Screw Thread Measurement

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Chapter No.

05

Screw Thread Measurement


Introduction
• Screw threads are mostly used in all the
components / assemblies / machine tools.
• Function of screw thread is to transmit
power and motion and acting as a
fasteners.
• It is of prime importance to know various
terminology related to screw thread and
their measured process.
Types of Screw Threads
• With worth
• Square
• Acme
Terminology of Screw Threads
1) Pitch - It is the distance measured parallel to
the axis between two consecutive points on
adjacent threads.
2) Lead – It is the distance advanced by the
thread axially in one revolution.
Lead = Pitch (for single start thread)
Lead = No. of start x Pitch (multistate)
3) Flank Angle – The angle between individual
flank and a line perpendicular to the axis of
thread, measured in axial plane is called as
flank angle.
4) Thread Angle (α) – Angle between two
adjacent flank measured in axial plane is called
as thread angle.
5) Helix Angle – The angle made by helix of a
thread with axis of thread is called as helix
angle.
6) Major Diameter (Dmaj) – It is a diameter of
imaginary cylinder co-axial with screw which
makes a continues helical contact at the crests
of the screw or roots of the nut.
7) Minor Diameter (Dminor) - It is a diameter of
imaginary cylinder co-axial with screw which
makes a continues helical contact at the root of
the screw or crests of the nut.
8) Effective Diameter – Diameter of an
imaginary co-axial cylinder which intersects
the flanks of the threads such that the width of
the thread and width of the space between
threads are equal.
Errors in Threads
• In the case of screw threads there are at least five
important elements which require consideration and
error in any one of these can cause rejection of the
thread.
• These five elements are major diameter, minor
diameter, effective diameter, pitch and angle of the
thread.
• Errors on the major and minor diameters will cause
interference with the mating thread. Due to errors in
these elements, the root section and wall thickness will
be less, also the flank contact will be reduced and
ultimately the component will be weak in strength.
• Errors on the effective diameter will also
result in weakening of the assembly due
to interference between the flanks.
• Similarly pitch and angle errors are also
not desirable as they cause a progressive
tightening and interference on assembly.
• These two errors have a special
significance as they can be precisely
related to the effective diameter.
Types of Errors
1) Drunken Thread.
• This is the one having erratic pitch, in which
the advance of the helix is irregular in one
complete revolution of the thread.
• Thread drunkenness is a particular case of a
periodic pitch error recurring at intervals of
one pitch.
• In such a thread, the pitch measured parallel to
the thread axis will always be correct, the only
error being that the thread is not cut to a true
helix.
• If the screw thread be regarded as an inclined
plane wound around a cylinder and if the thread
be unwound from the cylinder, (i.e.
development of the thread be taken) then the
drunkenness can be visualized.
• The helix will be a curve in the case of drunken
thread and not a straight line as shown in Fig.
• It is very difficult to determine such errors and
moreover they do not have any great effect on
the working unless the thread is of very large
size.
2) Progressive Pitch Error.
• This error occurs when the tool work velocity
ratio is incorrect though it may be constant.
• It can also be caused due to pitch errors in the
lead screw of the lathe or other generating
machine.
• The other possibility is by using an incorrect
gear or an approximate gear train between
work and lead screw e.g., while metric threads
are cut with an inch pitch lead screw and a
translatory gear is not available.
• A graph between the cumulative pitch error
and the length of thread is generally a straight
line in case of progressive pitch error
3) Periodic Pitch Error.
• This repeats itself at regular intervals along the
thread.
• In this case, successive portions of the thread
are either longer or shorter than the mean. This
type of error occurs when the tool work velocity
ratio is not constant.
• This type of error also results when a thread is
cut from a lead screw which lacks squareness in
the abutment causing the lead screw to move
backward and forward once in each revolution.
• Thus the errors due to these cases are cyclic and pitch
increases to a maximum, then reduces through normal
value to a minimum and so on. The graph between
the cumulative pitch error and length of threads for
this error will, therefore, be of sinusoidal form.
4) Irregular Errors.
• These arise from disturbances in the
machining set-up, variations in the
cutting properties of material etc.
• Thus they have no specific causes and
correspondingly no specific
characteristics also.
Floating Carriage Micrometer
Principle
• It works on principle of Nut and bolt/screw
threads.
• As drum of micrometer rotates by one revolution,
it will move forward by one pitch of internal
threads.
• The movement will be measured using number of
divisions on drum and main scale i.e. Micrometer
principle.
• It is used to measure major diameter, minor
diameter and effective diameter of screw threads.
Construction
• Fig. shows floating carriage or screw thread
measuring machine or bench micrometer.
• It consists of two centers maintained on the pillars
of base.
• The centers are used for fixing the job.
• The floating body (with zero friction) is kept on the
base, which has two pillars on it.
• One pillar consists of a micrometer drum having
least count of 0.0002 mm.
• The other pillar consists of fuducial indicator
which senses the pressure applied on the anvil end.
Reading a Floating Carriage Micrometer
• Floating carriage has three scales i.e. main scale,
circular scale and Vernier scale.
• LC of floating carriage can be calculated by
following process.
Sr. Scale Smallest Number of Least count
No. division on division on
main scale next scale
1 Main scale 0.5 mm ------ 0.5 mm

