Preferred metric sizes are a set of international standards and de facto standards that are designed to make using the metric system easier and simpler, especially in engineering and construction practices. One of the methods used to arrive at these preferred sizes is the use of preferred numbers and convenient numbers, such as the Renard series and 1-2-5 series, to limit the number of different sizes of components needed.
One of the largest benefits of such limits is an ensuing multiplicative or exponential reduction in the number of parts, tools and other items needed to support the installation and maintenance of the items built using these techniques. This occurs because eliminating one diameter fastener will typically allow the elimination of a large number of variations on that diameter (multiple thread pitches, multiple lengths, multiple tip types, multiple head types, multiple drive types, and the tools needed for installing each, including multiple drill bits (one for each different thread pitch, material, and fit combination).
International agreements, including 75/106/EEC, [1] specify the capacities of liquor bottles allowed in international commerce as the following 10 sizes:
In the United States, the alcohol industry switched to metric bottle sizes on October 1, 1976, abandoning the existing 38 sizes of bottles and instead adopting the following 6 sizes: [2]
System 32 is a standard for the design and manufacture of furniture, most commonly used in the design of cabinets, wherein the major parts (sides, doors, etc.) are available in increments of 32 mm, and shelf supports consist of columns of 5 mm holes on 32 mm centers.
The ISO 2848 basic module is a unit of 100 mm, often represented by a single capital "M", along with 300 mm and 600 mm groupings, that is widely used for the widths of furniture in Europe.
ISO 216 standard specifies the A sizes of paper, including the very common A4, wherein the base size of A0 is one square meter, and the ratio between the height and width is √2, which results in all sizes of paper having the same aspect ratio.
Also related is the set of pen thicknesses for technical drawings (0.13, 0.18, 0.25, 0.35, 0.50, 0.70, 1.00, 1.40, and 2.00 mm).
ISO 261 defines a set of preferred metric machine screw/bolt sizes, and ISO 262 defines a subset of those; both are based roughly on Renard series as defined in ISO 3, ISO 17, and ISO 497. Given that even ISO 262 specifies a fairly large set of diameters, a much simplified set of preferred diameters was developed by one of the lead designers of ASME Z17.1 and ANSI B4.2, Knut O. Kverneland, to reduce the list to 6 preferred sizes, and another 6 intermediate supplementary sizes. [4]
For each size bolt or screw and type of head, there is a corresponding size driver prescribed by various ISO standards, including:
ISO 262 sizes | Internal hex cap head | Internal hex button head | Internal hex flat head screws | Internal hex set screws | External hex ISO standard | External hex DIN standard |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M2.5 | 2.0 mm | 2.0 mm | 5 mm | 5 mm | ||
M3 | 2.5 mm | 2.0 mm | 2.0 mm | 2.0 mm | 5.5mm | 5.5mm |
M4 | 3.0 mm | 2.5 mm | 2.5 mm | 2.5 mm | 7 mm | 7 mm |
M5 | 4.0 mm | 3.0 mm | 3.0 mm | 3.0 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm |
M6 | 5.0 mm | 4.0 mm | 4.0 mm | 3.5 mm | 10 mm | 10 mm |
M8 | 6.0 mm | 5.0 mm | 5.0 mm | 5.0 mm | 13 mm | 13 mm |
M10 | 8.0 mm | 6.0 mm | 6.0 mm | 6.0 mm | 16 mm | 17 mm |
M12 | 10.0 mm | 8.0 mm | 8.0 mm | 8.0 mm | 18 mm | 19 mm |
M16 | 14.0 mm | 10.0 mm | 10.0 mm | 10.0 mm | 24 mm | 24 mm |
M20 | 17.0 mm | 12.0 mm | 12.0 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm | |
M24 | 19.0 mm | 36 mm | 36 mm | |||
M30 | 22.0 mm | 46 mm | 46 mm |
