UNIT – IV

SCREW THREAD & THREAD FASTENERS

FASTENERS:

Fasteners are those components used to hold two or more parts of a machine or a
structure.

TYPES OF FASTENERS:

There are two types of fasteners

1. Temporary Fasteners
a. Threaded fasteners b. Non - threaded fasteners

2. Permanent Fasteners

Temporary Fasteners:

These are commonly used to join two or more machine parts which require dismantling
and inspection. It is also possible to separate the fastened parts without damaging the fastening
elements. The examples of threaded fasteners are bolts, nuts, screws and studs. The
examples of non threaded fasteners are keys, cotters and pins.

Permanent Fasteners:

These are used to permanently join two or more parts, which do not require dismantling
in future, In the permanent fasteners it is not possible to separate the fastened parts without
damaging the fastening element.

E.g. Rivets, Welded joints and forged parts etc.

SCREW THREADS:

A screw thread is a continuous helical ridge formed by cutting a helical groove on a

cylindrical surface. Components with such grooves are called as screws. Screws are used mainly
to fasten two or more parts. They are also used to convert rotary motion into linear movements.

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NOMENCLATURE OF SCREW THREAD

Root: It is the bottom surface joining the two sides of a thread.

Crest: It is the top surface joining the two sides of a thread.

Flank: It is the surface between the crest and the root of a thread.

Depth of Thread: It is the distance between the crest and the root of a thread measured normal to
the axis of the thread.

Angle of thread: It is the angle between the flanks measured in an axial plane.

Helix angle: It is the angle, which the helix makes at any point with a plane perpendicular to the
axis.

Nominal diameter: Nominal diameter is the diameter of the cylindrical rod on which the threads
are cut. This diameter specifies the size of thread.

Major diameter: Major diameter is the diameter of an imaginary cylinder, which bounds the
crests of an external thread or the roots of an internal thread. It is also called as outside diameter.

Minor diameter: It is the diameter of an imaginary cylinder which bounds the roots of an
external thread or crest of an internal thread. It is also called as root diameter or core diameter.

Pitch diameter: Pitch diameter is the diameter of an imaginary cylinder on a cylindrical screw
thread, which cuts the screw thread in such a way that the width of the cur thread is equal to the
width of the groove. It is also called as effective diameter. Pitch diameters of both the external
and internal thread are equal.

Fundamental triangle: It is the imaginary equilateral triangle which bounds a thread form.

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Pitch: It is the distance between corresponding points on the adjacent thread forms measured
parallel to the axis. It may be indicated as the distance from one crest to the adjacent crest or from
one root to the adjacent root.

Lead: It is the axial distance through which a screw thread will advance for one complete
revolution. For single start thread lead is equal to pitch but for double start thread lead is equal to
twice the pitch.

Slope: It is equal to half of its lead. In case of single start threads, slope is equal to half the pitch
and f double start threads, it is equal to pitch.

Addendum: It is the radial distance between the major and pitch circle diameters for external
threads. F internal threads, it is the radial distance measured between pitch and minor diameters.

Dedendum: It is the radial distance between the pitch and minor diameters for external threads.
For intern threads, it is the radial distance between major and pitch diameters.

Pitch line: It is a generator of the pitch cylinder.

Thickness of thread: It is the distance measured parallel to the axis between the flanks of a
thread at the pitch line.

TYPES OF THREADS

a) External and Internal threads

i) External thread: A thread cut on the outer surface of the cylinder is called external thread.
Examples are bolt, stud and screws.

ii) Internal thread: A thread cut on a cylindrical hole is called as internal thread. Nuts have
internal thread.

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b) Single Start and Multi Start Threads

Depending upon the number of start points of the threads on the cylinder, threads are
classified into two types as mentioned below

i) Single start thread: It has only one helical groove on the cylinder. In this thread lead is equal
to pitch and is used for general purpose fasteners.

ii) Multi start thread: Multi start thread has two or more helical grooves cut parallel. A double
start thread for example will have two helical grooves running parallel and so there will be two
starting points. For multi start threads lead is equal to the number of starts times the thread pitch.

