07.

Threads Design in SolidWorks

7.1. Thread Forms, Terminology, and Standards

The illustration below shows the basic arrangement of a helical thread wound
around a cylinder, as used on screw-type fasteners, power screws, and worms.
Pitch, lead, lead angle, and hand-of-thread are defined by the illustration.
Virtually all bolts and screws have a single thread, but worms and power screws
sometimes have double, triple, and even quadruple threads. Unless otherwise
noted, all threads are assumed to be right-hand.

Helical threads of pitch p, lead L, and lead angle λ

The illustration below shows the standard geometry of screw threads used on
fasteners. This is basically the same for both Unified or inch series and ISO or
metric threads.

Unified and ISO thread geometry. The basic profile of the external thread is shown
Standard sizes for the two systems are given in tables. The table below shows
the fine thread or UNF, standing for Unified National Fine and coarse thread or
UNC, Unified National Coarse series, for ISO standards. The pitch diameter d p is
the diameter of a cylinder on a perfect thread where the width of the thread and
groove are equal. The stress area tabulated is based on the average of the pitch
and root diameters.

Different applications require screw threads with different degrees of precision

and different amounts of clearance between the mating threaded members.
Accordingly, screw threads are manufactured to different classes of fit. For
Unified threads, three classes are standard, with class 1 representing the loosest
fit and greatest tolerances, and class 3 the tightest fit and smallest tolerances.
Obviously, class 3 threaded members are also the most expensive. The
tolerance zones for nut and screw are illustrated below.

2
 Tolerance zones for various classes of unified threads.
Each class - 1, 2, and 3- uses a portion of the zones shown

The illustration below shows most of the standard thread forms used for power
screws. Acme threads are the oldest and are still in common use. The Acme stub
is sometimes used because it is easier to heat-treat. The square thread gives
slightly greater efficiency but is seldom used because of difficulties in
manufacturing the 0° thread angle. Furthermore, it lacks the ability of the Acme
thread to be used with a split nut. The buttress thread is sometimes used for
resisting large axial forces in one direction.

Power screw thread forms. All threads shown are external.

On the screw, d m is the mean diameter of the thread contact.

Power screws, sometimes called linear actuators or translation screws, are used
to convert rotary motion of either the nut or the screw to relatively slow linear

3
motion of the mating member along the screw axis. The purpose of many power
screws is to obtain a great mechanical advantage in lifting weights, as in screw-
type jacks, or to exert large forces, as in presses and tensile testing machines,
home garbage compactors, and C-clamps. The purpose of others, such as
micrometer screws or the lead screw of a lathe, is to obtain precise positioning of
the axial movement.

The illustration below shows a simplified drawing of three different screw jacks
supporting a weight. Note in each that only the shaded member connected to the
handle rotates, and that a ball thrust bearing transfers the axial force from the
rotating to a non-rotating member. All three jacks are basically the same, but let
us choose the one from the right for determining the torque Fa that must be
applied to the nut in order to lift a given weight. Turning the nut forces each
portion of the nut thread to climb an inclined plane.

Weight supported by three screw jacks. In each screw jack, only the shaded member rotates.

The illustration below shows four basic types of threaded fasteners. Screws and
bolts are by far the most common types, and the difference between them is only
one of intended use. Bolts are intended for use with nuts. Screws are intended
for screwing into tapped holes. Sometimes screws are supplied with a captive
washer - usually a lock washer - under the head, in which case they are called
sems. Sems save assembly time and eliminate the possibility that a screw will be
installed without its specified washer.

Basic threaded fastener types

4
A stud is threaded on both ends and is usually screwed permanently into a
tapped hole. Threads on the two ends may or may not be identical. A threaded
rod is the least common type. It is usually used when a very long threaded
member is desired. A threaded rod can often be purchased in lengths of a few
feet and then cut off as required.

Technical reference charts are available online at www.americanfastener.com for

cap screws and bolts, nuts, machine screws, studs, washers, and so on. Grade
markings and mechanical properties for steel fasteners and thread terminology
are also given. The web site www.machinedesign.com presents general
information for threaded fasteners as well as for other methods of fastening and
joining.

The illustration below shows most of the common fastener head types. As a rule
a bolt can also serve as a screw by using it with a tapped hole rather than a nut.
An exception to this rule is the carriage bolt. Carriage bolts are used with soft
materials - particularly wood - so that the square corners under the head can be
forced into the material, thereby preventing the bolt from turning. Hexagonal-
head screws and bolts are commonly used for connecting machine components.
Sometimes they cannot be used because of insufficient clearance to put a socket
or end wrench on the head. In such cases the hexagonal-socket head is often
used.

Some common screw and bolt head types

5
7. 2. Threads Design in SolidWorks
The steps below will guide you in creating realistic and accurate threads in
SolidWorks. You probably will not want to do this every time as it will greatly
increase the part size and load time, but it is necessary if you plan on 3D printing
or molding your part.

