Lecture Prepared by:

Gp Capt Dr. Hamid Ullah Khan Niazi

 Learning Objectives
After completing this unit you should be able to:
Recognize and state the purpose of six common
thread forms.
Set up a lathe to cut inch external unified
threads.
Set up an inch lathe to cut metric threads.
Set up a lathe and cut internal threads.
Set up a lathe and cut external Acme threads
 Introduction-Definition

Thread may be defined as a helical ridge of uniform

section formed on the inside and outside of a cylinder
or cone.
Threads have been in use for more than 100 years for
holding parts together making adjustments and for
transmitting power and motion.
Threads are mass produced by taps and dies, thread
rolling, thread milling and grinding to exacting
standards.

PURPOSES: 1. To fasten devices

2. To provide accurate measurement
3. To transmit motion
Thread Terminology
Explanation of Different parts of Thread
External Thread: Threads made on the outside of a cylinder or cone.
Internal Threads: Threads made on the inside of a cylinder or cone.
Major Diameter: The largest diameter of an external or internal thread.
Minor Diameter: The smallest diameter of an internal or external thread.
Pitch Diameter : The pitch diameter is equal to the major diameter minus a
single depth of thread.
TPI: The number of threads per inch is the number of crests or roots per
inch of threaded section.
Pitch: The distance from a point on one thread to a corresponding point on
the next thread measured parallel to axis.
Lead: It is the distance a screw thread advances axially in one revolution.
Root: The bottom surface joining the sides of two adjacent threads.
Crest: it is the top surface on a thread
Flank : It is a thread surface which connects the crest with root.
Depth of thread: It is the distance between the crest and the root measured
perpendicular to the axis.
Helix Angle: It is the angle which the thread makes with a plane
perpendicular to the thread axis.
Right Hand Thread: A helical ridge of uniform cross-section onto which a
nut is threaded in a clock wise direction. On a lathe machine, the tool bit
advances from right to left.
Left Hand Thread: On this the nut is threaded counterclockwise and the tool
bit advances from left to right.
Difference Between Left Hand And
Right Hand Thread
 Types of Thread
The American National Standard Thread: It is divided into four main
series, all having the same shape and proportions. National Coarse
(NC), National Fine (NF), National Special (NS) and National Pipe
threads (NPT). This thread has a 60 degree angle with the crest and
root truncated to 1/8th the pitch. It is used in fabrication, machine
construction and assembly and for components where easy
assembly is desired.
 Types of Thread-Continued
British Standard Whit Worth Thread: It has a 55o –V form
with rounded crests and roots. This thread application is
the same as for the American National form thread.
 Unified Thread: The unified thread is a combination of the
British standard whit worth and American National form
thread. This thread has a 60o angle with a rounded root and
the crest may be rounded or flat.

Unified Thread
 The American National Acme Thread: It is
replacing the square thread in many cases. It has
a 29o angle and is used for jacks and vises etc.

American National Acme Thread

Brown and Sharpe Worm Thread: It has thread angle of 29o,
depth is greater, width of the crest and root are different. The
self-locking feature makes it adaptable to winches and
steering mechanism.

Brown And Sharpe Worm Thread

Winches
Square Thread: It is being frequently replaced by the
Acme Thread due to the difficulty of cutting it,
particularly with taps and dies. Square threads were
often found on vises and jacks.

Square Thread
 International Metric Thread : It is used as a
standardized thread used in Europe. It has thread
angle of 60o with a crest and root truncated to 1/8th
the depth.

