6 Measurement of Screw Thread

and Gears
SCREW THREAD MEASUREMENT
INTRODUCTION

Screw threads are employed either to fasten two

components with the help of nuts, bolts and
studs or to transmit power and motion as with the help of lead screw in a
lathe or in a fly press.
The performance of the screw threads during the
assembly with nut would depend upon a
number of parameters such as the condition of the machine tool used for
work material, tool etc. cutting the screw threads,
There is a large variety of screw threads varying in their form, included angle etc. But each
has one thing in common, that is the standardization of all its type
dimensions in terms of pitch. If the
pitch is given all the dimensions can be worked out in terms of pitch.
Fig. 6.1 (a), (6) illustrates the basic nomenclature of external and internal parallel screw
threads.

Crest Root Flank

Crest Root

Thread
angle Flank

Thread
depth Thread
angle
Flank
angle
internal thread

(a) (b)
Fig. 6.1. (a) External thread and (b) Internal thread
Threads may also be cut on tapered cylindrical surfaces in that case they are known as 'taper
threads
Screw Thread Terminology
Screw Thread. A screw thread is a continuous helical groove of specified cross-section
produced on the external or internal surface of a cylinder or a cone.
2) Multiple Start Thread. This is produced by forming two or more helical grooves, equally
n d similarly formed in an axial section on a cylinder. This gives a quick traverse without
sacrificing core strength.
Crest. Crest is the prominent part of thread i.e., top surface joining the two sides of thread.
4) Koot. Root is the bottom of the groove between the sides of two adjacent threads.
f a n The straight surface between the crest and root (which connects the crest with the
root) is called the
flank.
ing n t c h . The distance measured parallel to the axis from a point on a thread to thecorrespond
t on the next
(adjacent) thread is called pitch of the thread
(175)
176

(7) Lead. Lead is the distance through which a screw advances

METROLOGY
revolution. For a single start thread, lead pitch. For a multistart
=
axially in one com.
n = number of starts. thread, lead n x =
pitch where
(8) Depth of thread. It is the distance between the crest and
root of the
perpendicular to the axis of the thread. It can also be defined as a distance thread measuw
between the major and minor diameters. measured radial
ally
(9) Thread Angle (Included angle). It is the angle included
between the flanks or
thread measured in an axial plane. slopes of a
(10) Flank angle. The angle made by the flank of a thread
axis is called flank angle. It is
with the perpendicular to
equal to half the thread angle. the thread
(11) Lead Angle. On a straight
at the pitch line with plane
thread, lead angle is the angle made by the helix of the
perpendicular to the axis. thread
(12) Helix Angle. On a straight
thread at the pitch line with the axis. thread,
the helix angle is the
angle made by the helix of the
(13) Major diameter. It is the diameter of an
imaginary co-axial
roots of a n internal thread. It is also cylinder
crests of an external thread or which would touch the
diameter, outside diameter or full diameter of external called as external diameter, cost
threads.
(14) Minor diameter (Core diameter or
cylinder which would touch the roots of an root diameter). It is the diameter of an
external thread o r crests of an imaginary co-axial
(15) Effective diameter internal thread.
which intersects the flanks of(pitch diameter). It is the diameter of an
imaginary co-axial
widths of the threads (metal) and cylinder
the threads such that the
the spaces between the
threads are equal; each widths of
(16) Virtual effective diameter being half the pitch.
internal thread is the pitch diameter (Functional diameter). The functional
diameter of an external or
of the enveloping thread of perfect thread
depth of engagement but clear at crests and roots, and of elements havingfull
When added to (for external specified length.
threads) the
from specified
profile for a specified length of pitch diameter, the cumulative effects of deviations
ERRORS IN THREADS
engagement gives the functional diameter.
Errors in screw threads can arise
elements of a thread, and errors in during its manufacture or storage. There
are six
thread, we must take into account each one of these may cause rejection. Thus for
any important
(i) Major diameter
of the following elements: inspecting tne
(ii) Minor diameter
(iu) Pitch (iii) Effective diameter
In addition,
(w) Flank angles, and
(vi) Profile at crest and root.
be checked and concentricity of the various diameters must be
method of gauging must be controlled. All these elements mua ust
able to cover all these
Errors the major diameter may cause
in elements.
the flank interference
contact, or, in the case of internal with the mating threads or reducuo in
Srrors in the minor threads, weakness by reduction of the wall
by reduction of the diameter may cause thicknes
cross-section of the root. interference, reduction of flank contact, or weak
Brrors in theeffective diameter determine the
flanks of mating threads. amount of slackness or a the
effective diameter is small With the major and minor diameters at their interference De the
the maximu
screw. The reverse conditions threads will be thin on the external screw and thick on an ternal
would produce more noise in the prevail if the effective diameter is
above its basic value. These o rors
Errors on pitch and thread assembly while running.
angle result in progressive tightening and interference a s s A T
on