Apply a standard or custom external or internal mechanical thread to a cylindrical face as cosmetic metadata or real modeled geometry.
Purpose
Apply a standard or custom external or internal mechanical thread to a cylindrical face as cosmetic metadata or real modeled geometry.
Where to find it
In Model, select a cylindrical face and choose Create > Thread. Open Details to reach the complete definition.
Selection
Select the cylindrical Face that will carry the thread. Select the outside cylinder for an external thread or the cylindrical wall of a hole for an internal thread.
The selected face must be a real cylindrical face with enough axial length for the requested extent.
Steps
Select the cylindrical face.
Choose Standard and Size, Custom for independent profile dimensions, or Size from selected face to follow the selected cylinder diameter with an editable Pitch.
Confirm Side, Direction, and Representation.
Set Resize to Standard, extent, offset, end treatment, and modeled clearance as required.
Inspect the preview closely, then tap Apply.
Options
Standard
Chooses the thread family. Newly created ISO Metric, UNC, UNF, and UNEF definitions use complementary 60° internal/external modeled profiles; matching size, handedness, and starts are intended to mate, but are not certified tolerance-class inspection geometry. NPT is tapered pipe thread; GHT is garden-hose thread; NH / NST is hose coupling thread; Custom exposes independent profile dimensions. Size from selected face follows the live cylinder diameter with an editable Pitch and a 60° metric-style profile.
Size from selected faceCustomISO MetricUnified UNCUnified UNFUnified UNEFNPTGHTNH / NST
Catalog thread controls for standard, size, side, direction, representation, and diameter resizing.Custom thread profile fields for designation, major diameter, pitch, minor or tap diameter, and flank angle.
Size
Chooses a designation from the selected standard catalog and supplies its nominal major diameter, pitch, minor or tap diameter, and thread angle. The same ISO Metric or Unified size uses one nominal major diameter for both sides; the internal starting bore uses the catalog tap/minor diameter.
Available when: Shown for catalog standards.
Name
Stores the designation shown for a custom thread definition.
Available when: Shown when Standard is Custom.
Major Dia
Sets the crest diameter of a custom external thread or nominal opening diameter used by the custom profile.
Available when: Shown when Standard is Custom.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Pitch
Sets axial distance between adjacent thread crests. Size from selected face derives a 60° metric-style profile from this pitch and the current cylinder diameter; it is not a catalog tolerance-class specification. Sets adjacent-crest spacing. The 60° metric-style profile derives its depth from this pitch; it does not select a catalog size or tolerance class.
Available when: Shown when Standard is Custom or Size from selected face.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Minor/Tap Dia
Sets the custom external root diameter or internal tap diameter used to form the thread profile.
Available when: Shown when Standard is Custom.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Angle
Sets the included Custom flank angle from 1 through 179 degrees. New 60° Modeled Custom threads use complementary truncated internal/external profiles; other angles use the specified V groove. Invalid profile dimensions produce a validation error.
Available when: Shown when Standard is Custom.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Side
External cuts thread valleys into an outside cylinder; Internal cuts the mating thread into a cylindrical hole wall.
ExternalInternal
Direction
Right advances with clockwise rotation; Left advances with counterclockwise rotation when viewed from the starting end.
RightLeft
Starts
Sets one through four equally phased thread starts. Pitch remains the axial spacing between adjacent crests; Lead equals Pitch multiplied by Starts.
1234
Representation
Cosmetic stores thread specification without generating helical faces; Modeled creates physical helical geometry suitable for close visual inspection and geometry export. Modeled exposes Allowance. Cosmetic hides it and retains the stored value for a later switch back.
CosmeticModeled
Applied physical helical geometry produced by the Modeled representation.Allowance can be edited on an existing Modeled Thread in History.
Resize to Standard
Resizes the selected cylinder to the chosen catalog or Custom nominal diameter before applying the thread. For a Custom internal bore already sized to Minor/Tap Dia, leave this off. Nominal size stays fixed when Allowance changes modeled clearance.
Available when: Hidden for Size from selected face. This mode automatically resizes the selected face to the nominal external major diameter or derived internal minor diameter before applying modeled Allowance.
Full Length
Extends the thread over the usable axial length of the selected cylindrical face.
Partial thread extent, reverse start, axial length, offset, end treatment, and print clearance controls.
Reverse Start
Starts a partial-length thread from the opposite axial end of the selected face.
Available when: Shown when Full Length is off.
Length
Sets the axial threaded length for a partial thread and must fit on the selected face after Offset.
Available when: Shown when Full Length is off.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Offset
Leaves an unthreaded axial distance before the thread begins; zero begins at the selected start end.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
End
None leaves the thread end untreated. Chamfer cuts a conical lead-in at both Modeled ends and eases the helical groove into it, opening an internal entrance or reducing an external nose while keeping the middle groove at full depth. New complementary Modeled, External, Full Length ISO Metric, Unified, and Size from selected face threads default to Chamfer; choosing None explicitly overrides the default. New Modeled, External, Full Length face-sized threads default to Chamfer for a gradual entrance. Choose None explicitly to keep an untreated end.
