Thread Gage Calibration Software to look up requireds/specs for thread gages

[merrick65]

In the last month I have downloaded & installed Thread Tech and the QMSYS. I found the ThreadTech software very easy to use and have been using it almost everyday. After loading the QMSYS I gave up on it and went back to the ThreadTech. The QMSYS software looks very nice but I liked the ease of the ThreadTech. I also have a demo disk for STEFS but haven't installed it yet. The only thing I am using the programs for are is calculating the major/minor diameter for threaded plugs and also the full & trunc diameter for setting plugs. We don't use any thread rings here.I did load the STEFS demo but it is for threads between 0.750 and 1.000 which is really of no use for me so I didn't really look around the program very much. Like I said I just wanted an easier way to get the major & minor diameters which I can do from the standard.

 

[DietCokeofEvil]

Wow- I tried the Thread Tech software and didn't care for it much- I guess I'm the lame-o of the bunch.

I do use thread disk for Windows- but there are bugs in it- I found a BIG one with NPTs once- but I didn't take the time to document it and have now forgotten what it was:mybad:

I've just order the STEFTS- we'll see how that one is. For some reason, I just found the Thread Tech one hard to follow.

 

[Southern Girl]

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to this thread, but I would be more than happy to try Thread Tech and provide feedback on this software versus STETFS. Just to make this clear, I am not associated with either software except as an end user.

Be careful what you ask for Wayne! I will provide my feedback next week. Do you want my off shore bank account number now or later? LOL

 

[MIRCS]

Wayne,

I too will try this software and give you feedback. I've been using STEFTS since 2000 and really enjoy it.

I had the same problem as Southern Girl about the directions.........had to learn it on my own.

 

[Grog71]

I am Eagerly waiting for a reply from southerngirl to see how she likes the other software. I am at the point of getting ready to buy some software and I think that STETFS is the one I will get but would love to see what else has to be said. Greg

 

[MIRCS]

I am Eagerly waiting for a reply from southerngirl to see how she likes the other software. I am at the point of getting ready to buy some software and I think that STETFS is the one I will get but would love to see what else has to be said. Greg

I have tried Waynes software. Not a lot yet but some. It's straight forward, yet doesn't seem to give as much info as STEFTS. It might be because it is a trial I'm not sure.

I will keep trying it to be sure which I like better. Right now STEFTS is clearly in the lead.

 

[Wayne]

I have tried Wayne's software. Not a lot yet but some. It's straight forward,...

Please let me be clear, ThreadTech is my preferred software to use. I did not write the software nor do I own an interest in the copyright. I am a distributor for ThreadTech and STEFTS and Thread Disc, so it matters not to me which is purchased. I do like using ThreadTech more than STEFTS. I personally find STEFTS confusing to use. I find the ThreadTech much easier for the casual user to open and run with next to no instruction. I did give STEFTS to one of my employees and he is just happy as a clam to use it.

If some one were to come to me and ask which to buy, I usually promote ThreadTech because it has sufficient information for most users and it takes less of my time to instruct on technique to run the software.

...yet doesn't seem to give as much info as STEFTS. It might be because it is a trial I'm not sure.

The trial version is an older version. There have been some good improvements. There is to be announced in near future the addition of some British threads as an add-on package.

I am enjoying this thread, but am disappointed that ThreadTech is not getting more votes.

 

[MIRCS]

Please let me be clear, ThreadTech is my preferred software to use. I did not write the software nor do I own an interest in the copyright. I am a distributor for ThreadTech and STEFTS and Thread Disc, so it matters not to me which is purchased. I do like using ThreadTech more than STEFTS. I personally find STEFTS confusing to use. I find the ThreadTech much easier for the casual user to open and run with next to no instruction. I did give STEFTS to one of my employees and he is just happy as a clam to use it.

If some one were to come to me and ask which to buy, I usually promote ThreadTech because it has sufficient information for most users and it takes less of my time to instruct on technique to run the software.The trial version is an older version. There have been some good improvements. There is to be announced in near future the addition of some British threads as an add-on package.