For Torx bolts, there is a corresponding size driver prescribed by Acument, the designer of the Torx drive system. As of 2018 [update] , there are no ISO standards for hexalobular drive sizes. [7]
ISO 262 sizes | Pan head | Flat head | Socket head | Socket Button | Truss | External Torx |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M2.5 | T8 | T8 | T8 | |||
M3 | T10 | T10 | T10 | T8 | E4 | |
M4 | T20 | T20 | T25 | T15 | T15 | E5 |
M5 | T25 | T25 | T27 | T25 | T20 | E6 |
M6 | T30 | T30 | T30 | T27 | T30 | E8 |
M8 | T40 | T40 | T45 | T40 | T40 | E10 |
M10 | T50 | T50 | T50 | T45 | T50 | E12 |
M12 | T55 | T55 | T55 | E14 | ||
M16 | T70 | T60 | E20 | |||
M20 | T90 | E24 | ||||
M24 | T100 | E32 | ||||
M30 | E36 |
Similarly, for Torx Plus bolts, there is a corresponding size driver prescribed by Acument, the designer of the Torx Plus drive system. As of 2018 [update] , there are no ISO standards for hexalobular drive sizes. [8]
ISO 262 sizes | Pan head | Flat head | Socket head | Socket Button | Truss | External Torx |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M2.5 | 8IP | 8IP | 8IP | 4EP | ||
M3 | 10IP | 10IP | 10IP | 8IP | 5EP | |
M4 | 20IP | 15IP | 20IP | 15IP | 15IP | 7EP |
M5 | 25IP | 20IP | 27IP | 25IP | 20IP | 8EP |
M6 | 30IP | 27IP | 30IP | 27IP | 30IP | 10EP |
M8 | 45IP | 30IP | 45IP | 40IP | 40IP | 14EP |
M10 | 50IP | 50IP | 50IP | 45IP | 50IP | 16EP |
M12 | 55IP | 55IP | 55IP | 55IP | 55IP | 20EP |
M16 | 70IP | 60IP | 26EP | |||
M20 | 90IP | 32EP | ||||
M24 | 100IP | 40EP | ||||
M30 |
See also:
ISO 1307:2006, Rubber and plastics hoses—Hose sizes, minimum and maximum inside diameters, and tolerances on cut-to-length hoses specifies nominal diameters for four different types of plastic hoses, including "Type C", which includes the typical garden hose. Each nominal diameter specifies different ID minimum and maximum values. The nominal size is a Renard series.
Nominal Size ID | Type C Non-mandrel-built ID range | Inch equivalent ID | |
---|---|---|---|
min | max | ||
3.2 | n/a | n/a | |
4 | 3.4 | 4.6 | |
5 | 4.2 | 5.4 | |
6.3 | 5.6 | 7.2 | 1⁄8 in |
8 | 7.2 | 8.8 | 1⁄4 in |
10 | 8.7 | 10.3 | 3⁄8 in |
12.5 | 11.9 | 13.5 | 1⁄2 in |
16 | 15.1 | 16.7 | 5⁄8 in |
19 | 18.3 | 19.9 | 3⁄4 in |
20 | 19.3 | 20.9 | |
25 | 24.2 | 26.6 | 1 in |
31.5 | 30.2 | 33.4 | 1+1⁄4 in |
38 | 36.5 | 39.7 | 1+1⁄2 in |
Nominal diameter, abbreviated DN (diamètre nominal/Durchmesser nach Norm), is the designation system specified by ISO 6708 for specifying the diameter of trade sizes of metric pipework components, and is the metric equivalent to Nominal Pipe Size. [9] It is among several ISO specifications that formalize preferred numbers, and is referred to by numerous other international standards, including ISO 7598 and EN 10255. The complete set of DN values allowed by the standard are:
DN designation | DN designation | DN designation |
---|---|---|
DN 10 | DN 250 | DN 1 500 |
DN 15 | DN 300 | DN 1 600 |
DN 20 | DN 350 | DN 1 800 |
DN 25 | DN 400 | DN 2 000 |
DN 32 | DN 450 | DN 2 200 |
DN 40 | DN 500 | DN 2 400 |
DN 50 | DN 600 | DN 2 600 |
DN 60 | DN 700 | DN 2 800 |
DN 65 | DN 800 | DN 3000 |
DN 80 | DN 900 | DN 3200 |
DN 100 | DN 1 000 | DN 3 400 |
DN 125 | DN 1 100 | DN 3 600 |
DN 150 | DN 1 200 | DN 3 800 |
DN 200 | DN 1 400 | DN 4 000 |
The number following the DN is a nominal value that is roughly the number of millimeters of a circular feature on the connection point of the pipe, fitting, coupling, etc., but often differing by a noticeable amount. If the DN value is related to the internal bore diameter of the feature, the size should be represented by DN/ID (for Inside Diameter), and if the DN value is related to the outside diameter, the size should be represented by DN/OD (for Outside Diameter).
