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Pitch Diameter Measurement

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Three Wire System
It is essential in using this method that the micrometers used be
accurate and the measuring faces flat and parallel; that the wires
used be hardened. The surfaces must be properly finished and the
set of wires the same diameter within .00003 inches if
measurement within .0001 inch is desired.
In the table of thread elements below is a column headed
Diameter of Best-Size Wires. This column lists the size of the
wire, of a given pitch, that touches the thread exactly on the pitch
diameter when placed in between two threads.
Adjacent is a diagram showing the method of applying the wires
for the measurement of a thread.
Below will be found the best size wires to use for the various
pitches and the constant to subtract from the micrometer reading
to obtain the pitch diameter.
The wire sizes and constants given are for use with a thread which
has an included angle of 60.
To calculate the over wire measurement when the best-size
wires are available, refer to the table of thread elements. To the
basic pitch diameter, add the constant for the best-size wire.
Example:
The basic pitch diameter of a 3/8"-16 thread = .3344
The constant for the best-size wire = .0541
The measurement over wires = .3885

P = Pitch Diameter
D = Wire Diameter
W = Measurement Over Wires
Example:
The pitch diameter of a 3/8"-16 screw

= .3344

Minus the single height V-thread

= .0541

Plus three times .040" (available wire)

= .1200

The measurement over wires

= .4003

.2803

To calculate the over wire measurement when the best-size

wires are not available, refer to the table of thread elements.
Subtract from the pitch diameter, the single height V-thread and to
the result add three times the diameter of the available wire.
Table of Thread Elements
Constant for
"Best Size"
Wires
.006186
.007217
.008660
.009021
.009623

Single* Height
Symmetrical
Thread Form
0.64952P
.004640
.005412
.006495
.006766
.007217

Width of Flat on
Crest and Root
NC and NF
.0009
.0010
.0013
.0013
.0014

Single Height
V -Thread
.006186
.007217
.008660
.009021
.009623

Threads
Per Inch
140
120
100
96
90

Pitch
.007143
.008333
.010000
.010417
.011111

Diameter of
"Best Size"
Wires
.0041239
.0048112
.0057735
.0060141
.0064150

80
72
64
60
56

.012500
.013888
.015625
.016667
.017857

.0072168
.0080182
.0090210
.0096225
.0103097

.010825
.012027
.013531
.014434
.015464

.008119
.009021
.010149
.010826
.011598

.0016
.0017
.0020
.0021
.0022

.010825
.012027
.013531
.014434
.015464

50
48
44
40
36

.020000
.020833
.022727
.025000
.027777

.0115470
.0120279
.0131214
.0144337
.0160370

.017320
.018041
.019682
.021650
.024055

.012990
.013531
.014762
.016238
.018042

.0025
.0026
.0028
.0031
.0035

.017320
.018041
.019682
.021650
.024055

32
30
28
27
26

.031250
.033333
.035714
.037037
.038462

.0180421
.0192448
.0206194
.0213833
.0222057

.027063
.028867
.030929
.032074
.033308

.020297
.021650
.023197
.024056
.024982

.0039
.0042
.0045
.0046
.0048

.027063
.028867
.030929
.032074
.033308

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Pitch Diameter Measurement

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24
22
20
18
16

.041666
.045454
.050000
.055555
.062500

.0240558
.0262428
.0288675
.0320746
.0360843

.036083
.039364
.043301
.048112
.054126

.027063
.029523
.032476
.036084
.040595

.0052
.0057
.0062
.0069
.0078

.036083
.039364
.043301
.048112
.054126

14
13
12
11 1/2
11

.071428
.076923
.083333
.086956
.090909

.0412389
.0444114
.0481123
.0502040
.0524863

.061858
.066617
.072168
.075306
.078729

.046394
.049963
.054126
.056480
.059047

.0089
.0096
.0104
.0108
.0114

.061858
.066617
.072168
.075306
.078729

10
9
8
7 1/2
7

.100000
.111111
.125000
.133333
.142857

.0577350
.0641499
.0721687
.0769800
.0824784

.086602
.096224
.108253
.115467
.123717

.064952
.072168
.081190
.086602
.092788

.0125
.0139
.0156
.0167
.0179

.086602
.096224
.108253
.115467
.123717

6
5 1/2
5
4 1/2
4

.166666
.181818
.200000
.222222
.250000

.0962246
.1049726
.1154700
.1282998
.1443375

.144336
.157458
.173205
.192449
.216506

.108253
.118094
.129904
.144338
.162380

.0208
.0227
.0250
.0278
.0312

.144336
.157458
.173205
.192449
.216506

*To calculate the pitch diameter of Unified and American National Form Threads, subtracts the figures found in this column from
the Basic Outside Diameter. Use the Three Wire Method to convert pitch diameter calculations into Over Wire Measurements.
NOTE: Symmetrical thread height equivalent to the basic height, h, of the original American National Form.

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6/1/2004 10:04 PM