Drawing screw threads in 3D using TikZ

Question

I wonder if it would be possible to draw screw threads in 3D using TikZ. This question (how to draw a real corkscrew) is similar, but the only answer given is an asymptote solution. I am looking for a TikZ solution.

This question (How to define a screw as a decoration in TikZ) uses the decorations library to create a 2D drawing of a screw thread. But I'm looking to draw a screw thread in 3D. Here is a minimal example:

Here I have drawn a cylinder using code from this answer, and drawn the 2D screw using code from this answer.

Some ideas

I think there is a lot of potential for such a piece of code. For example, one could envisage being able to draw lots of different types of screws based on parameters like these: (Source: thorlabs.com)

This would allow you to draw a multitude of different screws for which you could also specify different screw head shapes and screw drive types: (Source: boltdepot.com)

But this is certainly an ambitious goal. For the time being, is it possible to just draw a simple screw thread in 3D (the head shape can just be a plain cylinder). Additionally, would it be possible to draw a corresponding internal screw thread like this:

Code

\documentclass[tikz,margin=0.5cm]{standalone}
\usetikzlibrary{shapes.geometric,decorations}

% New decoration for screws
\tikzset{/pgf/decoration/.cd,
    head width/.initial=6pt,
    head length/.initial=1.5pt,
    thread separation/.initial=1.0pt,
    thread amplitude/.initial=0.5pt,
    screw radius/.initial=1.2pt,
}
% definition of the decoration
\pgfdeclaredecoration{screw}{initial}
{
  \state{initial}[width=\pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/decoration/head length},%
                  next state=midd]
  {
    \def\headlength{%
      \pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/decoration/head length}%
    }
    \def\headwidth{%
      \pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/decoration/head width}%
    }
    \def\screwradius{%
      \pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/decoration/screw radius}%
    }
    % First line
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{0.0pt}{\headwidth/2}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{\headlength}{\screwradius}}
    % Second line
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{0.0pt}{0.0pt}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{0.0pt}{-\headwidth/2}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{\headlength}{-\screwradius}}
  }
  \state{midd}[width=\pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/decoration/thread separation}*2]
  {
    \def\threadseparation{%
      \pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/decoration/thread separation}%
    }
    \def\threadamplitude{%
      \pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/decoration/thread amplitude}%
    }
    \def\screwradius{%
      \pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/decoration/screw radius}%
    }
    % First line
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{0pt}{\screwradius}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{0.5*\threadseparation}{\screwradius+\threadamplitude}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{1.0*\threadseparation}{\screwradius}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{1.5*\threadseparation}{\screwradius-\threadamplitude}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{2.0*\threadseparation}{\screwradius}}
    % Second line
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{0pt}{-\screwradius}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{0.5*\threadseparation}{-\screwradius-\threadamplitude}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{1.0*\threadseparation}{-\screwradius}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{1.5*\threadseparation}{-\screwradius+\threadamplitude}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{2.0*\threadseparation}{-\screwradius}}
    % Thread
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{0.5*\threadseparation}{\screwradius+\threadamplitude}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{1.5*\threadseparation}{-\screwradius+\threadamplitude}}
  }
  \state{final}
  {
    \def\screwradius{%
      \pgfkeysvalueof{/pgf/decoration/screw radius}%
    }
    %\pgfpathlineto{\pgfpointdecoratedpathlast}
    \pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{0pt}{\screwradius}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{2.0pt}{0pt}}
    \pgfpathlineto{\pgfpoint{0pt}{-\screwradius}}
  }
}

\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}

\node at (0,0) [cylinder, shape border rotate=90, draw, minimum height=25mm, minimum width=5mm,anchor=south] {};

\begin{scope}[xshift=1cm]
 \node (A) at (0,25mm) {};
  \node (B) at (0,0) {};
  \draw[decorate, decoration={screw, screw radius=5pt, head width=15pt, head length=3pt}] (A) -- (B);
\end{scope}

