Thread and Form

THE THREAD ROLLING PROCESS Thread rolling is a metal working process that produces threads and other forms on round metal parts with no metal removal. It is done entirely by moving the metal under pressure while rotating the workpiece. The resultant part is stronger than its typically cut counterparts because the grain structure of the workpiece "flows" into the form, rather than being cut away. Carbon steels, stainless steels and many hi-tensile alloys such as titanium and inconel can be rolled

LIFTING AND MOVING APPLICATIONS
Rolling can be done by the thru-feed method where continuous lengths of thread are rolled on bars or studs. Jack screws and actuators of many types are rolled this way, and there are many applications for these screws in the medical field. There are a wide variety of thread forms available, such as standard UNR, acme and ball form, all available in single or multiple lead, to fit any design criteria.

Hospital beds are one application where jack screws are already in use and, as the new demands for special lifting devices to assist hospital staff increase, many more applications will develop that require these screws.

KNURLING APPLICATIONS
Knurls can be rolled in a wide variety of forms and pitches, including: straight, diagonal, male diamond and female diamond, typically from 12 TPI to 80 TPI. Knurls are used for grips on hand tools, for anti-rotation/anti-pull out on injection molded plastic assemblies and to create interference on press-fit assemblies.

Knurls can be rolled on solid parts as well as thin-walled hollow parts in a wide variety of materials.

FAST, ECONOMICAL AND SUPERIOR QUALITY
The thread rolling process is faster than conventional machining with typical infeed rolling times at 1 to 2 seconds per piece and thru-feed rolling times and typically 12 feet per minute.

Since the material "flows" during the thread rolling process, the beginning part diameter, or blank diameter, is smaller than the finished diameter. This results in a considerable savings in material compared to conventional machining, because there is no scrap.

The surface finish on the flanks of a rolled thread is burnished as a result of the forming process, and therefore is superior to most milling or grinding.

Thread rolling machines are versatile and can adapt to a variety of part shapes. Justifying a machine can be easier than you think, and the cost savings and improved part quality will certainly help your bottom line.