2 Circular scale 0.5 mm 250 (0.5/250) =


0.002 mm

3 Vernier Scale 0.002 mm 10 (0.002/10) =


0.0002 mm
• Thus least count of floating carriage is 0.0002
mm.
• To take reading,
• TR = MSR + (CSD x LC) + (VSC x LC)
Measurement of Major Diameter
A) Using Simple Micrometer –
 Major diameter of screw thread can be measured
by using simple micrometer.
 It is most easy and simple method.
 It’s least count is 0.01 mm.
 By using simple micrometer, it is not possible to
measure up to accuracy of below 0.01 mm
 By using simple micrometer, chances of extra
pressure on the job may be there, which
generates errors.
B) Using Floating Carriage Micrometer –
 A calibrated master piece is used to avoid errors
at the time of measurement.
1) Note the standard reading of master piece as D1.
2) Measure dimensions of master piece with the
help of floating carriage micrometer as R1.
3) Replace the master piece with screw whose
dimension is to be measured.
4) Measure the dimension of thread of screw as R2.
5) By using following formula, calculate the major
diameter of screw thread.
Dmajor  D1  ( R2  R1 )
Where, D1  S tan dard master piece reading
R2  Re ading of screw thread
R1  Re ading of master piece measured
Measurement of Minor Diameter
• Vee piece anvils are to be used for measurement of
minor diameter of screw thread.
• Angle of vee should be less than the angle of
thread to be checked.
1) Note the standard reading of master piece as D1.
2) Measure dimensions of master piece after placing
vee as R1.
3) Replace the master piece with screw whose
dimension is to be measured.
4) Measure the dimension of thread of screw as R2.
5) By using following formula, calculate the minor
diameter of screw thread.
Dmin or  D1  ( R2  R1 )
Where, D1  S tan dard master piece reading
R2  Re ading of screw thread
R1  Re ading of master piece measured
Measurement of Pitch
A) Using Profile Projector –
 The procedure for major diameter, minor
diameter and pitch measurement is nearly same.
 The measurement can be carried out using two
micrometers which are used for measurement of
horizontal and vertical movement of image of
given job on screen.
1) Adjust 0-0 of main scale and Vernier scale of
angle scale on screen.
2) Get the image of thread on screen and adjust the
same at 1-1 as shown in fig. and note the
reading.
3) Change the position of image so that 2-2 should
be the second position of axis and note the
second reading on micrometer.
4) Difference between first and second readings of
micrometer is the required answer i.e. pitch of
screw.
B) Using Screw Pitch Gauge –
Construction of screw pitch gauge is same as
feeler gauge, only difference is that at the end of
the strips V-grooves are given.
It is used to quickly determine the pitch of the
various threads by matching the V-grooves on the
leaves with the V-grooves on the work.
Peter Screw Measuring machine
• The Pitter screw measuring machine employs
various stylus points to suit screw threads that
are to be checked.
• The screw under measurement is held
stationary between centers on the machine.
• The indicator unit, carrying the stylus are
moving on a slides with ball bearings.
• The sliding takes place using micrometer by
which reading can be taken.
• The stylus which is mounted on a leaf spring,
falls in and out of each thread ; the pointer of the
indicator reads zero (it is adjusted to read zero in
the first groove) when this stylus is in a central
position in each successive thread.
• The micrometer reading is taken each time the
indicator reads zero.
• The instrument is more accurate for the
measurement of pitch.
Measurement of Angle of Screw Thread
A) Using Profile Projector –
 Adjust 0-0 to main scale and Vernier scale.
 Adjust the image of the thread so that one flank
coincide the vertical axis.
 Rotate the screen scale assembly so that the
vertical axis should coincide with another flank
of the same thread.