These are used when a quick advance is required in a screwed pair. That is the translating
part should move through a larger distance for one rotation of the other part.

c) Left Hand and Right Hand Thread:

Based upon the slope of the thread with respect to the axis, threads are classified as
follows

i) Left hand thread: When the axis of the screw is horizontal, if the slope of the thread lines are
towards the right hand, then the thread is called left hand thread. When a left hand thread nut is
rotated in a clockwise, it moves towards the observer.

ii) Right hand thread: When the axis of the screw is horizontal, if the slope of the thread lines
towards the left hand, then the thread is called right hand thread. When a right hand thread screw
is rotated in a clockwise, it moves away from the observer. A thread is always considered to be
right handed if it is not otherwise specified.

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d) Coarse Thread and Fine Threads

As per BIS, there are two types of thread series

i) Coarse thread: It is the general purpose thread. The pitch for a given diameter will be greater
than the pitch of the fine thread of same diameter. Threads are designated by the letter ‘M’
followed by diameter and pitch.

ii) Fine thread: The pitch is very small for a given diameter. Therefore more number of threads
than coarse threads per unit length. It is denoted by the letter ‘f’. E.g. M12x1.25f

STANDARD FORMS OF SCREW THREADS

‘V’ Threads

The metric thread which is of triangular in shape is called as ‘V’ threads. The thread
angle is 60o.

a) Unified thread:

The international standards organization (ISO) has recommended this form of thread as
the basic profile to its members in 1947. So, ISO members like India, USA, UK, Canada and
many other countries ha adopted this unified thread as standard form. The included angle is 60°.
The roots are rounded while the crests are made flat.

b) British Standard Witworth Threads (BSW):

This form of thread is adopted as a standard thread in United Kingdom. It has a thread
angle of 550 and i rounded off at the crests and roots. This thread form is used in bolts, nuts and

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screws used for general purpose fastening. The standard proportions of BSW thread are shown in
figure.

c) Sellers thread:

It is also named as American standard thread adopted earlier by American Standards

Institution. Thread angle is 60°. Both the crests and roots are flat up to 0.125 of the depth as
shown in figure.

Square Thread:

When the thread has square cross section, it is called as square thread. This thread has its
flanks or sides normal to the axis and hence parallel to each other. For the same nominal diameter
of the screws, the pitch of the square thread is usually greater than that of the triangular thread.
The depth and the thickness of the thread are each equal to half the pitch. It is generally used for
transmission of power, as in lead screw of lathe, machine tool and screw jack and machine vices.
The general form of square thread is shown in figure.

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Acme Thread:

ACME literally means point of perfection. This is the modified form of the square thread.
It is easier to cut and stronger at the root than the square thread. The thread angle is 29° so that
the inclined sides of the thread facilitate quick and easy engagement and disengagement as in the
case of lead screw of the lathe. The standard proportions of acme thread are shown in figure.

Knuckle Thread:

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 This thread is also a modification of the square thread. The sharp corners of the square
thread are rounded off at the crest and root. In these the radius is equal to O.238P for external
thread and 0 256P for internal thread and working depth of the thread is O.5P. This thread form is
strong and hence suitable for rough and heavy work as in the case of railway carriage coupling
screw. The standard proportions are shown in above figure.

Buttress Thread:

Buttress literally means a projecting support built on to the outside of a wall. This thread
is a combined form of square and V threads. One flank of the thread is perpendicular to the axis
of the screw and the other flank inclined at 450 This thread is suitable only when the force acts
entirely in one direction as in air plane propellers, carpenter’s vices, etc. The standard proportions
are shown in figure.

PROCEDURE FOR DRAWING RH AND LH ‘V’ threads.

Metric V threads RH and LH

Length of thread = 70 mm

Major diameter = 40 mm

Pitch = 3mm

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Procedure

1. Draw two rectangles ABCD and MNOP with centre lines and with length as 70 mm and
width as 40 mm.
2. Calculate the depth of thread. D = 0.61 p = 0.61 x3 = 1.83 say 2 mm
3. Mark a distance of 2 mm from B and C in the first rectangle and from N and 0 in the second
rectangle. Name the points as E, F, R and Q.
4. For drawing purpose consider the slope of thread as 0.5p = 0.5 x 3 = 1.5 mm.
5. Mark 1.5 mm distance in A-B and M-N. Name them as 1, 2, 3 and etc in both rectangles as
shown.
6. Join D and 1 for RH thread and 0 and I for LH by means of thin dark lines. It represents the
crest o thread.
7. Draw thick dark line parallel to D-1 and 0-1 from the horizontal lines E and F in the first
rectangle and from R and Q in the second rectangle. It represents the root of the thread.
8. Similarly draw alternate thin and thick lines form the other points.
9. Draw inclined lines by joining the ends of crest lines and root lines to get the V form.
PROCEDURE FOR DRAWING SQUARE THREADS:

Length of thread 60 mm

Major diameter = 40 mm

Pitch = 4 mm

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Procedure

1. Width= Depth = 0.5 p=0.5x4=2 mm.

2. Draw two rectangles ABCD and MNOP with centre lines.
3. Mark distances of 2 mm in both the rectangles from B,C,N and 0. Draw horizontal lines
from these points.
4. Mark number of points at a distance of 2 mm along AB and MN
5. Join D and I also 0 and I
6. For RH thread darken the lines (A-1-D-A), (2-3-3’-2’-2), (4-5-5’-4’-4) etc. as shown.
7. Follow the same procedure to complete LH thread.

NUTS

A nut is a device having internal threads. It is used in combination with a bolt having
external threads. A nut is screwed on the threaded end of the bolt. Nuts are usually in two forms,
Hexagon and square.

In drawing a nut, the diameter of the bolt on which it is to be used or the diameter of the
hole in the nut only will be known. Other important proportions which are required for it are to be
remembered. These proportions are usually specified in terms of nominal diameter D of the bolt
on which the nut is to be used.

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HEXAGONAL NUT

The usual proportions for hexagonal nut are as follows

Let D be the diameter of screwed hole in the nut and outside diameter of its bolt.

Size across flats A/F = 1.25 D + 6 mm for bolts less than 12 mm diameter.

1.5 D + 3 mm for bolts more than 12 mm diameter.

(For drawing purpose A/F can be takes as I .5D)

Size across corners = 1.555 x size across flats.

(It can be obtained by projecting elevation and plan views. As a thumb rule it can be taken as 2D)

Height of nut H = 0.9D to D

Radius of front chamber R = 1 .2D

Chamfer at the top = 300 to the base of nut.

Drawing a Hexagonal Nut

Draw the three views of a hexagonal nut of diameter 24 mm.

D = 24mm

Nut height H = D = 24mm

Size across flat A/F = 1.25D+6

= 36mm

Radius of front chamfer R = 1.2D

= 1.2 x 24 = 28.8 say [Link].

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1. Draw centre lines (horizontal and vertical) to locate of circles in top view.
2. Commence drawing from top view as it contains circles. Draw a broken circle of diameter 24
mm (D) and another circle of diameter (D-P). These two circles represent threads by
conventional method. Draw a third circle of diameter 36 mm (size across flats). This circle is
known as chamfering circle.
3. Circumscribe a regular hexagon about the chamfering circle of diameter 36mm by setting the
mini-drafter at 60o. This completes the top view (plan)
4. By projecting the corners of hexagon, construct the front view and side view by taking height
= 24 mm (Height of nut)
5. In front view, draw an arc ABC of radius 29 mm (radius of front chamfer). It cuts the vertices
at A and C.
6. Mark off points D, A, C, E, F, G and H in one straight line.
7. Draw arcs passing through DKA, CLE, FMG and GNH by finding centers as shown. For
example to find the centre of arc DKA, draw perpendicular bisectors of DA and DK. The
Point of intersection of these two bisectors will be the centre of the arc DKA.
8. Similarly draw arcs FMG and GNH in the side view.
9. Chamfer the top corners of the front view by drawing lines at 30° tangential to the arcs.
10. Finish the view by thick object lines.
11. In the side view, only two faces of the nut will be seen. The top corners in side view are not
chamfered.

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SQUARE NUT

Proportions for a square nut

D = Nominal diameter of the bolt

Height or thickness of nut = D

Size across flats A/F = 1 .5D + 3 mm

Size across corners = 2 x size across flats

Radius of front chamfer = 1.75 D

Angle of chamfer = 30° to the base of nut

Draw the two views of a square nut for a bolt diameter 24 mm

i. When one face of the nut is seen.

ii. When two faces are seen.
Procedure (When one face is seen)

Top view

1. Draw the centre lines to locate the centre

2. Draw a full circle with diameter Nominal diameter -2d, where d = depth of thread.
3. Draw a broken circle with a diameter 24 mm as shown in figure
4. Draw the chamfer circle with diameter equal to 1 .5D + 3 mm = 0.39 mm.
5. Construct a square about the chamfer circle.