NoneChamfer
Allowance
Adds per-side clearance to Modeled threads. External threads become smaller and internal threads become larger. It does not change the nominal catalog size used by Resize to Standard. The keypad previews plain values and length expressions in the current project unit. Radial clearance: positive values shrink external threads or enlarge internal threads. Uses document units and supports length expressions. Zero removes added clearance. Positive modeled allowance shrinks external threads or opens internal threads radially. Zero uses the nominal profile without extra clearance. Internal sizing reduces the entire selected bore to the derived minor diameter before cutting; Resize to Standard is hidden.
Available when: Shown when Representation is Modeled.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Update Feature
Rebuilds the existing history feature and its downstream dependents without appending a new Thread. Rebuilds this Thread and downstream history with the selected profile while keeping its feature identity.
Available when: Shown in the History editor.
Matching 60°
Uses complementary truncated 60° flanks for this saved Custom Thread. Turning it off restores the older sharp-V profile after Update Feature.
Available when: Shown in History only for a Modeled Custom Thread whose saved Angle is 60°.
The saved Custom Thread can switch between its older V groove and matching 60° profile in History.
Nominal diameter
Read-only live cylinder diameter. This sets the nominal major diameter on both sides before Allowance; changing the upstream source updates it on replay.
Available when: Shown when Standard is Size from selected face.
Size from selected face exposes the live diameter and editable Pitch using a common nominal diameter for internal and external threads.
Profile
Fixed at 60° metric-style. Choose Custom instead for independent major/minor dimensions and angle.
Available when: Shown when Standard is Size from selected face.
Result
Apply adds a Thread feature associated with the selected cylindrical face. Modeled threads cut helical grooves throughout the requested thread length, with the specified pitch and end treatment. Newly created ISO Metric and Unified internal/external pairs use complementary profiles when their size, handedness, and starts match; positive modeled Allowance adds manufacturing or printing clearance. These profiles are intended to mate but are not certified tolerance-class inspection geometry. Previously saved catalog threads retain their legacy profile mode rather than switching to complementary profiles on reopen; rebuilding a Modeled thread recalculates its groove angle and End Chamfer with the corrected geometry. Recreate both members of an old pair to opt into complementary catalog profiles. Cosmetic threads preserve the smooth cylinder while retaining specification data. Size from selected face follows upstream cylinder diameter edits: the selected diameter sets the nominal major diameter for both sides. Internal crests extend inward and the selected bore is reduced before the grooves are cut. Its diameter readout is not editable; change the source geometry instead. Choose Custom for independent diameters and Angle; new 60° Modeled Custom internal/external pairs use complementary truncated profiles, while other angles use the specified V groove. Invalid dimensions fail before Apply. End > Chamfer creates conical lead-ins and eased groove runouts at both ends, including on Custom threads. Previously saved Custom threads retain their profile until Matching 60° is enabled in History; convert both members of an old pair. Size from selected face requires a straight cylinder, enough wall thickness for internal grooves, and a pitch and allowance leaving a positive external root diameter. New Custom and complementary catalog definitions require project format 19.
Editing
In History, tap the Thread pencil, choose Modeled, edit Allowance, and select Update Feature. Older 60° Custom threads can also enable Matching 60° to convert to complementary geometry. Allowance accepts nonnegative lengths and expressions in the document units. This updates the existing feature and rebuilds downstream history; invalid geometry leaves the project unchanged. Cosmetic hides the field but preserves the saved allowance for switching back. The face and other definition parameters remain locked. Size from selected face follows upstream cylinder diameter changes automatically. Press Pull on a traceable modeled thread face can also update Allowance. Downstream references may need reselection when changing between Cosmetic and Modeled because topology changes. Zero Allowance removes added clearance. Update Feature keeps the existing Thread identity, selected face, pitch, and extent. To change locked pitch or other definition parameters, recreate the Thread. Turn Matching 60° off and select Update Feature to restore the older Custom profile; both mating parts should use the same nominal diameters, pitch, handedness, and starts. Previously saved Use selected surface threads keep their stock-preserving sizing mode; recreate both mating threads with Size from selected face to use nominal sizing.
Troubleshooting
Apply stays disabled after choosing Thread.
Select a real cylindrical model face rather than a sketch circle, planar end face, mesh, or cosmetic display surface.
The modeled thread fails or disappears in preview.
Check that Major Dia is larger than Minor/Tap Dia, Pitch and Length are positive, Angle is from 1 through 179 degrees, and Length plus Offset fits the cylinder. If the Custom Modeled profile cannot fit the pitch, reduce Angle or thread depth, or increase Pitch.
The thread is on the wrong end or winds the wrong way.
Use Reverse Start to swap the axial start end and Direction to switch between Right and Left handedness.
A mating printed thread is too tight.
Use Modeled representation and increase Allowance. The adjustment is per side, so test a small clearance appropriate to the printer and material.
Update Feature rejects the value or geometry.
Use a finite nonnegative length and reduce clearance if it collapses the thread root or produces invalid geometry. Failed updates leave the saved feature unchanged.
Update Feature reports a geometry error.
Check that the diameters, pitch, allowance, and selected cylinder can form the truncated 60° profile. A failed update leaves the original feature unchanged.
No usable thread preview or Apply is disabled.
Select a straight cylindrical face, enter a positive Pitch, and keep enough diameter for a positive external root. Reduce Allowance or Pitch if the root would collapse. Internal grooves need sufficient wall thickness.
MakerSolid