TRAINING NOTES
6.5 FASTENERS
6.5.1 SCRERW THREADS, SCREW NOMENCLATURE (LP – 01 to 03)
a. Thread forms,
b. dimensions and tolerances for standard threads used in aircraft;
c. Measuring screw threads;
SCREW THREAD CUTTING
Screw threads are cut with the lathe for accuracy and for versatility.
Both inch and metric screw threads can be cut using the lathe.
A thread is a uniform helical groove cut inside of a cylindrical work piece, or on the outside of a
tube or shaft.
Cutting threads by using the lathe requires a thorough knowledge of the different principles of
threads and procedures of cutting.
Hand coordination, lathe mechanisms, and cutting tool angles are all interrelated during the
thread cutting process.
Before attempting to cut threads on the lathe a machine operator must have a thorough
knowledge of the principles, terminology and uses of threads.
International Standard Common Abbreviation
American National Coarse ANC
American National Fine ANF
Unified National Fine UNF
Unified National Coarse UNC
British Association BA
British Standard Fine BSF
ISO Metric M
Screw Thread Terminology
The common terms and definitions below are used in screw thread work and will be used in
discussing threads and thread cutting.
External or male thread: External or male thread is a thread on the outside of a cylinder or cone.
An example is the thread on a machine bolt.
Internal or female thread: Internal or female thread is a thread on the inside of a hollow cylinder or
bore. An example is the thread in a nut.
Right hand thread: A right- hand thread is one that when assembled with a fixed mating thread, is
turned in a clock wise direction.
Left hand thread: A left hand thread is one that, when assembled with a fixed mating thread, is
turned in a counterclockwise direction
Single Thread: A single thread is a thread that has a lead equal to the pitch.
Multiple Threads: Multiple threads are threads in which the lead is an integral multiple of the pitch.
A multiple thread having two starts, or separate threads, is called a double thread; one having three
starts is called a triple thread; one with four starts is called a quadruple thread.
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Fine and Coarse threads are classified below
Thread fit is the way a bolt and nut fit together as to being too loose or too tight.
Metric threads are threads that are measured in metric measurement instead of inch
measurement.
Major diameter (formerly known as outside diameter): The largest diameter of the screw or nut.
The term major diameter replaced the term outside diameter, as applied to the thread of a screw,
and also the term full diameter, as. Applied to the thread of a nut.
Minor diameter (formerly known as core diameter or root diameter): The smallest diameter of
the thread of the screw or nut.
The term minor diameter replaced the term core diameter, as applied to the thread of a
screw, and also the term inside diameter, as applied to the thread of a nut.
Pitch diameter: On a straight screw thread, it is the diameter of an imaginary cylinder, the surface
of which would pass through the threads at such points as to make equal the width of the threads
and the width of the spaces cut by the surface of the cylinder.
On a tapered screw, it is the diameter of an imaginary cone at a given distance from a reference
plane perpendicular to the axis.
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The surface of the imaginary cone would pass through the threads at such points as to make
equal the width of the threads and the width of the spaces cut by the surface of the cone.
Pitch: The distance from a point on a screw thread to a corresponding point on the next thread,
measured parallel to the axis.
Lead: The distance a screw thread advances axially in one turn. On a single-thread screw, the lead
and pitch are identical; on a double thread screw, the lead is twice the pitch; on a triple-thread
screw, the lead is three times the pitch; and so forth.
Angle of thread: The angle included between the sides of the thread, measured in an axial plane.
Helix angle: The angle made by the helix of the thread at the pitch diameter, with a plane
perpendicular to the axis.
Crest (also called "flat"): The top surface joining the two sides of a thread.
Root: The bottom surface joining the sides of two adjacent threads.
Side or Flank: The surface between crest and root.
Axis of a screw: The longitudinal\center line through the screw.
Base of thread: The bottom section of the thread; the greatest section between the two adjacent
roots.
Depth of thread: The distance between the crest-and the base of the thread, measured
perpendicular to the axis.
Number of threads (Threads per inch): Number of threads in 1 in. of length. Or Threads per
inch are the number of threads per inch may be counted by placing a rule against the threaded
parts and counting the number of pitches in 1 inch. A second method is to use the screw pitch gage.