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Front view

1. Project the corners of the square and construct a rectangle with 24 mm height.

2. Draw the chamfer arc with 1.75D radius as shown in the figure.

When two ices are seen

Top view

2. Follow the steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 as explained earlier to draw the three circles.
3. Construct the square abut the chamfer circle as shown in the figure. Front view
Front view

1. Project the three corners of the two sides of the nut to construct the elevation.
2. Project the chamfer point from figure and mark the points on the vertical lines of the
elevation in figure.
3. Draw the arcs in the two rectangles as explained earlier for hexagonal nut.
4. Draw 30° chamfer line as shown.
5. Draw a tangent to the arcs and complete the drawing.
BOLT

A bolt is a fastening element, comprising of a head at one end and threaded portion over
its cylindrical shank at the other end. It is used with a nut to hold parts together temporarily.

Proportions for bolts

Nominal diameter = D

Thickness of bolt = k = 0.7D to 0.8d

Thread length = b = 2D + 6 mm for L < 150 mm

= 2D+l2mm for L > l5Omm

Chamfer on bolt end = z = Depth of thread x 45° or 0.1D approx.

Chamfer angle of hold head = = 30o.

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Procedure for drawing hexagonal bolt

First step: Draw the shank of the bolt equal to the given diameter D and length L. The thickness
of bolt head equal to 0.8D is marked. Measure the size across corners equal to 2D and complete
the three faces of the bolt head in thin lines. With ‘O’ as centre draw a thin circle of radius D.

Draw the vertical line 1-2 of this circle. With 1 and 2 as centers and radius equal to D cut
the circle on either side of the vertical axis and inscribe the hexagon. The chamfer circle is drawn
as a thick circle with the centre O and radius OE.

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Second Step: The chamfer arc in the three face view of bolt head are drawn as follows. Through
the corner B, draw a line at 30o to the axis of the bolt to cut it at O1. With O1 as centre and radius
O1A, draw the chamfer arc in the centre face. Then draw the perpendicular bisector of BC to cut
BO1 at O2. With O2 as centre and radius O2D draw the chamfer arc. Repeat the construction on
the other side face.

Third Step: The chamfer lines on the side faces of the three face views of the bold head arc
drawn as follows. Through P and Q draw lines inclined at 30° to the flat of the bolt head. The
end of the bolt is chamfered to 0.1 D x 45o.

The threaded portion of the shank is indicated by drawing two thin lines at a distance
equal to d1 = 0.9D. The two face view of the bolt head is projected from the side view. If the side
view is not drawn, then the distance across the flats is measured equal to 1.5D + 3 mm. The
chamfer arcs in the two face view are drawn as follows. Project P to get X. Mark Y at the
Midpoint of FG. Draw the perpendicular bisector of XY and FG to intersect each other at O3.
With O3 as centre and O3Y as radius, draw the chamfer arc. Repeat the construction on the other
face.

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REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. Explain the following nomenclature of threads

Crest, root, depth of thread, angle of thread, pitch and lead.

2. Explain the following terms with reference to thread nomenclature

Major diameter, minor diameter, slope and nominal diameter.

3. Write short note on the following thread nomenclatures

Flank, addendum and dedendum

4. Compare V threads and square threads

5. Explain pitch and lead with regard to a thread.
6. Sketch the BIS recommended convention of a external thread.
7. Explain any two standard forms of threads.
8. Draw the sketch of the ISO metric thread of a nominal diameter 30 mm with a pitch equal to
4 mm.
9. Draw the profile of a sellers thread of a nominal diameter of 24 mm, with a pitch equal to 3
mm.
10. Draw and note the proportions of hexagonal headed bolt and nut.
11. Draw the three views of a hexagonal nut for a 24 mm dia. Bolt.
12. Draw the three views of ISO threaded hexagonal bolt 160 mm long, 25 mm diameter and a
thread length of 65 mm.
13. Draw the three views of a square headed bolt, with its across corners in front view. The bolt
is 24 mm dia and 100 mm long with a thread length of 40 mm. the end of the bolt is
chamfered to 45°
14. Draw the view across flats and the axial view of square head bolt of size M20 bolt with a
length of 120 mm and thread length of 60 mm.
15. Drew the three views of a hexagonal bolt with hexagonal nut. The bolt is 20 mm dia., 120
mm long with a thread length of 60 mm.
16. Sketch the following types of rivet head of 20 mm diameter
(i) Snap head (ii) Pan head (iii) Conical head

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