A guide to the proper tooling and gauges required for efficiently thread rolled pre plate parts.

It is important when manufacturing component parts to take into account the correct plating requirements.  Having knowledge of the specific plating specifications as well as making allowances to the thread rolls and gages are critical in producing a functional thread. Below are some important things to consider that will ultimately allow you to run pre-plate parts efficiently.

Thread rolling is known as a cold metal forging process performed on ductile metals. Thread rollers often have to decide between two threading options for creating screw threads - thread rolling and thread cutting.

Each with its unique characteristics and capabilities, both threading processes are credited for creating the highest produced machine element every year.

Thread rolling is different than cutting, grinding, and chasing in that it does not remove any metal, but instead uses steel dies to displace and mold the metals.

A highly versatile cold forming process, thread rolling can be done on any type of ductile metal to harden, strengthen, or change the material’s physical properties in other ways.

Thread rolling makes use of hardened steel cylindrical dies to shape materials; the dies, imprinted with the thread profile, penetrate the work metal at ultra-high pressures in order to displace and mold it into a mirror-image thread. Unlike traditional cutting and grinding methods, no metal is lost or cut away during the thread rolling process; it is simply reshaped.

CJWinter is proud to announce the installation of several new seven-axis computer numerical controlled (CNC) grinding machines in our facility.  

CJWinter releases new content on metalforming solutions for all major machine types. 

Thread rolling and screw machine experts CJWinter and Davenport Machine Tool Company will once again showcase at this year’s Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS 2017). 

Thread rolling hard materials isn’t always impossible.

Because hardened metals don’t flow easily to fill die threads, they often require a thread cutting process to manufacture.

There’s also the risk of breakage — some materials, especially aerospace metals, are simply too brittle to be thread rolled.

Typically, 150 kilopounds per square inch is the cutoff for thread rolling. These materials are just too strong. However, new alloys are changing the way thread rolling works.

When thread rolling screws and fasteners, it’s important to maintain minimum wall thickness.

This can be a challenging task, particularly when designing and manufacturing thin-walled parts, including bolts and screws, that require thread rolling.

If your design includes walls that are thin, thread rolling parts can become problematic during production, as distortion can occur. Distortion not only causes flaking and non-uniform thread geometry on a completed part, but it can also lead to the tearing or collapse of a part’s threaded portion during the thread rolling process.

Over the course of our 60 years of providing thread rolling solutions CJWinter has fielded a number of questions about the process — including dies, attachments, and other related tooling.

One of the most common questions we receive is: “How should I calculate thread rolling penetration rate?”

Protecting your assembly from moisture and debris is critical to avoid leaks and contamination.

Over CJWinter’s 60 years of experience in the industry, we’ve identified a number of ways to keep thread rolling attachments running efficiently. Let’s look at an airline assembly as an example.