Thread

Standards Craftech Industries, 2013

Definitions and Terminology
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Acme Threads
The term “Acme thead” refers to the original
and most widely used trapezoidal thread
form. The Acme thread was developed in
the latter half of the 19th century for use
in power screws. It was developed as an
alternative to the square thread. It is easier
to cut than a square thread. It also wears
better and is stronger than a comparably
sized square thread. The Acme thread form
has a 29° thread angle.

Acme Thread Classes

Acme threaded classes are 2G, 3G, 4G, and
5G, respectively. 2G is normally employed
and is the kind which is widely available commercially. Classes 3G, 4G, and 5G have progressively
tighter tolerances. For example, a 5G screw usually requires special fitting and is used only where a
permanent seal is required.

Acme Thread Designations

Acme thread screws are designated by the major diameter, number of threads per inch, the number
of threads, (if it is not a single thread screws), the name of the series (acme), its class, and the letters
LH, if it is not right-handed. For example, 1/4-16 acme -2G is a screw having a ¼ inch diameter and 16
threads per inch. Its class is 2G and it is a conventional right-handed screw. Alternately, they may be
designated using pitch and lead, for example, a 2-1/2-.5P-.6L-ACME-4G would indicate a right handed
screw, single threaded, with a 2.5 inch major diameter, a .5 inch pitch and a lead of 0.6 inches.

American Standard Pipe Thread (NPT)

In pipe threading, the major diameter gets bigger as the thread moves into the pipe so that as it
tightens it creates a tight seal that prevents leakage. Some standard pipe fittings are made with a
straight thread and use an o-ring or crush washer to seal fluids in.

Chamfer
The chamfer is the end of the screw which first engages the nut. It is usually ground at a different
angle than the remaining threads. For example, in the unified series the chamfer is ground at 45
degrees while the succeeding threads are milled at a 30 degree angle.

Gender
Matched pairs of threads can be described as male and female. For example, a screw has male
threads while the hole it screws into has female threads.

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Hose Coupling Thread
There are three classes of hose coupling threads. They are NH, NPSH, and NHR. The hose coupling
threads illustrated in Craftech’s catalog are standard NH threads. The NPSH thread is designed to be
used with a gasket. NHR threads are considered formed threads such as those used in garden hoses.
For further information, see ANSI B2.4-1966, American National Standard Hose Coupling Threads.

Lead
The lead is distance that the nut moves parallel to the screws major axis when the nut is given one
complete revolution.

LH
LH is used as the designation for a left-hand
screw. A screw is right handed by default
therefore a screw with no designation is a right
hand screw.

Major Diameter
The basic major diameter is the largest diameter
on the thread of a screw.

Metric International Organization for

Standardization (ISO) Threads
This is the system adopted under British Standard B.S. 6343. It is also the metric standard which is
most widely used in the U.S. There are three main classes of fit, which are designated using a number
of sub-classes. The sub-classes are termed tolerance zones and fundamental deviations. Tolerance
specifications are given by numbers, and fundamental deviations are given by letters. The letters are
capitalized to designate an internal thread, while external threads are indicated by lower case. The
major classes for external threads are designated as close, medium, and free. All are specified for a
particular engagement length. Of the three classes, the medium class is the one most commonly
used. The ISO fit between a bolt and a nut is unique, in that the internal crest is flat, while the external
root is rounded.

Metric ISO Designations

ISO threads are designated by the letter “M”, followed by the major diameter size in millimeters, the
pitch in millimeters, and the combined class number. For example, a M7 x 1-5H indicates a nut of
7 millimeters major diameter, which has a pitch of 1 and is close fitting. A slash between two last
numbers, e.g. 7H/7g, indicates a composite fit between two mating parts. In practice, three common,
combined fits are often specified. 5H/4h indicates a close fit, 6H/6g is a medium fit, and 7H/8g marks
a free fit.

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Metric Threads Système Internationale (SI)
This system was adopted by the International Congress for the standardization of screw thread in
1898, in Zurich, Switzerland. The threads are similar to those specified by the American Standard. The
major difference between the two standards is that the thread depth is greater. Standard practice
mandates flat crests and rounded roots. Depth, d, should be between .0735 and .6855 of the pitch
length, where d is the distance from the base of the rounded root to the flat crest. The root radius,
r, is between .0633 and .054 of the pitch length. The flat crest is specified as .125 times the pitch. A
clearance between the root and its mating crest is specified as being .054 times the pitch. Screws
are classified according to major diameter size as given in millimeters. While the SI standard is not as
common as the ISO Standard, commonly employed in Britain and the U.S., it does form the basis for
those used currently by some European countries.

Minor Diameter
The minor diameter is the screw thread’s smallest
diameter. It is equal to two times the minor
radius.

Multiple Threads
“Multiple threads” is the term employed to
describe the practice of cutting two or more
threads side by side. Consequentially, in such
cases, the lead will be two, three, or more times
the pitch.

