The Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Inspecting Threads Industry in general is becoming much more concerned about the quality of all the products and components received because itis realized that high quality assemblies can not be produced without starting with high quality components. Since fasteners play such a vital role in producing high quality assemblies efficiently they are coming under closer scrutiny every day. One obvious reaction by fastener end users is a desire to inspect and measure the thread of fasteners more thoroughly and completely. Unfortunately there are several misunderstandings about the correct practices, proce- ‘dures and gages to be used in inspecting thre ‘The same questions and misunderstandin 1S occur frequently. Below are the 10 most ‘commonly asked questions and simple explanations for them: Question #1: If a print specifies a 2A external thread and is to be commer- jally plated, what are the correct gages tous? Answer: ‘A, Unless a print states “2A after plate” it must be assumed that the 2A gaging is required before and not after plating. B, Per A.N.S1L BI. Section 6 1982 spee- ification: “Threads accepted to Class 2A limits before coating are accepted afer coat- ing by basic size Class 3A Go gaging. Question #2: Why can’t you measure a Class 2A part with 24 gay after plating? Answer ‘A, Plating is a deposit on the surface of a part. This deposit must therefore increase the size of the thread. Ifa part gages at 2. high limit before plating it must be accept able at some larger size after plating. B. Class 2A threads have a plating allowance provided. This means that the maximum 2A pitch diameter may be increased by the amount of the plating allowance and still be an acceptable thread. You will note that the maximum pitch diameter of a 1/4-20 2A thread (.2164) plus the allowance (,0011) is exactly equal to the 1/4-20 3A maximum pitch diameter (215). 2164 plus 0011 equals 2175 1/4-20 2A max. PD. +14-20 2A allowance 1/4-20 3A max. PD. C. A 60 degree thread's pitch diameter increases by 4 times the thickness of the The effect of plating build up on thread pitch diameters By Joe Greenslade plating thickness applied. This is because the gaging position has moved outward on ‘two adjacent thread flanks on both sides Of the part, increasing the pitch diameter a total of 4 times the plating thickness. Question #3: Can T buy plain finish 34 parts, have them plated and gage them? Answer: No. Plain finish 3A threads such as are ‘common on socket bead cap screws can not be plated and still be expected to gaze. Class 3A has no plating allowance. If a product is t0 gage “3A after plating” the pitch diameter must be made 4 t0 6 times smaller than the thickness of the plating to be applic Question #4: Since a plated Class 2A external thread is gaged with a 3A Go ‘gage after plating, is a 2B internal thread gaged with a 3B Go gage after plating? Answer: No.Per ANSI. B1.I Section 7.7 (1982): material limit of tolerance with ‘The minimum ‘classes for internal threads is basi no allow-ance available to accommod: coating.” If internal threads are to be plated they must be produced oversized by 4 to 6 times the thickness of the plating to be applied. When a print specifies a Class 2B thread and plating, it must be assumed that the parts must gage 2B after plating. Question #3: How does plating affect metric 6g external threads? Answer: Per A.N.S.I.B1.13M Section 8.2 (1982): “Unless otherwise specified, size limits for standard external threads tolerance Class 6g...apply prior to coating... The ead after coating is subject to accep- tance using a basic (‘olerance position h) size Go thread gage...” This means you areto use 6h Go gages after plating, Question #6: What about 6H internal metric threads which are plated? Answer Internal metric 6H threads do not have a plating allowance. The threads must be lapped with a pitch diameter 4 to 6 times ger than the thickness of the plating 10 be applied. Continued on page 27 American Fastener Journal Apr/May, 1988 25Threads, Question #7: Can a thread ente NoGo gage at all and be acceptable? Answer: Yes. Per ANS.1. BI? (1974) and Fed- Std-H28/6A (March 5, 1983): “NoGo plug and ring gages accept prod- uct threads based upon engagement with ‘no more than 3 threads.” In other words a NoGo ring gage may £0 onto a bolt or screw up to but not more than 3 threads and still be accepuble. Continued