\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

I actually did this once, but have since deleted it. Instead of a decoration I created a pic of one turn and repeated it. Of course, it only worked for a certain range of angles. — John Kormylo, Commented Jul 9, 2018 at 19:22
To very first approximation you could add \fill[left color=gray!20!white,right color=gray!60!black] ([xshift=-7.5pt]A) -- ([xshift=7.5pt]A) -- ++ (-2.5pt,-2.5pt) -- ([xshift=5pt]B) -- ([yshift=-2pt]B) -- ([xshift=-5pt]B) -- ([xshift=-5pt,yshift=-2.5pt]A) -- cycle;, but I think it might be advantageous to draw the outline using zigzags and then adding the lines on top. — user121799, Commented Jul 9, 2018 at 20:53
@marmot I had the idea of maybe using helices to draw the screw thread? Such as the cylindrical helix proposed in this question - tex.stackexchange.com/questions/356345/… — Milo, Commented Jul 9, 2018 at 21:19
@Milo Yes, that's one option. I guess you'd need to decide first if you wish to look at the screw from an angle (as in the lower pictures) or just "from the side" (as in the upper pictures). You can get impressive 3D-like pictures with TikZ but I would like to argue that it is more straightforward with asymptote. — user121799, Commented Jul 10, 2018 at 5:17
The big problem with any angle is opacity. Things need to be drawn in order from far to near. TikZ-3d will not do that automatically. — John Kormylo, Commented Jul 10, 2018 at 14:22

J Leon V. · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-10 23:24:12Z

Just for fun, an option with 2D drawings, using decorations; it seems to me that there is no pure 3D engine in tikz for the parametric drawing for solids, with operations such as: extrusions, cuts, bevelling, etc; I do not think it's the right framework for these drawings,but its not imposible like @marmot's answer shows; there are other free software such as blender, or free CAD, or with student and payment licenses like Autodesk Inventor. with which you can generate pdf documents and work them in tikz or with inkscape ...

Tikz 2D RESULT:

MWE:

% arara: pdflatex: {synctex: yes, action: nonstopmode}
% By J. Leon V. Share as Beerware philosophy
\documentclass[border=20pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{decorations.markings,shadings,decorations.shapes}