NPSC
Designates American National Standard straight pipe for couplings.

NPSM
Designates American National Standard straight pipe thread for free-fitting mechanical joints.

Pitch
The pitch is the distance between two adjacent threads, with reference to the center line of the
screw’s shaft. It is equal to the inverse of the number of threads per inch.

Pitch Cone
The pitch cone’s diameter is the mean of each succeeding groove and crest diameter, such that a
cone is formed whose projection equals the taper angles of the tapered screw. In other words, the
pitch cone is the imaginary cone in a bevel gear that rolls without slipping on a pitch surface of
another gear. It is the tapered screw’s analogue to the pitch cylinder (see below).

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Pitch Cylinder
The pitch cylinder is the same as the pitch cone in concept, differing only in shapes. It describes
a cylinder whose diameter is equal to that of the mean, averaged using the crest and the groove
diameters.

Pitch Diameter thread angle a = minor diameter

b = pitch diameter
The pitch diameter is the pitch cylinder’s pitch c = major diameter
diameter.

Stub Acme Threads

Stub acme threads are similar to standard acme
threads, except that the thread height is more a b c
truncated. For example, whereas basic thread
height for the acme is .5 times the pitch, the
corresponding height for the stub acme is .3
times the pitch.

Tensile Stress Area

The tensile stress area is computed using the
mean of the major (or pitch) diameter and the minor diameter. For metals, the general rule is that
threaded rod will yield the same tensile stress as unthreaded rod of this mean diameter. For plastics,
this information is not always directly applicable in terms of design criteria.

Thread Angle
The thread angle of a screw is the angle between the threads. Standard values include:

Thread Standard Thread Angle

Most V-threads (including ISO, NPT, and UTS) 60°
Whitworth threads 55°
Pipe Thread, British Standard Pipe Thread 55°
Knuckle/Round thread 30°
Acme thread 29°
Metric trapezoidal threads 30°
Buttress threads 45°
German buttress threads 30°
Square threads 0°
Steel conduit thread aka Panzergewinde 80°
Löwenherz thread 53° 8’
Bodmer thread 50°

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Unified Thread Standard (UTS)
The Unified Thread standard defines a standard thread form and series-along with allowances,
tolerances, and designations-for screw threads commonly used in the United States and Canada.
It has the same 60° profile as the ISO metric screw thread used in the rest of the world, but the
characteristic dimensions of each UTS thread (outer diameter and pitch) were chosen as an inch
fraction rather than a millimeter value. The UTS is currently controlled by the ASME/ANSI in the
United States.

United States Standard Thread (USS Thread)

The United States Standard thread system was the predecessor to the Unified Thread Standard. Also
known as Sellers Standard thread, Franklin Institute thread, and American Standard thread, USS
thread is no longer supported and has been incorporated into the Unified Thread Standard. It was
similar to the UTS in almost all respects. The major difference between the two is that the American
Standard did not always account for the working tolerances needed to produce a non-binding part.
See ANSI B1.1-1949)

UN
This is one of two root and crest configurations
allowed by the unified thread series
specifications. In this series, rounding of root and
crest is optional. Unified threads are specified by
three parameters. These are: nominal diameter,
the number of threads per inch, and the thread
series. Thus, a 1/4x.25x20 screw has a size
designation of ¼, a 0.25 inch major diameter, and
20 threads per inch. For screws less than ¼ inch in
diameter, sizes are specified by numbers, which
do not correspond to their major diameters.

8UN, 12UN, 16UN

A constant-pitch UN series specified for large-diameter threads.

UTF Tolerance Classes

Thread class refers to the acceptable range of pitch diameter for any given thread. Classes 1A, 2A,
and 3A apply to external threads. Classes 1B, 2B, and 3B apply to internal threads. Class 1 threads are
loosely fitting threads intended for ease of assembly or use in a dirty environment. Class 2 threads,
the most common, are designed to maximize strength considering typical machine shop capability
and machine practice. Class 3 threads are used for closer tolerances.

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UTF Thread Designations
UTF threads are generally designated by the major diameter, number of threads per inch, series
initials, class, the initial indicating whether it is an external or internal thread, and the designation LH,
if it is not right-handed. For example, a ¼-20 UNC-2B-LH, would indicate an internally threaded, left-
handed fastener with a major diameter of .25 inch, of the UN class.

UNC
One of three thread series specified by UTS
and UNF standards. This is the most commonly
used thread series and is used where good
holding in softer materials is desired. By using
UNC threads, maximum resistance to stripping
of the internal thread is obtained.

UNF
This is the 2nd of the UTF threads. Threads
are finer than UNC. It is often specified where
tensile strength is preferred to holding power,
or where the screw’s engagement length is
short.

UNEF
This is the finest of the three thread series specified by the UTF.

UNR
UNR screws are identical to UTF standard screws except that rounding of root and crests is mandated
and must be of a specified radius. The usual radius is R=.14434 times the pitch. All other UTF specs
apply.