I am enjoying this thread, but am disappointed that ThreadTech is not getting more votes.

I would suggest for you to make it clear to the company that they need to have the latest and greatest out there as a demo.

Saying the demo isn't the latest and greatest and implying that the latest and greatest is better really doesn't help me in making a choice on which to buy. I know the STEFTS demo is close to the latest and greatest they have to offer.

 

[Southern Girl]

I would like to apologize to the Cove for not responding sooner with my evaluation of the ThreadTech and STETFS software. My 85 year old mother has been ill and in the hospital for a couple of weeks. When they finally got her well enough to go home, I stayed with her to continue her recovery. I just came back to my own home and my job last week, so I have been a little pre-occupied.

But I am back now and ready to offer up my objective opinion on these programs. I was a little distressed to learn that the demo version of ThreadTech is not the lastest. That may explain some of the concerns I had.

Both programs are very good and appear to be based on the standards (I only checked a few different thread types and sizes). They both offer printed reports of the data in a logical fashion. I am afraid that is where the similiarities end.

ThreadTech should be used by anyone who needs standard thread data and who has the right size of thread wires. I did not see a way (maybe it will be in the new version) to use the software to calculate special threads or determine constants for non-standard thread wire sizes. Like I said, if you only need information for standard threads, this is the program to pick. It is very simple to use (which is hard to find in software today) and only takes a few key strokes to get the information you need.

When I went to download the demo I realized that I had looked at this program years ago when I was shopping around for thread software. The lack of versatility (being able to calculate data for special threads and wires) was the reason why I did not select it then.

STETFS should be used by anyone who needs special thread data in addition to standard thread data. One of the hardest things to get used to is that you just don't click on an icon and have the program open. The icon opens an explorer window and then you select the file by the thread type that you are interested in. If you need information on a different thread type you must close that file and open the other one. Once you get used to it, it only takes a few extra seconds to go from UN threads to NPT.

STETFS should not be used by amateurs or anyone with a weak heart. There are a whole bunch of screens to go through before you can get the information you need. You also have to start from the beginning each time you are looking up different size threads for the same thread type. This can be a very frustrating process until it is understood and mastered.

At this point, it sounds like I should not have purchased STETFS four times. But in reality, there is only one reason that I bought STETFS over ThreadTech or any of the others and that reason is flexibility. Many times I have run across a PD callout on a drawing that was not to the standard. What is the major or minor diameter for that PD? STETFS will tell you that and more. Ever wonder what happens to the PD of a buttress thread when the 7 degree and 45 degree angles are off. STETFS will tell you. (And believe me that process was not pretty when I had to explain all of that to the tool maker and the product engineer! )

There is no comparison between these two programs. Both serve their designed purpose well. Your question should be what do I want from the software. Standard and simple go with ThreadTech. Dealing with non-standard threads and willing to put up with a little more time in front of a PC go with STETFS.

I would like to caution everyone. Using this software will make you lazy. You should look up some information in the standards (or other appropriate source) and compare it to the data from the software. Not so much to check the software, but to make sure that you understand where the numbers are coming from. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Wayne (and all other interested parties), I hope I gave you enough detail. I looked at the programs from the end user's viewpoint, not programming steps or whatever you call it (I know nothing about that kind of stuff). Thank you for asking me to do this. I hope I did it justice.

 

[Wayne]

ThreadTech should be used by anyone who needs standard thread data and who has the right size of thread wires. I did not see a way (maybe it will be in the new version) to use the software to calculate special threads or determine constants for non-standard thread wire sizes.

Thanks for the review.

The trial version does have the ability to change wire size within the acceptable range. As you progress through the questions there is a one asking if you want to use the best wire size or if you wish to change sizes. At that point it identifies the maximum and minimum usable wire sizes as well as the best wire size.

The trial version will allow you to modify thread size based on nominal major diameter or special pitch diameters.