\begin{document}
    \begin{tikzpicture}[
        %Environment Styles
        screw1/.style={
            left color=black!50, right color=black!50, middle color=black!25,
            postaction={
                decorate,
                decoration={
                    markings,
                    mark=at position 0 
                    with {
                        \path [draw,left color=black!80, right color=black!25, middle color=white] 
                        (0,-0.5) -- ++(0.5,0.25) -- ++(0.5,0) arc (-90:90:1/6 and 0.25) -- ++(-0.5,0)-- (0,0.5) arc (90:-90:1/3 and 0.5);
                        \draw[fill=white] ellipse [x radius=1/3, y radius=0.5];
                        \foreach \r in {45,-45,135,-135}{
                            \foreach \i [evaluate={\s=30;}] in {0,2,...,30}{
                                \fill [black, fill opacity=1/50] 
                                (0,0) -- (\r+\s-\i:1/3 and 0.5) 
                                arc (\r+\s-\i:\r-\s+\i:1/3 and 0.5)  -- cycle;
                                }
                        }
                        \begin{scope}[scale=2,cm={-1/3,0.5,1/3,0.5,(0,0)}]
                        \draw (45:2pt) 
                            |- (90:0.25) -| (135:2pt) -| (180:0.25) |- (-135:2pt) 
                            |-(-90:0.25) -| (-45:2pt) -| (0:0.25) |-cycle;
                        \end{scope}
                    }
                }
            },
            postaction={
                decorate,
                decoration={
                    markings,
                    mark=between positions 0.5cm and 1 step 0.3cm
                    with {
                        \path [left color=black!40, right color=black!25, middle color=white] 
                        (0,-0.25) arc (-90:90:1/6 and 0.25) -- ++(0.3,0) arc (90:-90:1/6 and 0.25) -- cycle;
                        \draw(0,-.25) --++(0.12,0) coordinate (A);
                        \draw(0.08,.25) --++(0.2097,0);
                        \draw[left color=black!40, right color=black!25, middle color=white](0,.25) [out=45,in=-135]
                            to ++(0.05,0.05)[out=0,in=55] to (0.2,-0.3)[out=180,in=0] to (A)[out=55,in=0]
                            to cycle;
                    }
                }
            },
            postaction={
                decorate,
                decoration={
                    markings,
                    mark=at position 1
                    with {
                        \path [draw,left color=black!40, right color=black!25, middle color=white] 
                        (0.1,0.25) -- ++(0.3,0) -- ++(0.8,-0.25) -- ++(-0.8,-0.25) --++(-0.3,0) ;
                        \draw[left color=black!40, right color=black!25, middle color=white](0.1,.25) [out=45,in=-135]
                            to ++(0.05,0.05)[out=0,in=55] to (0.25,-0.3)[out=180,in=0] to ++(-0.05,0.05)[out=55,in=0]
                            to cycle;
                        \draw[left color=black!40, right color=black!25, middle color=white](0.45,.23) [out=45,in=-135]
                            to ++(0.05,0.02)[out=0,in=55] to (0.65,-0.23)[out=180,in=0] to ++(-0.05,0.05)[out=55,in=0]
                            to cycle;
                        \draw[left color=black!40, right color=black!25, middle color=white](0.8,.12) [out=45,in=-135]
                            to ++(0.05,0.02)[out=0,in=55] to (0.95,-0.13)[out=180,in=0] to ++(-0.05,0.05)[out=55,in=0]
                            to cycle;
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        scrthr/.style={
            postaction={
                decorate,
                decoration={
                    markings,
                    mark=at position 0
                    with {
                        \path [draw,left color=black!80, right color=black!25, middle color=white] 
                        (0,-0.25) arc (-90:-270:1/6 and 0.25) -- ++(0.1,0) arc (-270:-90:1/6 and 0.25);
                        \path [draw,left color=black!80, right color=black!25, middle color=white] 
                        (0.1,-0.25) arc (-90:-270:1/6 and 0.25) -- ++(0.1,0) arc (-270:-90:1/6 and 0.25);
                        \path [draw,left color=black!80, right color=black!25, middle color=white] 
                        (0.2,-0.25) arc (-90:-270:1/6 and 0.25) -- ++(0.1,0) arc (-270:-90:1/6 and 0.25);
                        \path [left color=black!80, right color=black!25, middle color=white] 
                        (0,-0.5) -- ++(0.5,0) arc (-90:90:1/3 and 0.5) -- ++(-0.5,0)-- (0,0.5) arc (90:-90:1/3 and 0.5);
                        \draw[fill=white,,even odd rule] ellipse [x radius=1/3, y radius=0.5]
                        ellipse [x radius=1/6, y radius=0.25];
                        \foreach \r in {45,-45,135,-135}{
                            \foreach \i [evaluate={\s=30;}] in {0,2,...,30}{
                                \fill [black, fill opacity=1/50] 
                                (0,0) -- (\r+\s-\i:1/3 and 0.5) 
                                arc (\r+\s-\i:\r-\s+\i:1/3 and 0.5)  -- cycle;
                                }
                        }
                    }
                }
            },
            postaction={
                decorate,
                decoration={
                    markings,
                    mark=between positions 0.2cm and 1 step 0.2cm
                    with {
                        \path [left color=black!80, right color=black!25, middle color=white] 
                        (0,-0.5) -- ++(0.5,0) arc (-90:90:1/3 and 0.5) -- ++(-0.5,0)-- (0,0.5) arc (90:-90:1/3 and 0.5);
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ]


    \draw[screw1](0,0)--++(0,-1.5);
    \draw[screw1](2,0)--++(0,-3.5);
    \draw[screw1](4,0)--++(1,-2);
    \draw[scrthr](0,-3.5)--++(0,-2);
    \draw[scrthr](2,-5.5)--++(0,-4);
    \draw[scrthr](6,-4)--++(1,-2);

    \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Using real 3D framework this case > Inventor:

score 9 · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-11 15:20:50Z

A far from perfect first example. (UPDATE: Used the parameters from your description. Plan to improve it when I have time.)

