Course Objectives

There are over 120 individual quantitative characteristics of just screw threads alone, before we begin to consider things like material, or how those fasteners play into a larger mechanical design. The goal of this course is not to master every one of those characteristics, but to gain a functional and practical understanding of threaded fasteners in everyday design. The hope is that the selection and inclusion of fasteners can become trivial so that focus can be directed at the technical aspects of a design.

This class will also focus on the threaded fastener for use in the manufacturing and automation industry. Specifically, we will be discussing machine screws, defined by ASME to have a diameter up to 0.75 inches. Other industries such as civil or aerospace engineering, or any industry with heavy utilization of gasketed joints, or large scale/ large force harsh-and-heavy industry will share many of the same concepts, but this course will not cover information critical to the success of those industries.

By the end of this course, you should understand:

• The threads themselves, including the basics of thread geometries, standard classes and series, sizes, and tapping,
• The mechanical design of rigid bolted joints, and the types of loads involved,
• The correct sizing of fasteners for a particular purpose,
• The material and mechanical properties of fasteners,
• The types and effects of corrosion, and how coatings and platings can help,
• The different types and geometries of fasteners themselves, as well as the different drive types,
• The difference between tapped holes and loose threaded fasteners, as well as threaded inserts,
• Successful utilization of fasteners in 3D CAD models, and
• Case studies, real world application, and best practices.