This method is especially suitable for checking the finer pitches of screw threads.
Length of engagement: The length of contact between two mating parts, measured axially.
Depth of engagement: The depth of thread contact between two mating parts, measured radially.
Pitch line: An element of the imaginary cylinder or cone specified in definition Pitch diameter.
Thickness of thread: The distance between the adjacent sides of the thread, measured along or
parallel to the pitch line.
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Allowance: An intentional difference in the dimensions of mating parts.
It is the minimum clearance or the maximum interference which is intended between mating
parts. It represents the condition of the tightest permissible fit, or the largest internal member
mated with the smallest external member. This is illustrated by the two following examples.
Tolerance: The amount of variation permitted in the
size of a part.
Basic size: The theoretical or nominal standard size
from which all variations are made.
Crest allowance: Defined on a screw form as the space
between the crest of a thread and the root of its mating
thread.
Finish: The character of the surface of a screw thread or
other product.
Fit: The relation between two mating parts with
reference to the conditions of assembly, as wrench fit,
close fit, medium fit, free fit, and loose fit.
The quality of fit depends upon both the relative size
and finish of the mating parts.
Neutral zone: A positive allowance.
Limits: The extreme permissible dimensions of a part.
Different forms of thread
1. Sharp v thread:
The sharp v thread is similar to the national form of
thread.
Because its sharp point is easily damaged this type of
thread is becoming obsolete.
It was favored by watch maker and instrument maker for
very small screws.
2. Acme thread:
An acme thread is a modification of the square form of
thread.
It is preferred for many jobs because it is fairly easy to
machine.
3. Square thread:
A square thread is one which the width of the thread, the depth of the thread, and the space
between threads are approximately equal.
This type of thread is very strong.
4. Buttress thread:
A buttress thread is cut square on one side and slanting on the other side.
It is used where a thread requiring great strength in one direction is required.
5. Brown & Sharpe worm thread
The Brown & Sharpe worm thread is another modification of the square thread.
It is similar to the acme thread in shape but is cut deeper.
The circular gage is used to grind the cutting· tool to the required shape and size.
The tool-setting gage is used for setting the cutting tool square with the work.
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U.N.C. Unified National Coarse
U.N.F. Unified National Fine
U.N.E.F Unified National Extra Fine
U.N. Unified with constant pitch regardless of diameter
U.N.S Unified with special pitch/diameter combination
Several unified thread types exists:
Specifications for a thread
The specifications for a thread are given on a blueprint in a definite, abbreviated form.
For example, the specifications may read l /2-13NC-3B-4 holes.
The workman who reads · these specifications is informed that the major diameter of the thread
is1/2” inch, the number of threads per inch is 13, the kind of thread is the National form, it is a
standard member of the coarse series of threads, the thread gage is to have a class 3 fit.
The symbol B indicates an internal thread.
Four such holes are required.
Classes of Fit
In addition to being identified as either coarse or fine, the threads are also classified by their class of
fit.
Class of fit Type of fit
1 Loose
2 Free
3 Medium
4 Close
Engineering fit
There are three general categories of fits:
1. Clearance fits for when it may be desirable for the shaft to rotate or slide freely within the hole.
2. Transition fits for when it is desirable that the shaft to be held precisely, yet not so tightly that it
cannot be disassembled, this is usually referred to as a Location or Transition fit.
3. Interference fits, for when it is desirable for the shaft to be securely held within the hole and it is
acceptable that some force be necessary for assembly.
a. Force fits
b. Shrink fits - When the parts can only be easily put together when one or the other is
expanded by heating or contracted by cooling.
Measuring screw threads
It is not considered a normal operation to measure a screw thread, as its identification can be found
in the IPC and supplied under a manufacture’s part number.
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Whist this is true and the manuals should always be used.
There are other ways of identifying screw threads.
The profile gauge can be used to ensure that the tool, which is cutting the thread, is of the correct
type.
The pitch gauge can be used to find the thread size by simply fitting the various blades of the gauge
against the screw thread until a match is achieved.
Signature of the Instructor Signature of Training Manager
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