The History and Mechanics of the Screw: From Ancient Inventions to Modern Applications

No Historic Evidence for When the First Screw Was Made

While the exact date of the screw’s invention remains uncertain, scholars agree that by the first century CE the device had already appeared in practical tools such as screw presses. Roman engineers used these presses to extract olive oil and press grapes for wine, indicating a functional understanding of the screw’s mechanical advantage in everyday life.

Attribution of the first screw is traditionally linked to the Greek mathematician Archytas of Tarentum. However, the more widely accepted claim credits Archimedes with developing the Archimedes screw around 234 BC. This helical pump was designed to lift water from lower to higher elevations, demonstrating an early application of screw mechanics in irrigation and water management. Historical records also point to the use of screw‑like devices in ancient Greek and Egyptian engineering.

Screw Cutting Lathes

Before the advent of screw‑cutting lathes, screws were painstakingly shaped by hand, limiting their production and use. It wasn’t until the 15th century that the first lathes capable of cutting threads were introduced, enabling mass production and wider adoption of screws in time‑pieces, machinery, and everyday tools.

Classical Simple Machines

The screw is one of the six classical simple machines. It transforms rotational motion into linear motion and torque into a linear force, effectively functioning as a helical inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder. Each screw consists of a cylindrical shaft with helical grooves—threads—encircling its exterior. The concept was formally described by Galileo Galilei in 1600, who provided a comprehensive dynamic theory of all six simple machines in his work Le Meccaniche (On Mechanics).

Helices

At its core, a screw is a helix—a three‑dimensional curve characterized by a “twisted” shape. The term originates from the Greek word for “twisted curve.” Helices come in right‑handed or left‑handed forms, depending on the direction of the screw motion relative to an observer. Most industrial screws are right‑handed; the pitch of a screw—the axial distance covered in one complete turn—is a key dimension measured along the helix’s axis.

Helical geometry varies: a conic helix follows a conical surface, a circular helix has constant curvature and torsion, and a general cylindrical helix maintains a constant curvature‑to‑torsion ratio. A slant helix, for instance, keeps its principal normal at a fixed angle to a given line. The double helix—seen in DNA—illustrates two intertwined, congruent helices sharing a common axis.

Tendril Perversions

Natural and engineered systems often exhibit tendril perversions—transitions between helices of opposite handedness. Climbing plants such as peas and morning glories, and even everyday objects like telephone cords, display these complex helical structures, demonstrating the versatility of screw‑like geometries in biology and design.

Amplified Force

Like all simple machines, a screw amplifies force. A smaller pitch—meaning tighter threads—provides greater mechanical advantage, defined as the ratio of output to input force. Not all screws possess threads; for example, a corkscrew is a helix‑shaped rod with a sharp tip but no helical ridges, yet it still leverages screw mechanics to extract wine bottles.

Craftech Industries offers an extensive range of screws, varying in size, head style, driver tip, length, material, and thread characteristics. We also provide custom drive styles. Learn more about our capabilities by calling 800‑833‑5130 or emailing info@craftechind.co.

¹The other five simple machines are the inclined plane, wheel and axle, wedge, pulley, and lever.