8.75

Minor diameter ≈ Tap drill size

Example: M8x1.0 means that the thread major diameter is
8mm and its pitch is 1.0mm
British Standard Whitworth
(BSW) Thread
.6403
D = .6403 x P or
N
.1373
R = .1373 x P or
N
Square Thread

Being replaced by Acme thread because of
difficulty in cutting it

Often found on vises and jack screws

Square Thread
D = .500P
F = .500P
C = .500P + .002
ACME Screw Thread

Replacing square thread in many cases

Used for feed screws, jacks, and vises
D = minimum .500P F = .3707P
= maximum .500P + 0.010 C = .3707P - .0052
(for maximum depth)

ACME
Thread
Worm Thread

Used to mesh worm gears and transmit
motion between two shafts at right angles to
each other but not in same plane
Worm

D = .6866P
F = .335P
C = .310P
Methods of Thread Cutting

On Lathe

Using Tap & Die