Product category:
Automation and assembly equipment
News Release from: Industrial Measurements | Subject: TM 2000 universal hand-held analyser
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 December 2005
Monitoring torque in an industrial
environment
The torque output of an individual tool can be checked on a joint simulator with a static transducer following maintenance in the tool crib and rechecked on production line with a rotary transducer.
Torque monitoring in an industrial environment Fifteen or twenty years ago, it was highly unlikely that anything more sophisticated than a mechanical torque wrench would be employed on the production line to monitor the applied torque in fasteners Assembly tools, mainly pneumatic, were used to run home individual fasteners, followed by final tightening with a dial indicator or, more usually, a click action torque wrench
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 Jul 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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This method had two problems, it was relatively slow and was prone to 'over-torqueing', usually due to an over enthusiastic operative.
Gradually, it was realised that it was more effective to directly monitor the torque output of the assembly tool, rather than perform 'break-away' checks on individual fasteners after they had been driven.
This could be done using a rundown fixture over the top of a static transducer, thus allowing the tool to go through its normal cycle of operation in a reasonably close simulation of actual joint conditions.
Further reading
Units audit any type of torque wrench
Two torque units audit virtually any type of power or hand torque wrench, either in the tool repair crib following service, or on the production line.
Torque analyser is truly universal
As well as being used for production torque analysing and quality assurance work, a torque analyser will also accept the majority of commercially available torque transducers used on assembly lines.
Portable unit checks, calibrates torque
A unit that will operate with virtually any type of rotary or static torque transducer, including the latest plug and play devices, can be used to check/calibrate torque output equipment.
The rundown fixture or joint simulator (usually a cap screw passed through a stack of disc springs) connected to the square drive of a static transducer is a method still used extensively today.
It is never a true recreation of the actual joint, but is a better representation than driving a tool directly into a 'bare' transducer.
As measurement methods improved, so did the realisation that many of the assembly tools in use were simply not capable of maintaining the accuracy/repeatability necessary for modern production plants.
Tools, both pneumatic and electric, were developed which were torque controlled via internal in-line transducers.
These were (and still are) invaluable for critical applications, but tended to be too expensive for general production work.
It was at this point that pulse tools came into use.
These tools, which were originally developed from impact wrenches, are fast and reactionless, but quite accurate enough for normal production use.
They can be easily checked using an external in-line rotary transducer.
In addition to torque, an optical encoder within the transducer measures angle as an extra parameter to aid tool assessment.
Most modern production lines now have a mix of transducerised tools and pulse tools which are regularly checked on a weekly, daily or even hourly basis (depending on the importance of the particular application) using a variety of torque monitoring equipment.
The most universal monitor is the hand held analyser which, whilst extremely portable, can be connected to a static or rotary transducer, a digital torque wrench or even a load cell.
This means the torque output of an individual tool can be checked on a joint simulator with a static transducer following repair or maintenance in the tool crib and rechecked on the production line with a rotary transducer; finally, if required, a breakaway test can be performed on the fastener itself using a digital torque wench, all done with the same analyser.
An example of this type of universal hand-held analyser is the TM 2000 from Industrial Measurements.
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