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Nylon Threaded Rods

Nylon threaded rods are manufactured from one of the hardest and strongest grades of engineering plastic with the nylon being of 6.6 quality. The nylon threaded rods are also available in polypropylene and in acetyl. The sizes that the nylon threaded rods come in are measured in standard Isometric coarse to DIN 975 encompassing M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10, M12, M16, and M20. Nylon threaded rods are also measured in Imperial BSW, BSF, BSP size ¼" to 1". Nylon threaded rods are also available in American UNC, UNF size ¼" to 1". Nylon threaded rods are produced in a standard 1,000mm in length and can be cut to any length. The nylon threaded rods are checked for cracks and inclusions and the nylon threaded rods are also tested for tensile strength which is accurately measured and controlled. The maximum recommended vertical working loads for nylon threaded rods that also go to make up Buffalo Bolts and T-nuts is for size M6 of the nylon threaded rods 30kg; for size M8 of the nylon threaded rods 50kg; for size M10 of the nylon threaded rods 80kg; for size M12 of the nylon threaded rods 120kg; for size M16 of the nylon threaded rods 165kg; and for size M20 of the nylon threaded rods 215kg. It should be noted when using nylon threaded rods that care should be taken to ensure that nuts are not over tightened. Also when tightening nuts onto nylon threaded rods, the nuts should be tightened by hand and only given a half turn with a spanner at the end. It is also recommended when using nylon threaded rods that steel nuts are not used and that only nylon nuts are used with nylon threaded rods.

The mechanical and thermal properties of nylon threaded rods sometimes have to be seen to be believed and if you go to the Bluemay website there is a short video which demonstrates the incredible strength of nylon threaded rods. To show how superbly strong nylon threaded rods are when the nylon threaded rods are in a vertical position, on the video a man is lifted up by a helicopter. Just a handful of nylon threaded rods are all that are between the man hanging beneath the helicopter and certain death if the bolts and the nylon nuts should give way. These are not metal nuts and bolts but nylon threaded rods and nuts that are designed to be tightened by hand and only finished off with a half turn by a spanner. In fact three of the thinnest of the nylon threaded rods would be strong enough to hold the man underneath the helicopter. If the size M8 nylon threaded rods are used then assuming that the man hanging under the helicopter is 14 stone, then only two of the M8 nylon threaded rods and nuts would be needed to secure the man underneath the helicopter. If only one of the M12 nylon threaded rods and nuts is used that that would be strong enough to hold a man as heavy as 18 stone, but what 18 stone man would want to trust his life to just one of the size M12 nylon threaded rods? Of course, any of the larger sizes of nylon threaded rods and nuts would easily hold the man hanging under the helicopter but who would want to be hanging under a helicopter from just one of the nylon threaded rods no matter how strong it is? Of course, the man hanging under the helicopter is trusting his life to several nylon threaded rods because he knows that his life is totally secure and that there is more risk of a malfunction from the helicopter than from one of the nylon threaded rods failing.

To recap, nylon threaded rods are made out of hard engineering plastic and are produced with nylon that has the quality rating of 6.6. Also produced in polypropylene and in acetyl, the nylon threaded rods are DIN 975 and are produced in the following sizes: M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10, M12, M16, and M20. Nylon threaded rods in Imperial measurements of BSW, BSF, BSP range in size from ¼" to 1". In American sizing, nylon threaded rods come in UNC, UNF size ¼" to 1". Please note, that nylon threaded rods are created in 1,000mm lengths which can then be cut down to any suitable length. Of course, the nylon threaded rods are examined for cracks and the nylon threaded rods are fully tested for tensile strength. The maximum vertical working loads for nylon threaded rods starting at size M6 is 30kg; the maximum vertical weight for M8 nylon threaded rods is 50kg; the maximum vertical weight for size M10, nylon threaded rods is 80kg; the maximum vertical weight for nylon threaded rods in size M12 is 120kg; and the maximum vertical weights for nylon threaded rods in sizes M16 is 165kg and for M20 is 215kg. Please remember that nuts should not be over tightened when screwing onto nylon threaded rods. Also when fitting nuts onto nylon threaded rods, the plastic nuts should be turned by hand and tightened ob a spanner by one half turn at the end. It is also suggested that metal nuts are not used in conjunction with nylon threaded rods.

The strength of nylon threaded rods is demonstrated in a video on the Bluemay website. To demonstrate the vertical strength of nylon threaded rods a man is lifted up underneath a helicopter. Only a few nylon threaded rods are holding the man high up in the air. Three of the thinnest nylon threaded rods are strong enough to hold the man safely in the air. If M8 nylon threaded rods are used then two M8 nylon threaded rods and nylon nuts are strong enough to hold the man safely under the helicopter. One of the nylon threaded rods in size M12 is strong enough an 18 stone man.

It is clear that, correctly applied, nylon threaded rods and nuts are a superb alternative to the steel version. As tempting as it may be, please do not hang hundreds of feet up in the air by just one of the nylon threaded rods, even if it is in the correct vertical position!