Thread Rolling

Thread Rolling Services for Fasteners & Precision Components

Pattern Fasteners provides thread rolling services for fasteners, studs, bolts and precision-engineered components as part of our wider manufacturing and modifying capabilities.

Thread rolling is a cold-forming process used to produce external threads by displacing the surface material of a component between hardened dies, rather than cutting material away.

This can produce strong, accurate threads with a smooth surface finish and is particularly well suited to fasteners and high-volume threaded components.

What Is Thread Rolling?

During thread rolling, a prepared cylindrical blank is passed between dies containing the reverse form of the required thread.

Pressure from the dies causes the material to flow into the required thread profile, forming the thread without producing cutting swarf.

Unlike thread cutting, the grain structure of the material is displaced rather than severed, which can contribute to improved mechanical properties in suitable materials and applications.

Benefits of Thread Rolling

Thread rolling can provide several advantages over conventional thread cutting, including:

• Strong and durable thread forms

• Good surface finish

• High production rates

• Consistent thread geometry

• No material removed as chips

• Efficient use of material

• Good fatigue performance

• Suitable for repeat production

Rolled threads can also offer increased strength compared with equivalent cut threads because the material grain follows the shape of the formed thread rather than being cut through.

Thread Rolling for Fasteners

Thread rolling is widely used for manufacturing threaded fasteners and components such as:

• Bolts

• Studs

• Screws

• Threaded rods

• Pins

• Shafts

• Special fasteners

• Precision engineering components

Both standard and bespoke thread forms can be produced depending on the material, component geometry and production requirements.

Rolled Threads vs Cut Threads

Cut threading removes material to create the thread profile, while thread rolling forms the thread by moving the existing material.

Because no cutting chips are produced, thread rolling can use a smaller starting blank and reduce material waste.

The cold-forming process can also produce a smooth, work-hardened thread surface with favourable grain flow.

Thread Rolling Methods

Different rolling methods can be used depending on the component and required thread length.

These can include:

Infeed Thread Rolling

Infeed, or plunge rolling, is commonly used for bolts, studs and other components where the thread length is within the width of the rolling dies.

It is particularly suitable for headed or shouldered components.

Through-Feed Thread Rolling

Through-feed rolling allows longer components to move axially through the dies during the rolling process.

This method is particularly useful for longer threaded components and threaded rod.

Materials for Thread Rolling

Thread rolling is suitable for many ductile engineering materials that can withstand the cold-forming process.

These can include:

• Carbon steels

• Alloy steels

• Stainless steels

• Aluminium

• Brass

• Copper alloys

• Other suitable engineering materials

Material properties are important because the component must deform plastically without cracking during the rolling process.

Metric, Imperial & Special Threads

Pattern Fasteners can manufacture components with a wide variety of thread forms, including:

• Metric coarse

• Metric fine

• UNC

• UNF

• BSW

• BSF

• Other specified thread forms

The most appropriate rolling method will depend on thread diameter, pitch, component length and material.

Thread Rolling to Drawing

Where thread rolling forms part of a bespoke fastener or precision component, we can manufacture directly from your engineering drawing, dimensional specification or sample.

Requirements can include:

• Thread diameter

• Thread pitch

• Thread length

• Thread tolerance

• Component material

• Blank diameter

• Shoulder position

• Special end features

Thread rolling can also be combined with turning, drilling, tapping, knurling and other machining operations to produce a finished component.

UK Thread Rolling Services

Pattern Fasteners manufactures and modifies specialist fasteners and precision-engineered components in the West Midlands.

Whether you require rolled threads on bolts, studs, screws, threaded rod or a bespoke component, we can review your drawing or specification and determine a suitable production method.

Need Thread Rolled Components?

Send us your drawing, sample or specification and our team can review the thread form, material, dimensions and production requirements for your component.