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.
Finding the right set of pneumatic screw guns for your assembly operation comes down to understanding your production’s current and projected needs and finding a manufacturer you trust. Since pneumatic screwdrivers are powered by compressed air, you’ll also want to think about where your hose lines will run through the factory and where you’ll locate your air compressor systems.
Here are some of the things you should consider when searching for the best pneumatic screw guns.
Quantitative Properties of Pneumatic Screw Guns
Understanding the range of capabilities your pneumatic screw guns must be capable of is an indispensable step towards accurate, cost-effective tool procurement. By coordinating with your product engineers, you can obtain specific information about the screws in your products. If you are a contract manufacturer, this information can be harvested from your historical product data.
As you choose new tools, consider both the products you have already manufactured and the ones you hope to manufacture in the future. By upgrading your tools, will you be able to take on more projects?
Some of the most important metrics used to compare pneumatic screw guns are:
- Torque range
- Torque accuracy
- Cycle speed
Very large and very small screws may require air screwdrivers with special torque ranges, either higher or lower than the average. Similarly, critical fasteners with safety-sensitive functions may require more accurate torque tools with a lower margin for error, while tools intended for high-volume production environments will be able to perform more work with faster cycle times.
Qualitative Considerations for Pneumatic Screw Guns
In addition to knowing specific details about the amount and precision of the pneumatic torque tools you’re searching for, it’s also important to consider non-numeric qualities such as grip options. Will your assembly workers be most effective using tools with an in-line or pistol grip? A right angle? Some combination thereof? This is both a productivity and ergonomics question. Workers using tools which apply force in the right direction will be able to align their body’s frame to minimize and dissipate torque reaction force. The right grip will also allow them to lift and use the tool without putting undue stress on their joints and ligaments.
Investing in tool balancers for pneumatic screw gun operators provides significant ergonomic benefits, improving worker health, happiness, and productivity. Tool balancers suspend tools from a fixed point located above the tool user. This takes the weight of the tool off the arms and shoulders of the employee, alleviating the causes of repetitive motion injuries. Since the hose lines of pneumatic screw guns can create a tripping hazard if left unattended, tool balancers for air tools solve two problems at once by repurposing the hose line into the tool’s tether.
When you’re speaking to representatives from different tool manufacturers, ask about the amount of maintenance required per tool. Ask about warranty information and whether the manufacturer provides service options. Tools which require heavy maintenance or which cannot easily be serviced will cost more in time and labor ultimately, even if the sticker price is lower.
Pneumatic tools, as with all tools, vary in quality and reliability based on the manufacturer. Since tooling a factory is an ongoing operation that will recur over years and decades, it’s especially important to find a manufacturer you trust. Keeping the same manufacturer simplifies your service operation and provides the peace of mind of knowing that the capital you outlay to procure a new set of tools will provide a certain return.
At Mountz Torque, we’ve been manufacturing the highest quality torque tools for over 50 years. Located right in Silicon Valley, our staff of torque experts will be happy to answer all your tooling questions. To see our full range of products, shop our store. Contact us anytime to ask a question. To ask about price, request a quote. If you’d like to see our equipment in person, schedule an appointment.
