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6/28/13

GENERAL INFORMATION, USA & Metric Thread Standards :: Carr Lane Manufacturing Co.

USA & METRIC THREAD STANDARDS


Metric thread sizes are specified differently than USA thread sizes. USA sizes are specified using the nominal major diameter and the number of threads per inch. For example, a 3/8-16 (coarse) thread has a 3/8" nominal major diameter and 16 threads per inch, while a 3/8-24 (fine) thread has the same nominal major diameter and 24 threads per inch. Metric thread callouts are fundamentally different because the thread pitch (distance between each thread, in mm) is specified instead of threads per inch or per mm. For example, an M10x1.5 (coarse) thread has a 1.5mm pitch, while an M10x1.25 (fine) thread has a 1.25mm pitch. To simplify metric thread callouts, the international (ISO) standard for metric threads eliminates the pitch callout on coarse threads. For example, the thread "M10" automatically means a coarse pitch, while any added pitch callout, such as M10x1.25, specifies a non-coarse pitch. This method of designation has the major benefit that average citizens do not need to memorize pitches just to identify a coarse thread. Virtually all thread standards across the world use the ISO designation convention, including the German DIN and Japanese JIS standards. All except the ANSI standard, which so far still asks for a pitch callout on coarse threads, despite the confusion that it causes. Since Carr Lane does business all across the world, we follow the international (ISO) standard for metric thread callouts. Stating the pitch of a metric coarse thread would be incorrect and totally confusing everywhere else in the world. The following table shows the ANSI equivalent callout for each ISO thread size. ISO Thread Designation M1.6 M2 M2.5 M3 M3.5 M4 M5 M6 M8 M8x1 M10 M10x1.25 M12 M12x1.25 M14 M14x1.5 M16 M16x1.5 M18 M18x1.5 M20 M20x1.5 ANSI Equivalent M1.6x0.35 M2x0.4 M2.5x0.45 M3x0.5 M3.5x0.6 M4x0.7 M5x0.8 M6x1 M8x1.25 M8x1 M10x1.5 M10x1.25 M12x1.75 M12x1.25 M14x2 M14x1.5 M16x2 M16x1.5 M18x2.5 M18x1.5 M20x2.5 M20x1.5
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6/28/13

GENERAL INFORMATION, USA & Metric Thread Standards :: Carr Lane Manufacturing Co.

M22 M22x1.5 M24 M24x2 M27 M27x2 M30 M30x2 M33 M33x2 M36 M36x3 M42 M48 M56 M64 M72 M80 M90 M100

M22x2.5 M22x1.5 M24x3 M24x2 M27x3 M27x2 M30X3.5 M30x2 M33x3.5 M33x2 M36x4 M36x3 M42x4.5 M48x5 M56x5.5 M64x6 M72x6 M80x6 M90x6 M100x6

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