\documentclass[tikz,border=3.14mm]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz-3dplot}

\makeatletter % from section 13.2.5 of the pgfmanual

\define@key{cylindricalkeys}{angle}{\def\myangle{#1}} 
\define@key{cylindricalkeys}{radius}{\def\myradius{#1}} 
\define@key{cylindricalkeys}{z}{\def\myz{#1}} 
\tikzdeclarecoordinatesystem{cylindrical}{%
\setkeys{cylindricalkeys}{#1}%
\pgfpointadd{\pgfpointxyz{0}{0}{\myz}}{\pgfpointpolarxy{\myangle}{\myradius}}
}

\makeatother
\begin{document}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\MajorDiameter}{0.5}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\MinorDiameter}{0.45}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\Pitch}{0.4}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\Nmax}{8}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\HeadHeight}{0.4}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\Crest}{0.03}

\foreach \X in {110} % {100,110,...,150}
{\begin{tikzpicture}

\tdplotsetmaincoords{\X}{0}
\begin{scope}[tdplot_main_coords,samples=60]
\fill[left color=black!30, right color=black!20, middle color=black!28] 
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MinorDiameter,angle=\x,z={-0.9*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+\Pitch/2})
-- (0,0,-1) -- cycle;

\foreach \Z in {0,1,...,\Nmax}
{
% brighter upper sloped patch
\fill[left color=black!35, right color=black!25, middle color=black!15]  
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+\Crest})
--
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MinorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+0.5*\Pitch})
-- cycle;
% wider crest
\fill[left color=black!50, right color=black!40, middle color=black!35]  
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+\Crest})
--
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360})
-- cycle;
% darker lower sloped patch
\fill[left color=black!30, right color=black!20, middle color=black!25]
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360})
--
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=\MinorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360-0.5*\Pitch
+\Crest}) -- cycle;
% narrower crest
\fill[left color=black!50, right color=black!40, middle color=black!35]  
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MinorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+\Crest
+\Pitch/2})
-- 
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MinorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+\Pitch/2})
-- cycle;
}
\fill[left color=black!30, right color=black!20, middle color=black!10] 
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=1.3*\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z=\Nmax*\Pitch)
-- plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=1.3*\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z=\Nmax*\Pitch+\HeadHeight)
-- cycle;
\fill[left color=black!20, right color=black!10, middle color=black!0] 
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi-180:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=1.3*\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z=\Nmax*\Pitch+\HeadHeight);
\end{scope}

\end{tikzpicture}
}
\end{document}

And one can change the viewing angle in some range.

\documentclass[tikz,border=3.14mm]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz-3dplot}

\makeatletter % from section 13.2.5 of the pgfmanual

\define@key{cylindricalkeys}{angle}{\def\myangle{#1}} 
\define@key{cylindricalkeys}{radius}{\def\myradius{#1}} 
\define@key{cylindricalkeys}{z}{\def\myz{#1}} 
\tikzdeclarecoordinatesystem{cylindrical}{%
\setkeys{cylindricalkeys}{#1}%
\pgfpointadd{\pgfpointxyz{0}{0}{\myz}}{\pgfpointpolarxy{\myangle}{\myradius}}
}

\makeatother
% decoration
\begin{document}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\RadiusScrew}{0.5}

\foreach \X in {0,10,...,350} % {100,110,...,150}
{\begin{tikzpicture}
\path[use as bounding box] (-1,-1) (1,6);
\tdplotsetmaincoords{140-30*cos(\X)}{0}
\begin{scope}[tdplot_main_coords,samples=60]
\fill[left color=black!40, right color=black!30, middle color=black!20] 
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=\RadiusScrew,angle=\x,z=-0.125+\x/720)
-- (0,0,-1) -- cycle;
\foreach \Z in {0,0.5,...,5}
{
\fill[left color=black!30, right color=black!20, middle color=black!10]  
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=\RadiusScrew,angle=\x,z=\Z+\x/720)
-- ++ (cylindrical cs: radius=-0.1*\RadiusScrew,angle=\tdplotmainphi+180,
z=0.25) --
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=0.9*\RadiusScrew,angle=\x,z=\Z+\x/720+0.25)
-- cycle;
\fill[left color=black!40, right color=black!30, middle color=black!20]
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=\RadiusScrew,angle=\x,z=\Z+\x/720)
-- ++ (cylindrical cs: radius=-0.1*\RadiusScrew,angle=\tdplotmainphi+180,
z=-0.25) --
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=0.9*\RadiusScrew,angle=\x,z=\Z+\x/720-0.25)
-- cycle;
}
\fill[left color=black!30, right color=black!20, middle color=black!10] 
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=1.3*\RadiusScrew,angle=\x,z=5)
-- ++ (cylindrical cs: radius=0,angle=\tdplotmainphi+180,
z=1) 
-- plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=1.3*\RadiusScrew,angle=\x,z=6)
-- cycle;
\fill[left color=black!20, right color=black!10, middle color=black!0] 
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi-180:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=1.3*\RadiusScrew,angle=\x,z=6);
\end{scope}

