Working with wrenches can be one of the most relaxing and rewarding experiences. Bringing every part and component together and tightening all the bolts precisely on spec to form a single goal-oriented device is close to Zen meditation—that is, when you have the proper tools. If you don’t, then turning wrenches is a nightmare of…
One of the first vehicles I ever owned was a Mitsubishi Mighty Max, and one of the few problems with it was a faulty starter. Normally, a starter is one of the easiest auto repairs there is. You simply detach the electrical connections, dismount two bolts, and pull the whole starter out. However, the starter…
When people think of a production line, they typically picture conveyor belts moving car bodies along as heavy robotic arms move swiftly across the line. Automation is a big part of industrial manufacturing to be sure. However, even in large and heavily automated manufacturing plants, there are still many workers who use hand assembly tools…
Precise torque control is absolutely vital in assembly and repair. Screws, bolts, and nuts must hold in place as machinery starts up, vibrates, and experiences forces from different directions. Whether these fasteners hold is determined by the torque that is applied to them. If it is too little, then vibrations can easily loosen a fastener.…
A lot of people feel nervous as they walk down the boarding ramp to catch their flight. In fact, up to 25 percent of Americans experience some fear of flying and will spend their trip across the sky with a white knuckle grip on their armrests. Nearly all of them will find that their fears…
When little things go wrong, they can have a big impact. Think about it: the biggest fire that’s ever burned was started by a single spark. An inch of reach or an ounce of force can alter the outcome of the Super Bowl—and the millions of dollars riding on it. Or think about Gavrilo Princip,…
What’s the difference between a regular screwdriver and a torque screwdriver? Torque screwdrivers can detect and limit the amount of force they apply to a screw; regular screwdrivers can’t. Why is that important? Because if you don’t apply enough force to a screw, it can fall out of the hole. If you apply too much,…
Whether it’s to improve production speed, to standardize torque application, or to create a safer workplace, many assembly operations are choosing to manufacture products using pneumatic screwdrivers. Capable of providing more than 150 lbf.in of precision torque, pneumatic screwdrivers can easily handle almost any screw. They are capable of more torque than most electric screwdrivers.…
Assembly lines are mesmerizing to watch. Components large and small enter a factory and flow together into the main production line where, step-by-step, they become finished products. While it is a process similar to the course of a river, the flow is powered by human energy and ingenuity. Like a river, an assembly line is…
The best torque is the right torque. Whether you’re manufacturing circuit boards or repairing spaceships, applying the correct amount of torque to each screw and bolt is critical for success. If you don’t apply enough torque to a threaded fastener, it can fall free. If you apply too much, you can damage the fastener and…