The relationship between DN and NPS pipe sizes are as follows. Note that the actual internal diameter varies depending on the pipe wall thickness. [10]
DN | Actual OD | NPS [11] |
---|---|---|
designation | mm | designation |
DN 10 | 17.2 | 3⁄8 |
DN 15 | 21.3 | 1⁄2 |
DN 20 | 26.9 | 3⁄4 |
DN 25 | 33.7 | 1 |
DN 32 | 42.4 | 1+1⁄4 |
DN 40 | 48.3 | 1+1⁄2 |
DN 50 | 60.3 | 2 |
DN 65 | 76.1 | 2+1⁄2 |
DN 80 | 88.9 | 3 |
DN 100 | 114.3 | 4 |
DN 125 | 139.7 | - |
DN 150 | 168.3 | 6 |
DN 200 | 219.1 | 8 |
DN 250 | 273 | 10 |
DN 300 | 323.9 | 12 |
DN 350 | 355.6 | 14 |
DN 400 | 406.4 | 16 |
DN 450 | 457 | 18 |
DN 500 | 508 | 20 |
DN 600 | 610 | 24 |
DN 700 | 711 | 28 |
DN 750 | 762 | 32 |
DN 800 | 813 | 34 |
DN 900 | 914 | 36 |
DN 1 000 | 1016 | 40 |
DN 1 200 | 1220 | 48 |
United States customary units form a system of measurement units commonly used in the United States and most U.S. territories, since being standardized and adopted in 1832. The United States customary system developed from English units that were in use in the British Empire before the U.S. became an independent country. The United Kingdom's system of measures was overhauled in 1824 to create the imperial system, which was officially adopted in 1826, changing the definitions of some of its units. Consequently, while many U.S. units are essentially similar to their imperial counterparts, there are noticeable differences between the systems.
Torx is a trademark for a type of screw drive characterized by a 6-point star-shaped pattern, developed in 1967 by Camcar Textron. A popular generic name for the drive is star, as in star screwdriver or star bits. The official generic name, standardized by the International Organization for Standardization as ISO 10664, is hexalobular internal. This is sometimes abbreviated in databases and catalogs as 6lobe. Torx Plus,Torx Paralobe and Torx ttap are improved head profiles.
American National Standard Pipe Thread standards, often called national pipe thread standards for short, are United States national technical standards for screw threads used on threaded pipes and pipe fittings. They include both tapered and straight thread series for various purposes, including rigidity, pressure-tight sealing, or both. The types are named with a full name and an abbreviation, such as NPT, NPS, NPTF, or NPSC.
A screw thread is a helical structure used to convert between rotational and linear movement or force. A screw thread is a ridge wrapped around a cylinder or cone in the form of a helix, with the former being called a straight thread and the latter called a tapered thread. A screw thread is the essential feature of the screw as a simple machine and also as a threaded fastener.
