MEASUREMENT OF SCREW THREADS

Screw thread geometry has evolved since the early 19th century. The property of
interchangeability is associated more strongly with screw threads than with any other machine
part. Perhaps, the Whitworth thread system, proposed as early as the 1840s, was the first
documented screw thread profile that came into use. A couple of decades later, the Sellers
system of screw threads came into use in the United States. Both these systems were in practice
for a long time and laid the foundation for a more comprehensive unified screw thread system.

A screw thread is helical ridge formed on uniform section round the curved surface. The shape
of the normal section of the thread depend upon the shape of the tool which produces its groove.
A screw is a threaded piece generally cylindrical in form, but sometime, conical (or tapered),
used in most cases as a temporary fastening; less frequently used as a means of transmitting
motion or power.

The screw threads are applied to many devices for various for purposes as follows:
1. To hold parts together as in the case of fastening.
2. To transmit power
3. To control movement as in micrometre.
4. To increase the effect of applied effort as in auto jack.
5. To convey materials as in the case of fastening.

Classification of Threads
Threads may be classified as follows:
1. According to the surface on which the threads are cut:
(i) External thread
(ii) Internal thread
The external threads are cut into the surface of a cylindrical bar.
The internal threads are cut into the surface of the cylindrical hole of a bar or cone.

External and Internal thread

2. According to the direction of rotation of the threaded cylinder with respect to engagement
or disengagement with the other part:
(i) Right-handed thread
(ii) Left-handed thread.
A right-handed thread is one in which nut must be turned in a right-handed direction to screw
it on, figure 1. A left-handed is one in which the nut would be screwed on by turning it to the
left. Figure 2

Figure 1 & 2:

3. According to to number of starts:

(i) Single start threads
(ii) Multi start threads
There may be single threaded screw and multi-threaded screw. Even a separate independed
thread may run along the work piece. The independed threads are called starts. There are single
starts, two starts, three starts etc. (Fig.3 i, ii, iii)

A single start threaded screw is one in which there is a movement of one thread for one
complete turn round the screw or bolt. In the multi start threaded screw there is a movement of
more than one thread. In the case of double start thread, for one complete turn, the thread
advances two times as if it were a single thread.

Use of multi start thread: Multi start thread are used where rapid movements or motions are
required. Screw thread gauging plays a vital role in industrial metrology.

Fig.3: (i) Single-start (ii) Two-start (iii) Three-start)

In contrast to measurements of geometric features such as length and diameter, screw thread
measurement is more complex.
We need to measure inter-related geometric aspects such as pitch diameter, lead, helix, and
flank angle, among others.
Few commonly employed elements of screw thread:
1.Major diameter: It is the largest diameter of a screw thread and also termed as outside or
crest diameter.
2. Minor diameter: It is the smallest diameter of a screw thread. It is also known as root or
core diameter.
3. Effective diameter or pitch diameter: It is an imaginary diameter in-between major and
minor diameter and is equal to the major diameter less than an amount equal to the single depth
of a thread.

4. Axis of screw: It is the longitudinal central line through the screw.

5. Angle of thread: It is the angle between the two sides of a thread measured in an axial plan.
6. Depth of thread: It is the angle between crest and the root of thread measured normal to the
axis.
7. Thickness of thread: It is the distance between adjacent sides of the thread measured along
or parallel to the pitch line.
8. Side: It is the slant surface of the thread which connect the crest with the root.
9. Helix angle: It is an angle made by helix of the thread at the pitch or effective diameter with
the plan perpendicular to the axis.

Figure 5. Nomenclature of a screw thread

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

11. Root: It is the bottom surface joining the two sides of a thread.
12. Pitch: It is the distance from a point on one thread to the corresponding point on the next
thread measured parallel to the axis of the thread and is denoted by ‘p’.
13.Lead: It is the distance a screw thread advances axially in one turn on a single thread screw,
the lead is equal to pitch and for a double thread screw, the lead becomes two times the pitch
and so on.
14.Addendum: It is the radial distance between the major diameter and pitch line for external
threads. On the other hand, it is the radial distance between the minor diameter and pitch line
for internal threads.
15. Dedendum: It is the radial distance between the minor diameter and pitch line for external
threads. On the other hand, it is the radial distance between the major diameter and pitch line
for internal threads.