International Metric Thread

 Thread Fits and Classification
Fit: It is the relationship between two joining parts determined by the
amount of clearance or interference.
Allowance: It is the intentional difference in size of the joining parts or the
minimum difference between the joining parts.
Tolerance: It is the variation permitted in part size and may be expressed as
plus or minus or both. In Unified and National system, the tolerance is plus
for external threads and minus for internal threads.
Nominal Size: It is the designation used to identify the size of the part.
Actual Size: It is the measured size of a thread or part.
Basic Size : It is the size from which the tolerance levels are set that is the
upper natural tolerance level and lower natural tolerance level.
 BASIC HOLE SYSTEM

The basic hole system is a system of fits in

which the design of the hole is the system basic
size and the allowance applies to the shaft.
When specifying the tolerances for a hole and
cylinder and determining their dimensions, you
should begin calculating by assuming either the
minimum (smallest) hole or the maximum
(largest) shaft size if they are to fit together well.
Figure 1 illustrates the basic hole system
In the illustration, the minimum hole size is the basic
size. To calculate the maximum diameter of the shaft,
assume an allowance of .003 inch and subtract that
from the basic hole size. Arbitrarily selecting a
tolerance of .002 inch, apply the tolerance to both the
hole and the shaft. This give a maximum hole (1.502
inches) and minimum
shaft (1.495 inches). The minimum clearance fit is
the difference between the smallest hole (1.500
inches) and the largest shaft (1.497 inches) or .003
inch. The maximum clearance fit is the difference
between the largest hole (1.502 inches) and the
smallest shaft (1.495 inches) or .007 inch. Determine
the maximum shaft size of an interference fit by
adding the allowance (.003 inch) to the basic hole size
(1.500 inches) or 1.503 inches. To convert basic hole
size to basic shaft size, subtract the allowance for a
 Isometric Tolerances and Allowances
Tolerance Grade: A medium tolerance, used on a general-purpose thread is
indicated by the number 6. Any number above 6 indicates thread with
greater tolerance and any number below 6 indicates fine tolerance.
Allowance: Symbols are used to indicate the allowance for external threads
and internal threads. Capital letters are used for internal threads and small
letters are used for external threads such as shown below.
 Example
Metric threads are represented in the following example
 Unified Threads
Unified threads have been classified into three categories and the
applications of each have been defined by the Screw Thread
Committee. External threads are classified as 1A,2A,3A and Internal
threads are classified as 1B,2B,3B.
Classes 1A,1B: They are those threads for work which must be readily
assembled. They have loosest fit, with no possibility of interference
between the joining external and internal threads when the threads are
dirty or bruised.
Classes 2A,2B: They are used for most of commercial fasteners. These
threads provide a medium or free fit and permit power wrenching with
minimum galling and seizure.
Classes 3A,3B: They are used where most accurate fit and lead are
required. No allowance is provided and the tolerances are 75% of those
used for Class 2A and 2B fits.
 Thread
Calculations

To cut a correct
thread on a lathe
its important to
calculate all the
thread
dimensions
properly. See
example.
Cutting Threads with Quick Change Gear
Box
Quick Change Gear Box
 Thread Chasing Dial

A thread Chasing Dial is used on Modern lathes

for accurate “picking up” of the thread.
It also helps in establishing the relationship
between the cutting and the work piece during
thread cutting operation.
It also indicates when to engage the split nut or
the half nut with the lead screw in order for the
cutting tool to follow the previously cut groove.
Thread Cutting Using Dial Indicator
 Measuring Threads

Threads may be measured by a variety of

methods, the most common are :
A thread ring gage
A thread plug gage
A thread snap gage
A thread comparator micrometer
An optical comparator
The three-wire method
 Multiple Threads

Multiple threads are used when it is

necessary to obtain an increase in lead
and a deep, coarse thread cannot be cut.
Multiple threads may be double, triple or
quadruple, depending on the number of
starts around the periphery of the work
piece.
 Difference Between Multiple start
threads and single start threads
In case of a single start thread there is a movement of only one
thread but in case of multiple threads let say a three start
thread, a thread advances three times as far as if it was a
single start thread.
The independent threads are called STARTS.
 Assignment
Solve problems on Thread Calculations
and submit next week.
Start working on your final project of IE
and discuss your ideas.
 Summary
Thread cutting is a skill that all engineers
should possess because it is still
necessary to cut threads on an engine
lathe, especially if a special size or form of
thread is required.
Questions and
Answers?