You are here: BBC Science > Programmes > Robots  | | | |  |
|  | 
Screws and nuts are used for joining all sorts of materials, including robot parts. Most screws and nuts are made from metals such as steel or brass, although plastic types can also be found. The thread of a screw is cut using a die held in a die holder. The thread of a nut is cut using a tap held in a tap wrench. The steel from which taps and dies are made is much harder than the metal used to make nuts and screws.
Make Screw |  | The hand held die holder moves over the metal rod. The die and holder rotates cutting a good length of thread. |  | The head is formed by a cylindrical metal former. As the former pushes up, the rod deforms taking the shape of the recess in the former. |  |
Make Nut |  | An initial hole is drilled into the rod to prepare for the tap mechanism. |  | A tap appears in a tap wrench and turns clockwise into the hole to cut the thread. For each clockwise turn of 240°, the wrench rotates anticlockwise by 120°. The cutting process continues: 240° clockwise, 120° anticlockwise, until a sufficient depth of thread is cut. |  |  | The top of the rod is cut through with a hacksaw blade to complete the nut. |
Now you have completed Lesson 2
|
|  | |
| |
|
