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Screw Thread Basics PDF
Screw Thread Basics PDF
Screw Thread Basics PDF
These Pages include various standards. To confirm the status of any standard, identify the replacement standard if it is obsolete and/or purchase the standard please use.
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Introduction
The notes below are outline in nature and are very much second best to the standards identified. Quality information is best found in the standards.
The notes on this page identify the basic ISO thread form and illustrate how the tolerances related to the thread form are developed from the simple rules provided in the
relevant Standards. Using the equations and tables available on this page it is possible to obtain the limits for all available dia-pitch-tolerance class combination.
The standard BS 3643 Part 1 relates to single start parallel screw threads of sizes from 1 to 300 mm. Part 2 provides selected limits of sizes for the rang of screw
threads.
The ISO standards quoted below are very similar the the British standards and provide essentially the same information. The Standard ISO 965 Part 2 (size range
1-64mm)provides much more limited information compared to BS 3643 Part 2. ( size range 1-300mm ).
A table of ISO form screw threads from 1,6 to 300mm is found on ISO screw threads. This table relates to a medium tolerance grade screw nut combination (6H/6g) which
is the grade implied if it is not specified.
Relevant Standards
BS 3643 Part 1:2007..ISO metric screw threads. Principles and basic data
BS 3643 Part 2:2007..ISO metric screw threads. Specification for selected limits of size
BS ISO 965-2:1998 ...ISO g.p.s.t.T . Limits of sizes for general purpose external and internal screw threads. Medium quality
BS ISO 261:1998 ...ISO general purpose metric screw threads. General plan
External Thread
Calculating the limits for the external thread root diameter (d 3)... Root Contours
The basic root diameter d1 is 20 - 2*0,54127.P = 17,294
To obtain the minimum root dia d3min first calculate
z = H/4 + Td2 /2 - P/8 = 0.21651P + 0,170/2 -0,125P = 0,3138
d 3min = d1 - es -2z = 17,294 - 0.042 - 2*0,0,3138 = 16.624
The tables in the standards do not include a table value for d 3max
The table on this website ( Screw Threads ) uses a value d 3max = d1 - es. = 17,252... This is the diameter of the Go-Gauge Profile.
A value more in line with the recommendations in the standards can be found using the equations found on this page Root Contours
(I will update the table in line with these recommendations over time - (R.B. 6/3/2008)
Internal Thread
Calculating the limits for the internal thread Minor diameter (d1)
The basic minor diameter d1 = 20 - 2*0,54127.P = 17,294
Fundamental deviation for EI(H) = 0 μm.... Fundamental Deviation
The diameter tolerance width for an M20 H6 is 450μm. ....Tolerance Widths
The limits for d is therefore (min = 17,294 + 0 = 17,294 ),(max = 17,294 + 0,450 = 17,744 )
Ans(max 17,744, min 17,294 )
Pitch Major Pitch Dia Minor Pitch Major Pitch Dia Minor
Thread P D/d D2 /d 2 D1 /d 1 Thread P D/d D2 /d 2 D1 /d 1
mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm
M3 x 0,5 0,5 3,000 2,675 2,459 M12x1,75 1,7 12,000 10,863 10,106
M4 x 0,7 0,7 4,000 3,545 3,242 M16 x 2,0 2 16,000 14,701 13,835
M5 x 0,8 0,8 5,000 4,48 4,134 M20 x2,5 2,5 20,000 18,376 17,294
M6 x 1,0 1 6,000 5,35 4,917 M24 x 3,0 3 24,000 22,051 20,752
M8 x 1,25 1,25 8,000 7,188 6,647 M30 x 3,5 3,5 30,000 27,727 26,211
M10 x 1,5 1,5 10,000 9,026 8,376 M36 x 4,0 4 36,000 33,402 31,67
Screw Pitch
There are a number of pitch values for each screw diameter. The selection as to the pitch is based on the application. The largest pitch option for diameters M1 to M64
is identified as the coarse pitch and is to one used for general engineering applications. A table of the coarse pitch series is provided below. Other pitch values for each
diameter are called the fine series or constant series.