This procedure will generate accurate theoretical UN Inch or M metric threads

without clearance (class 3/4H) having largest external thread and smallest
internal thread - Maximum Material Condition MMC.

“D” = Basic diameter (i.e. for 1/4-20 thread = 0.250″)

“P” = Thread Pitch = 1/TPI (i.e. for 1/4-20 thread =1/20 = 0.050″)

Below we’ll create an example 9/16″-18 thread 11/16″ long.

External Thread

 Create cylinder with diameter = D. Optionally select diameter between

maximum external major diameter and minimum external major diameter -
Machinery’s Handbook, 28 Edition, 1723-1774 - for appropriate class
thread.
 Chamfer beginning of thread 30° with long side >= 0.5953925*P
 Add thread relief at end of thread, if needed, with diameter <= D –
1.08253175*P
 Insert / Curve / Helix/Spiral. Select the end face of the cylinder to define
the helix cross-section. Sketch pitch circle diameter = D – 0.64951905*P
(optionally select diameter between maximum external pitch diameter and
minimum external pitch diameter. See Machinery’s Handbook, 28 Edition,
pages 1723 and 1775 for appropriate class thread. Exit sketch. Select
Height & Pitch and Constant pitch for the helix: Height = length of thread –
0.1875*P, Pitch = P, Start angle = 0. Choose Clockwise/Counterclockwise
to match the thread handedness. Select OK to exit the helix dialog.

6
 Select the endpoint of the helix and then the helix curve. Insert /
Reference Geometry / Plane and select OK.
 Create a sketch on the new plane. Sketch a trapezoid with the short side
towards the center of the cylinder and parallel to the axis of the cylinder.
Connect the middle of the short side with the middle of the opposite
side with a construction line and make it perpendicular to the axis of the
cylinder. Make the two angled sides symmetrical with the construction line.
Link the two angled sides with a construction line parallel to the short side.
Dimension the short side = 0.25*P. Dimension the opposite side =
0.875*P. Dimension the construction line in “d” = 0.5*P. Dimension the
angle between the two symmetrical sides = 60°. Select the helix and the
near endpoint of the construction line connecting the angled sides and
create a Pierce relation. Exit the sketch.

7
 Hide the plane created above
 In the feature tree, select the previous sketch and the helix. Insert / Cut /
Sweep…Select OK.

You may end up with multiple bodies after the cut sweep due to rounding
errors in SolidWorks. If so, select the threaded body to keep, and delete the
remaining thin skin over the threads.

8
Internal Thread
 Create round hole with diameter = D – 1.08253175*P. Optionally select
diameter between minimum internal minor diameter and maximum internal
minor diameter as per Machinery’s Handbook, 28 Edition, pages 1723 and
1776 for appropriate class thread.
 Chamfer beginning of hole 30° with long side >= 0.5953925*P
 Add thread relief at bottom of hole, if needed, with diameter >= D
 Insert / Curve / Helix/Spiral. Select the face at the start of the hole to
define the helix cross-section. Sketch pitch circle diameter = D –
0.64951905*P. Optionally select diameter between minimum internal pitch
diameter and maximum internal pitch diameter. See Machinery’s
Handbook, 28 Edition, pages 1723, and 1777 for appropriate class thread.

9
 Exit sketch. Select Height & Pitch and Constant pitch for the helix. Height
= length of thread – 0.125*P, Pitch = P, Start angle = 0. Choose
Clockwise/Counterclockwise to match the thread handedness. Select OK
to exit the helix dialog.

 Select the endpoint of the helix and then the helix curve. Insert /
Reference Geometry / Plane. Select OK.
 Create sketch on the new plane. Sketch a trapezoid with the short side
towards the outside of the hole and parallel to the axis of the cylinder.
Connect the middle of the short side with the middle of the opposite side
with a construction line, and make it perpendicular to the axis of the
cylinder. Make the two angled sides symmetrical with the construction line.
Link the two angled sides with a construction line parallel to the short side:

10
 dimension the short side = 0.125*P, dimension the opposite side =
0.875*P, dimension the construction line in “d” = 0.5*P, dimension the
angle between the two symmetrical sides = 60°. Select the helix and the
near endpoint of the construction line connecting the angled sides and
create a Pierce relation. Exit the sketch.

 Hide the plane created above

 In the feature tree, select the previous sketch and the helix. Insert / Cut /
Sweep… Select OK.

You may end up with multiple bodies after the cut sweep due to rounding
errors in SolidWorks. If so, select the threaded body to keep, and delete the
remaining thin skin over the threads.

11
Summary
In this lecture we discussed the geometry and nomenclature of threads alongside
the procedures to design them in SolidWorks.

References
 Juvinall, R., Marshek, K. – Fundamentals of Machine Component Design,
5th Edition, John Willey and Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey, 2012
 Dassault Systems – SolidWorks Fundamentals, Concord, Massachusetts,
United States, 2012
 Leondes, C. - Systems Techniques and Computational Methods, CRC
Press, Boca Raton, 2001

12