Manufacturers today are choosing rolled threads for more and more applications, in an expanding portfolio of industries. Having gained increased popularity over alternatives such as thread cutting, chasing, or grinding, rolled threads extend distinct benefits to both their producers and users. Rolled Threads Unlimited is proud to offer the advantages of high rates of production, low costs, and reduced waste.
Each of these benefits is underscored by the strength and fatigue resistance of rolled threads. In thread rolling, metal is cold-worked—formed into the desired shape by displacing, rather than removing, material—which strengthens the material, by up to 30%. Without surface imperfections as potential starting points for fatigue failure, threads that are rolled also boast 50-75% greater fatigue strength.
As a high-speed process, thread rolling allows for efficient mass production. Threads can be produced in seconds, making the process significantly faster than thread cutting or chasing, which are more labor-intensive and thus slower.
With reduced labor costs and increased throughput, thread rolling is also a cost-effective procedure. Thread rolling machines function up to 10 times faster than standard single-point thread cutting machines, and they use smaller diameter blanks. Plus, the high-quality, precise threads have minimal variation and smooth surface finishes, decreasing the likelihood of rejects and rework and eliminating the need for finishing operations. Reduced machining time and lower material costs equate to more overall cost efficiencies.
While thread cutting is a subtractive process, and thereby produces waste, thread rolling displaces material, which results in minimal waste. Disposing of waste can be costly, and its creation reduces the process’s efficiency. Additionally, rolled threads are less likely to generate debris that can flake off the component and enter the operating environment, potentially fouling precisely-controlled conditions.
Thread rolling is a cost-efficient choice for high-volume threaded fastener manufacturing, with minimal material waste. Discover more about the advantages of thread rolling with Rolled Threads Unlimited.