 Note reading of main scale and Vernier scale (for
angle measurement) and get the required answer.
Measurement of Effective Diameter
• It is like a simple micrometer, but ends of anvils
are of Vee shape.
• Care to be taken about flanks of thread should
come in contact of vees.
• The value should be equal to (for With worth
thread)
• Pitch diameter = D – 0.6403p
• Where 0.6403p = depth of thread
• D = Outside diameter of thread
• p = pitch of thread
• For matching helix angle, for every thread new
micrometer is to be used and initial reading of
micrometer is to be zero.
• But thread micrometer shows variation in
drunken thread can be best noted point.
Best size of wire
• Best size of wire is that size which makes contact
with the thread flank.
AB
In AOB, sin BOA 
OB
AB
sin( 90   ) 
OB
AB AB
 OB    AB sec
sin( 90   ) cos
P P
 r   sec ( AB  & OB  r )
4 4
 Best size of wire  d  2r
P P
 d  2   sec   sec
4 2
Measurement of Effective Diameter
• Effective diameter can be measured by using
floating carriage micrometer which is more
accurate.
• For measurement of effective diameter following
methods can be used
a) Two wire method
b) Three wire method
c) Direct micrometer method.
Two Wire Method
• Two wire method consists of use of two
identical best size of wires.
• Fig. shows the measurement of thread with
two wire method.
• The wires are to be inserted in such way that,
they should be inserted in the same thread and
the flank surfaces are tangent to the wire
• The dimension of thread + wire is indicated by
‘R’.
• Various terms are defined as
• Diameter over wire = R
• Diameter under wire = T
• Pitch value = P. It is the difference between
effective diameter and diameter under wire.
• From fig. it is clear that, effective diameter (E) is
addition of diameter under wire and pitch value.
E  T  P
 ( R  2d )  P { T  R  2d }
Where d  wire diameter
Three Wire Method of Thread Measurement
• Three wire method of thread measurement
Pitch Value
• Pitch value is defined while measurement of
effective diameter of screw thread.
• It is the difference of effective diameter and
diameter under wire.
• Pitch value depends upon type of thread, pitch of
thread and diameter of wire.
• For example – for metric threads
• P = 0.86602 x (pitch) – (diameter of wire)
P = 0.86602 x (pitch) – (diameter of wire)
Profile Projector
• Construction –
• It consists of a light source which incident light
on the mirror to create the profile of the object.
• Condensers are used to reduce intensity of light
for avoiding fatigue to the operator.
• Table is made up of glass on which job can be
mounted.
• Magnifying lenses are used to magnify the image.
• The magnification up to 10X, 20X, 50X, 100X,
200X, 500X, 1000X can be possible.
• Two micrometers are used to measure travelling
of table in X and Y direction with least count of
0.01 mm.
• The screen is made up of greenish colour glass
which shows the magnified image.
• The screen consists of two perpendicular axis
used for reference and a circular scale with
markings of angles in degrees.
• Vernier scale can be used to increase the accuracy
of measurement of angle.
• Working –
• When the light rays incident light on mirror ‘M1’
through condenser and lens, it will be reflected in
upward direction and passes through the table
made up of glass.
• The profile of the object is created at this point.
• This will be magnified by using magnification
lens.
• The magnifying image would be reflected on
mirror ‘M2’ then to mirror ‘M3’ and finally
visible on screen.
Pitch Measurement by Profile projector
Measurement of Major diameter by profile
projector
Measurement of Major diameter by profile
projector
Angle Measurement by profile projector
Advantages of Profile projector
• No wear and tear.
• Magnifying devices can be used hence accuracy
is more.
• Magnification of small components can be done
effectively.
•End Of This Unit

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