Manufacturing companies must meet high standards for product quality. Products manufactured on assembly lines must be identical. However, fastening every bolt in every product to the same degree is difficult, if not impossible, for an employee to do without mechanical aids. This variability in fastening results demands the intervention of a tool that can control the amount of torque it applies to a fastener—the torque wrench. Using a torque wrench, any employee can apply the exact amount of force a fastener needs every time.
That’s the basic idea. However, there’s more to it than that. Yes, employees fastening on assembly lines need to use torque wrenches to meet production standards consistently. But how do you find the best torque wrench to use on the assembly line? And why does it matter? What makes one torque wrench any better or worse than another?
How the Best Torque Wrenches Improve Process Control
First, why does it matter? The short answer: the competition. In a world where manufacturers vie for contracts and market share, the most efficient, effective factories will emerge victorious. They will secure the best contracts and dominate the market. In contrast, less efficient factories will struggle to attract desirable contracts and their products will lose market share. The least efficient factories may even struggle to sustain their business. This is where the use of the best torque wrenches can give you a competitive edge.
Choosing the right torque wrench for an assembly is not just a matter of quality, it’s a strategic move that can significantly boost efficiency. Opting for preset wrenches over adjustable ones can streamline your production process. You’ll eliminate the time spent adjusting, checking, or resetting torque values, saving precious seconds per product. And when you’re churning out thousands of products a day, those seconds quickly add up, making your operation more efficient and productive.
In addition, choosing the proper torque wrench can reduce the rate of lost product. Torque wrenches from reputable manufacturers are proven to deliver dependable results. The proper torque wrench will consistently deliver torque within its stated margin of error. Shoddy or poorly engineered torque wrenches may not do so. This increases the likelihood of inaccurate fastening, requiring additional quality assurance checks.
Likewise, if you use lower-quality torque tools, you will need additional time for tool calibration checks. The more tools are found out of calibration, the less will be available for manufacturing. Additionally, standard practice is to halve calibration intervals for each tool found out of alignment. Testing must be conducted more frequently as more tools are found out of alignment. Repair or replacement costs will mount as well. As goes the adage: buy cheap, buy twice.
How to Decide on the Best Preset Torque Wrench for Assembly Lines
In many ways, the best torque wrench for a given assembly line depends on the specifics of that assembly line. How large are the fasteners? What degree of accuracy is needed? Does the assembly require special characteristics, like insulation?
There are currently three types of mechanical preset torque wrenches on the market: click wrenches, break-over wrenches, and cam-over wrenches. Click wrenches provide power and can handle large fasteners. They alert their operator when torque is reached with an audible, “click.”
Break-over wrenches can handle nearly any type of fastener head. The torque limiting tool typically deflects 20° or 90° on torque delivery which provides as visually indicator torque is achieved.
Engineered to prevent fastening failures, the cam-over torque wrench is a powerful tool that instills confidence in its user. It stops a fastener or bolt from being under- or over-tightened, ensuring the correct torque is delivered regardless of the task or the operator’s skill level.
High-quality preset torque wrenches for assembly lines will meet all relevant national and international standards for calibration reliability. The best torque wrenches will exceed them.
Mountz torque wrenches deliver precision torque control, ensuring process reliability and efficiency. To see our full range of products, shop our store. Contact us anytime to ask a question. To inquire about price, request a quote. If you’d like to see our equipment in person, schedule an appointment. To get the latest torque-related news, follow us on LinkedIn.