Fig. 6 Nomenclature of a screw thread (For Addendum Dedendum)

Specifications of a Screw Thread:
To specify a screw thread following points are given in consideration:
1. Shape or form of thread
2. Pitch
3. Size
4. Length
5. Number of starts
6. Material
7. Direction of thread
8. Internal or External threads.
Forms of Threads:
Many different shapes are employed but those are grouped in three main classes:
1. V-threads
2. Square threads
3. Modification of both.
 Comparison of ‘V’ and Square threads
S.No Particulars V-Threads Square Threads
1 Strength More Strong Less strong
2 Frictional resistance to More Less
motion
3 Cutting of threads Easy and hence cheaper Difficult and hence costly
4 Suitability Suitable for fastening Suitable for power
purpose transmission.

Different screw thread forms:

(i) British Standard Whitworth (B.S.W) thread. Refer to Fig.7. It is most widely used thread
section in the V-thread class in British practice.
Proportions: H=0.9605p H=theoretical depth
h = actual depth
Thread angle = 550
r = 0.1373 p r = radius ( at the root or crest)

Fig.7.British Standard Whitworth (B.S.W) thread.

The angle measured in axial plane is 550. One sixth of the height of the fundamental triangle is
truncated at top and bottom; crest and root are round, yielding thread depth of 0.64 pitch. The
thread (B.S.W) is employed in general machine construction, where conditions favour the use
of bolts, screw and other threaded pieces where quick and easy assembly of path is required.
The pitches are relatively course.

British Standard Fine (B.S.F) thread. This thread is same as Whitworth Standard Thread,
but the pitch for any given nominal diameter is smaller than for corresponding size of
Whitworth standard thread. Hence for a nominal size, a bolt having a fine thread is stronger
than one having a Whitworth standard thread. In the design consideration where weight is an
important factor like aircraft and automobile work, fine threads are essential B.S.F threads are
preferred and therefore largely used in auto mobiles, plant machine tool works etc.

Metric thread(M). These threads are in metric units. They employ 600 angle. The diameter of
the threads vary from 6 to 80mm. They are used in motor car practice.

Fig. 8 Metric Thread

Square Thread:

This thread has its face normal to axis of the screw. There is less friction and less wear and
most commonly used for transmission of power as in vices, clamps etc. They are used for
converting a rapid rotary motion into a slow linear motion viz screw presses, lead screw of
lathe, jacks etc. They are less strong than V-threads and are more expensive to cut on a lathe.

Fig. 9. Square thread

Seller Thread. These are known as United States standard threads. These threads were
introduced by Mr Sellers.

They are employed for general use in engineering work such as for bolts, screws etc.

Proportions. H=0.866p
h =0.6495p
f= 0.1252p
Thread angle= 600

Sellers thread

Acme thread. It is modification of square thread and stronger than the square thread. It can
easily be cut, milled or ground due to its sloping flanks. An inherent advantage is that, if the
tapered sides of the screw wear, the mating nut automatically comes into closer engagement,
instead of allowing backlash to develop. And the slope even permits the use of a disengaging
or spilt nut. Acme threaded lead screws are commonly used on lathes, for it is essential to
engage or disengage the spilt nut quickly during screw cutting operation.

Fig.11 Acme thread Knuckle thread

 Acme thread

Knuckle thread. This thread again is modification of square thread. The cross-section of the
thread is a semi-circle. The radius is one quarter of the pitch and the depth is therefore, half the
pitch. In rough service the sharp outside of the square thread gets damaged and hence rounding
above and below the pitch is done in Knuckle thread. This yields a strong thread but increases
the friction, hence liberal clearance must be left between the screw and the nut.

Application: Railway carries couplers.

Buttress thread. This thread resists heavy axial load, i.e., load acting on the direction of axis.
In common design the thread angle is 450, the load resisting face being normal to the axis.
However, some buttress thread have their load resisting face inclined, a design which facilitates
thread milling and thread grinding.

In breech mechanism of GUNs these threads are used as they are quick acting vices and hence
also named as breech locked thread. It has advantage, like has a sheering strength twice that of
square thread of Vee thread due to the approximate triangular section.

All Vee-shaped threads absorb a large amount of power.

 Buttress thread

Selection of thread form.

1. Easy production of form imply a capacity to make tools without trouble and expenses.

2. The measurement of thread should be straightforward

3. Should enable a good bearing between bolt and nut without unduly expensive precision
cutting and gauging.

4.The thread angle should be as sharp and consistent with required strength.

Large thread angle causes large bursting forces on the nut. Again, friction increases as thread
angle increases. There is relatively little friction with square thread, hence they are in general
use for transmitting motion and power.