The development of the thread
From vice to space travel
The thread: A seemingly simple form that literally holds our modern lives together. Whether in machinery, cars, or aerospace engineering, hardly any technical achievement would have been possible without the precise connection between nut and bolt.
The history of this ingenious invention stretches far beyond the industrial revolution – into antiquity.
The Beginnings: Archimedes and the Screw of Life
As early as 250 BC, Archimedes developed the so-called screw for water extraction – a diagonally wound pipe that could transport liquids from deeper layers upwards.
Even though it was not yet a thread in the modern sense, it laid the foundation for the principle of rotary motion with pitch.
It wasn't until many centuries later that people realized that the same idea could also be used for power transmission and fastening . The first true screw connections emerged in the Renaissance , painstakingly crafted by hand—each one unique.
18th and 19th centuries: From craftsmanship to industry
With the beginning of industrialization everything changed.
The steam engine brought movement into the workshops, and with it arose the need for standardized fasteners.
In 1797, Henry Maudslay in England developed the first lathe with a lead screw – the tool that made precise thread cutting possible for the first time.
This made mass production of screws a reality.
Shortly thereafter, Joseph Whitworth defined the first standardized thread profiles , a milestone in mechanics. His idea: screws from different manufacturers should fit together – an idea that revolutionized the world of mechanical engineering.
20th century: standards and precision
With growing industrialization came the desire for international standardization.
This is how the well-known ISO, DIN and UNC thread standards were created, which are still valid today.
The 1920s and 1930s saw the emergence of new materials and cutting processes, including high-speed steel (HSS) and later cemented carbide .
After the Second World War, development accelerated: thread cutting became automated and machine tools became increasingly more precise.
What once required hours of manual labor can now be done by a machine in fractions of a second.
From analogue to digital thread
Today, thread cutting is part of highly automated processes.
CNC machines cut, mill, or form threads with micrometer precision—often monitored by sensors that measure torque, temperature, and cutting force in real time.
Even in aerospace engineering and micro manufacturing, the principle remains the same: a precise, removable connection that can withstand enormous loads.
Additive processes —3D printing with integrated threads—are also groundbreaking. They demonstrate that the ancient principle of the screw is constantly being reinvented, even in modern manufacturing.
Thread as a symbol of precision
The thread represents more than just technology.
It is a symbol of reliability and repeatability – qualities that engineers have relied on for centuries.
From the wooden vices of antiquity to titanium connections in space capsules: the thread is a silent companion of every technological revolution.
💡 Practical tip: For historic or rare machines, make sure that the thread standards are known before manufacturing spare parts.
Even small differences in pitch or flank angle lead to fit problems – especially with Whitworth or inch threads. A quick glance at the old drawing often saves many hours of rework.