Precision Tool Group (PTG) is a global supplier of tooling solutions for the fastener industry. The company specializes in aerospace, automotive, energy, medical, and general industries, providing high-standard options and innovations.
F3 dies have been developed for all common 60-degree thread profiles. Learn more here.
One example is the patented F3 or Flaw Free Form lap-free threaded fastener technology, which the company offers from Reed-Rico. Reed-Rico has been manufacturing machines and tooling for fasteners for more than 80 years.
F3 technology was designed in response to the increasing demand from critical aerospace and automotive fasteners. The aim is to roll the highest-quality fasteners for this industries without changing the process.
In controlling manufacturing variables to yield lap-free threaded fasteners, F3 technology:
- Helps maintain normal production rates and machine speeds, even when rolling critical fasteners with harder materials
- Enhances control of grain flow, whereby F3 dies begin forming the thread crest almost immediately — no other thread-rolling die currently has this capability
- Improves physical characteristics of the fasteners due to the controlled nature of material displacement. Specifically, the smooth surface finish and compressive residual surface stresses introduced by rolling make rolled fasteners stronger in fatigue, shear and tensile strength
F3’s rolling process is a controlled, progressive movement of the blank material into a finished, lap-free threaded part.
Standard thread-rolling dies do no control the penetration rate of the die or the amount of material pushed up into the dies. As a result, the material will take the least amount of resistance with the crest being formed last and typically forming a crest seam.
F3 dies are designed with a wide thread angle in the starting portion of the dies with a very shallow depth This angle helps create a more flank angle contact with the blank, increasing the die load while decreasing slippage.
To learn more about the F3 process, download a brochure from PTG’s website here.
Filed Under: Fastening + joining