Basic information on threads

properties, drawings & annotation

for didactic purposes only

Piotr Grądkowski home.agh.edu.pl/gradkow

 Thread annotation

Thread type Symbol Describing parameters & units Example

coarse M Outer diameter [mm] M12

Metric ISO
fine M Outer diameter [mm] x pitch[mm] M12x1,5

parallel G G1
British Standard
inner pipe diameter [in]
Pipe (BSP) R*
taper R1½
Rc*

British Standard Whitworth “ outer diameter [in] 5/32”

Trapezoidal Tr outer diameter [mm] x lead [mm] Tr24x5

Buttress S outer diameter [mm] x lead [mm] S24x5

Round Rd outer diameter [mm] x lead [in] Rd10x1/10”

*
- R refers to external threads, Rc – to internal ones

Definitions:
Lead - the distance along the screw's axis that is covered by one complete rotation of the
screw (360°)
Pitch - the distance from the crest of one thread to the next
Remark: For single-start threads Lead=Pitch
Pitch diameter Dp – diameter on which the distance between the flanks of the thread equals
p/2

Left-hand threads
To annotate a left-hand thread, at the end of the annotation symbol, an LH must be added.
Example: Left-hand fine metric thread
M14x1,5LH

Multiple-start threads:
Example: Trapezoidal double-start thread, outer diameter 42mm, lead 10mm, pitch 5mm:
Tr42x10(P5)

Combined annotation
Example: Buttress left-hand double-start thread:
S48x16(P8)LH
 Metric thread contour
internal thread (nut)

external thread (screw)

thread axis

Detailed drawing of screw heads

& nuts
 Symbolic
Type of fastener Exact drawing Simpliefied drawing
annotation
countersunk head screw

cheese head screw

hex head bolt

A

stud-bolt

Nut
 Exact, simplified and symbolic representation of fasteners

10
9
2 14
3 13
11
5 8 15
12
1 - stud-bolt
2, 10 - nut
1
7 3, 9- washer
4 - blind tapped
4 hole
5 - clearance hole
6 6 - hex-head bolt
7,8 - clearance hole
11 - clearance hole
12 - blind tapped hole
13 - cheese head screw
14 - counterbored clearance hole
15 - clearance tapped hole