M1 x 0,25 M1,2 x 0,25 M1,4 x 0,30 M1,6 x 0,35 M1,8 x 0,35 M2 x 0,4 M2,2 x 0,45
M2,5 x 0,45 M2,5 x 0,45 M3 x 0,5 M3,5 x 0,6 M4 x 0,7 M4,5 x 0,75 M5 x 0,8
M6 x 1 M7 x 1 M8 x1,25 M9 x1,25 M10 x 1,5 M11 x 1,5 M12 x 1,75
M14 x 2,0 M16 x 2 M18 x 2,5 M20 x 2,5 M22 x 2,5 M24 x 3,0 M27 x 3
M30 x 3,5 M33 x 3,5 M36 x 4 M39 x 4 M42 x 4,5 M45 x 5 M48 x5
M52 x 5 M56 x5,5 M60 x 5,5 M64 x 6 M68 x 6
Fine series threads are only listed in the standards up to M33. The name fine does not imply higher quality. The fine series are listed below.
M1 / M1,1/ M1,2 / M1,4 / M1,6 / M1,8 (x 0,2) M2 / M2,2 (x 0,25) M2,5 / M3 / M3,5 (x 0,35)
M4 / M4,5 / M5,5 (x 0,5) M6 / M7( x 0,75) M8 x 1
M10 / 12 (x 1,25) M14 / M16 / M18 / M20 / M22 (x 1,5) M24 / M25 / M27/ M30 / M33 (x 2)
The constant thread series are identified in the standards for the screw range M8 upwards and are normally those pitches not classed as coarse or fine
The method of applying manufacturing tolerances to the female and male threads such that they fit together is by use of the tolerance class which is a combination of the
tolerance grade ( a number) and a tolerance position ( a letter). For the female threads the letter is upper class and for the male threads the letter is lower class.
Therefore H6 is a tolerance grade for a female ( Internal ) thread and g6 is a tolerance grade for a male (External ) thread.
The tolerance band positions relative to the basic zero size are illustrated in the figure below
The (fundamental)tolerance position is defined as the nearest end of the tolerance band to the zero tolerance position (Dead size position). These positions are identified
as EI for the female thread and es for the male thread.
There are a limited number of tolerance grades used to specify threads and the standards identify these grades for the Minor ( D1 ) and Pitch ( D2 )diameters of the
female threads and the Major ( d ) and Pitch ( d2 ) diameters of the male threads. Tolerance grades are not provided for none critical female major dia (D) and the male
minor diameter (d3). The numbers of grades used are listed below.
The tolerance positions available are EI = G & H for female threads and es = e,f g, or h for male threads.
To simplify the selection of the tolerance classes threads have been divide into three categories.
The length of thread engagement is also used as a parameter for selection of the tolerance class
The following tables identifies the range of tolerance classes and the length of screws for selecting the length parameter.
Female Threads
Medium 5G 6G 7G 5H 6H 7H
Rough - 7G 8G - 7H 8H
Male Threads
Rough 8g 9g8g
....First Choice
....Second Choice
... Commercial Nuts /Bolt Threads
... Third choice to be avoided
Note:
When two shaft tolerance grades are shown the first is for the pitch dia and the second is for the major diameter.
When only one is shown it is the same for both diameters.
mm mm mm mm mm mm mm
1,5 5 5 15 15
2,0 8 8 24 24
2,5 10 10 30 30
1,0 4 4 12 12
3,5 15 15 45 45
4,0 18 18 53 53
4,5 21 21 63 63
3,0 15 15 45 45
5,0 24 24 71 71
5,5 28 28 85 85
6,0 32 32 95 95
2,0 12 12 36 36
3,0 18 18 53 53
90,0 180,0
4,0 24 24 71 71
3,0 20 20 60 60
Root Contours
For both internal and external threads the actual root contours shall not transgress the basic profile.
Note: In accordance with the requirements of BS EN ISO 898-1 for external fasteners of property class 8,8 and higher the root profile shall have non-reversing curvature,
no part of the profile shall have a radius of less than 0,125P. It is advisable to attempt a truncation of C = H/6 as a basis for stress calculation of the minor dia d3
In the maximum minor position d 3min the two radii of Rmin = 0,125P will go through the corners of the no-go gauge profile and blend with the flanks of the maximum
metal condition thread form.(see figure below)
Cmin = 0,125P
To calculate d3min first obtain z
d3min = d1 - es -2z
To calculate d3max first obtain y
d3max = d1 - es - 2y
Examples
Male Threads
Female Threads
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