from pe. Thread Ring and Plug Gages Question #8: Can part the threads are nicked Answer: It depends on how bad the nicks are. Per the IFL Sth edition IFI-105 section 4,10: “Nieks and gouges located in the threaded length are permissible discontinuities pro- viding the proper Go thread gage will assemble on the thread with the applics- tion of not more than 12 times D inch pounds of torgue, where D is the nominal bolt or screw in inches.” be accepted if Example: 1/2-13 Bolt [500 x 12 = 6 inch pounds Maximum torque t apply Go thread ring. Question #9: How ean T inspect threads with my certified ring gages and pass them and my customer inspect the same part wi ‘certified ring gages and reject them? Answer: ‘A. Standard “X" tolerance adjustable ring gages have a .0003 (3 tenths) tolerance on their pitch diameter setin; Example: 1/4-20 2A thread maximnum Pitch Diameter 2164 1/4-20 2A Go Ring Tolerance 2161 to .2164 ‘Therefore if the parts you are submit- ting measure 2164 to .2164 and your Go gage is set correctly at 2164, you rightful- Iy accept the parts. However, if your cus- tomer’s gage is set at .2161 he rightfully rejects the parts. “A new certified Go ring gage may completely wear out after measuring only 150 to 300 parts.” Both of you are correct and both of you have good gages. These situations must be resolved by measuring the parts with a variable gaging system such as the Tri-Roll Thread Comparator to determine ‘what the actual thread size is to determine if they are in fact good or bad. B. This situation occurs frequently and is one of the reasons why variable thread gaging is gaining rapid acceptance. It eliminates controversy. CC. Many companies tty to save money by not having setting plugs for their adjustable ring gages and rely solely on outside calibration services to inspect their gages. This is a dangerous way to save money. Adjustable ring gages are just that They can be adjusted to change size. If they are dropped on a hard surface they can easily be knocked out of calibration, but without a setting plug you do not know that. Aso, ring gages wear out, par- ticularly the Go gage. A new certified Go ring gage may completely wear out after measuring only 150 to 300 parts. This is especially possible if you are measuring socket products on Grade 8 parts with slightly nicked threads. Again, if you do not have your own setting plugs you can rot tell this. If you Tri-Roll Thread Comparators American Fastener Journal Apr{May, 1988 recalibrate your ring gages once a year ‘outside you may be using a bad gage for 1-1/2 months and net know i It is simple to check your own rings with a setting plug. What you save by not buying setting plugs can al be lost on one rejection. An investment in your own set- ting plugs is money well spent for improved quality Question #10: specifications that req . ispected to Mil-Std-7742B and Mil- Std-8879A. What does that mean’? Answer: It means different things depending on the inspection method specified (A, B or C) and the thread class of the part. Today this the general interpretation: Class 2 Threads (Mil-Std 77428) Go and NoGo ring gages are acceptable. Class 3A Go rings should be used after plating. Thisis Method A. (Class 3A Threads (MilStd-7742B): Go Ring can be used. Multiple grove rolls ‘on a variable gaging system may be used instead, Minimum material limits must be inspected with a single element variable device such as the Tri-Roll Comparator Measuring System. This is Method B. (Class 3 “J” Threads (Mil-Std 88794) Go ring can be used but variable gaging method preferred. Minimum material im- its must be gaged with single element variable gage, Lead error and roundness, must be measured with variable measur ing devices. This can be done with multi- ple grooved rolls such as are used for ring maximum material limits of a Go ring. The root radius and minor diameter must be measured with an optical comparator having a minimum of 2 20 power lens. For further clarification on these and other thread measuring questions contact Fastener Inspection Products at (817) 293- 8993, ‘See Reference Iitustration on page 29 Joe Greenslade is President of Fastener Inspection Products, Greenslade and Company, and Tarant Machinery Exchange, luc. He has held positions in sales, applications engineering, research ‘and development, management and kas ‘authored several articles and a book on ‘fastener-related topics. 27