British Standard Whitworth (BSW) is an imperial-unit-based screw thread standard, devised and specified by Joseph Whitworth in 1841 and later adopted as a British Standard. It was the world's first national screw thread standard, and is the basis for many other standards, such as BSF, BSP, BSCon, and BSCopper.
Trapezoidal thread forms are screw thread profiles with trapezoidal outlines. They are the most common forms used for leadscrews. They offer high strength and ease of manufacture. They are typically found where large loads are required, as in a vise or the leadscrew of a lathe. Standardized variations include multiple-start threads, left-hand threads, and self-centering threads.
A pipe is a tubular section or hollow cylinder, usually but not necessarily of circular cross-section, used mainly to convey substances which can flow — liquids and gases (fluids), slurries, powders and masses of small solids. It can also be used for structural applications; hollow pipe is far stiffer per unit weight than solid members.
Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) is a North American set of standard sizes for pipes used for high or low pressures and temperatures. "Nominal" refers to pipe in non-specific terms and identifies the diameter of the hole with a non-dimensional number. Specific pipe is identified by pipe diameter and another non-dimensional number for wall thickness referred to as the Schedule. NPS is often incorrectly called National Pipe Size, due to confusion with the American standard for pipe threads, "national pipe straight", which also abbreviates as "NPS". The European and international designation equivalent to NPS is DN, in which sizes are measured in millimetres, see ISO 6708. The term NB is also frequently used interchangeably with DN.
British Standard Pipe (BSP) is a set of technical standards for screw threads that has been adopted internationally for interconnecting and sealing pipes and fittings by mating an external (male) thread with an internal (female) thread. It has been adopted as standard in plumbing and pipe fitting, except in North America, where NPT and related threads are used.
A threaded pipe is a pipe with screw-threaded ends for assembly.
The ISO metric screw thread is the most commonly used type of general-purpose screw thread worldwide. They were one of the first international standards agreed when the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was set up in 1947.
Computer case screws are the hardware used to secure parts of a PC to the case. Although there are numerous manufacturers of computer cases, they have generally used three thread sizes. The Unified Thread Standard (UTS) originates from the United States, while the ISO metric screw thread is standardized worldwide. In turn, these thread standards define preferred size combinations that are based on generic units—some on the inch and others on the millimetre.
The distinction between real value and nominal value occurs in many fields. From a philosophical viewpoint, nominal value represents an accepted condition, which is a goal or an approximation, as opposed to the real value, which is always present.
A screw is an externally helical threaded fastener capable of being tightened or released by a twisting force (torque) to the head. The most common uses of screws are to hold objects together and there are many forms for a variety of materials. Screws might be inserted into holes in assembled parts or a screw may form its own thread. The difference between a screw and a bolt is that the latter is designed to be tightened or released by torquing a nut.
ISO 898 is an international standard that defines mechanical and physical properties for metric fasteners. This standard is the origin for other standards that define properties for similar metric fasteners, such as SAE J1199 and ASTM F568M. It is divided into five (nonconsecutive) parts:
In metalworking, a knockout punch, also known as a chassis punch, panel punch, Greenlee punch, or a Q-max, is a hand tool used to punch a hole through sheet metal. It is a very simple tool that consists of a punch, die, and screw. There are three different drive systems: manual, ratchet, and hydraulic.
ISO 965 is an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for metric screw thread tolerances. It specifies the basic profile for ISO general purpose metric screw threads (M) conforming to ISO 261.
A bolt is an externally helical threaded fastener capable of being tightened or released by a twisting force (torque) to a matching nut. The bolt has an external male thread requiring a matching nut with a pre-formed female thread.
The Löwenherz thread is a largely obsolete metric thread form designed in the late nineteenth century and frequently applied in precision instruments. It is named after Dr. Leopold Löwenherz, who was the director of the metrology institute Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Berlin.