The fastener industry is a cost-conscious one. Covering all the bases, from having an original threading standard to investing in equipment, can make the difference between go and no go. The trouble with a screw thread is that it's not a simple element. But where does one begin the process to make the best fastener possible?
Hilliard Cox, president of Frank J. Cox Sales Ltd. (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), said it is absolutely critical for the manufacturer to know what thread is being produced. The tolerances on the gaging involved on making a metric thread and exporting it to Europe can be different than the gaging on the same thread being used in the United States.
Once it has been determined what thread is being made, the next step is to obtain a copy of the standards, such as those put out by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and follow them.