\end{tikzpicture}
}
\end{document}

In principle, one can thus achieve many viewing angles.

\documentclass[tikz,border=3.14mm]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz-3dplot}

\makeatletter % from section 13.2.5 of the pgfmanual

\define@key{cylindricalkeys}{angle}{\def\myangle{#1}} 
\define@key{cylindricalkeys}{radius}{\def\myradius{#1}} 
\define@key{cylindricalkeys}{z}{\def\myz{#1}} 
\tikzdeclarecoordinatesystem{cylindrical}{%
\setkeys{cylindricalkeys}{#1}%
\pgfpointadd{\pgfpointxyz{0}{0}{\myz}}{\pgfpointpolarxy{\myangle}{\myradius}}
}

\makeatother
\begin{document}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\MajorDiameter}{0.5}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\MinorDiameter}{0.45}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\Pitch}{0.4}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\Nmax}{8}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\HeadHeight}{0.4}
\pgfmathsetmacro{\Crest}{0.03}

\foreach \X in {0,5,...,355} % {100,110,...,150}
{\begin{tikzpicture}
\path[use as bounding box] (-6,-6) rectangle (6,6);
\begin{scope}[rotate=\X]
\tdplotsetmaincoords{140-30*cos(\X)}{0}
\begin{scope}[tdplot_main_coords,samples=60]
\fill[left color=black!30, right color=black!20, middle color=black!28] 
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MinorDiameter,angle=\x,z={-0.9*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+\Pitch/2})
-- (0,0,-1) -- cycle;

\foreach \Z in {0,1,...,\Nmax}
{
% brighter upper sloped patch
\fill[left color=black!35, right color=black!25, middle color=black!15]  
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+\Crest})
--
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MinorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+0.5*\Pitch})
-- cycle;
% wider crest
\fill[left color=black!50, right color=black!40, middle color=black!35]  
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+\Crest})
--
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360})
-- cycle;
% darker lower sloped patch
\fill[left color=black!30, right color=black!20, middle color=black!25]
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360})
--
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=\MinorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360-0.5*\Pitch
+\Crest}) -- cycle;
% narrower crest
\fill[left color=black!50, right color=black!40, middle color=black!35]  
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MinorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+\Crest
+\Pitch/2})
-- 
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs:
radius=\MinorDiameter,angle=\x,z={\Z*\Pitch+(\Pitch-2*\Crest)*\x/360+\Pitch/2})
-- cycle;
}
\fill[left color=black!30, right color=black!20, middle color=black!10] 
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=1.3*\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z=\Nmax*\Pitch)
-- plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi+180:\tdplotmainphi] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=1.3*\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z=\Nmax*\Pitch+\HeadHeight)
-- cycle;
\fill[left color=black!20, right color=black!10, middle color=black!0] 
plot[smooth,variable=\x,domain=\tdplotmainphi-180:\tdplotmainphi+180] 
(cylindrical cs: radius=1.3*\MajorDiameter,angle=\x,z=\Nmax*\Pitch+\HeadHeight);
\end{scope}
\end{scope}
\end{tikzpicture}
}
\end{document}

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Drawing screw threads in 3D using TikZ

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Drawing screw threads in 3D using TikZ

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Tikz 2D RESULT:

Using real 3D framework this case > Inventor:

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