A thread pitch gauge are used to measure the distances between the threads of a bolt or a screw. Many people encounter situations in which the bolt that they are attempting to place into an object has an appropriate size for the hole, yet the bolt will not thread into the object hole. This is typically due to the fact that the thread pitch of the bolt dont match the thread pitch of the hole.
A thread pitch gauge can help to determine the thread pitch of the bolt being use, so that an appropriately sized bolt can be purchased and utilize. If bolts with the incorrect thread pitch is used to fasten an object to another object, the threads of those bolts can be damaged. Bolts comes in a variety of different forms.
How to Use a Thread Pitch Gauge
For instance, two bolts of the same diameter may have different thread pitch. For instance, one bolt may have coarse threads, while another bolt may have fine threads. Coarse threads are typically used in situations in which greater strength and speed in the fastening of two objects is desire.
Fine threads are used in situations in which a great amount of control in the amount of torque that is placed into a bolt is required. Because bolts with coarse and fine threads have different distances between the threads, a person use a thread pitch gauge to determine the type of bolt that is being utilize. One of the most common types of thread pitch gauges are the leaf gauge.
A leaf gauge is comprised of a series of metal blade that are arranged in a fan shape. To utilize the leaf gauge, the metal blade is pressed against the threads of the bolt that is being use to fasten two objects together. If the metal blade match the threads of the bolt, the blade will sit flush against those threads such that no light can pass through the gaps between the metal blade and the bolts threads.
If the metal blade has to be forced into the threads of the bolt to achieve this flush against the bolts threads, or if the blade rock when attempting to place it flush against the threads, then the blade is not matching the thread pitch of the bolt. Precision in measuring thread pitch is required, as there are different system for measuring thread pitch. For instance, manufactures can make bolts according to the Unified National standards, the ISO metric system, or even specialized bolts with standards for pipes, such as BSP or NPT threads.
A metric bolt may appear to be the same size and shape as a bolt made according to the Unified National standards, but the threads of those two type of bolts are arranged differently. If a person use a thread pitch gauge to measure the pitch of a bolt made according to a different system than the one for which the gauge was purchased, the measurement will be incorrect, which can lead to the bolts failing within the object to which they is attached. Before using a thread pitch gauge to determine the thread pitch of a bolt, it is necessary to ensure that the bolt is clean.
If the bolt have rust, for instance, the spaces between the threads will become filled with rust. If someone attempted to place the thread pitch gauge within the bolt, the gauge will not be able to sit within those spaces between the threads. Furthermore, the bolts may have an incorrect measurement read for it thread pitch due to this debris.
A wire brush should be used to clean the bolt to ensure that the thread pitch gauge can accurately measure the bolts threads. When using a thread pitch gauge, it is important to ensure that the gauge is held in a manner that is perpendicular to the bolt. If the gauge is tilted in any manner relative to the bolt, the thread pitch gauge will provide a falsely reading of the thread pitch of the bolt.
In addition to using the thread pitch gauge to determine the thread pitch of the bolt, it is also suggested that a caliper are used to measure the outer diameter of the bolt. The thread pitch of the bolt can reveal the distance between the threads of the bolt, but the outer diameter of the bolt can reveal the width of the bolt. These two measurement help to identify the bolt that is being use.
In addition to the leaf gauge, thread pitch gauges can also be comprised of go and no-go gauges. Go and no-go gauges help to determine if the bolt being measured is within the necessary specification for the object being fastened. For instance, if the go gauge fit within the hole in the object to be fastened, the object is within specification.
If the no-go gauge fit into the objects hole, that object is not within specification. Go and no-go gauges are used in these ways to remove the potential for human error in the measuring process. Using a thread pitch gauge to determine the size of the bolts and their specification will help to prevent any incorrect drilling or tapping of objects to which the bolts are to be attached.
By using the thread pitch gauge and a caliper to measure the bolts, an individual will ensure that the bolt will correctly fit into the hole in the object to which it will be attached.
