To help ensure that you achieve the torque accuracy required of your application, it is important to select a power tool with low scatter and low mean shift. Joint stiffness varies, so it’s necessary to make an allowance for it to achieve the proper torque.

Fitting screws into steel without interlining components is one example of a hard joint with rapid tightening. For this application, the power tool needs to have a quick clutch that interrupts the torque at the pre-set level.

Another example is a soft joint with gaskets and washers, or a long screw, requires a electric screwdriver or pneumatic screwdriver with a strong motor to attain short tightening times.

If there are subsidence or plastic deformations in the joint, then you should opt for a clutch type power tool or a tool with a hydraulic pulse mechanism. The joint would then have time to settle as you are assembling.

Joints with self-locking elements in the thread or clamped nuts are becoming increasingly common. If you work with joints like this, we recommend a screwdriver with a shut-off clutch.

To fully utilize the high performance of a quality power tool, it’s important to know the demands made on the power tool by different screwed joints. Here are some examples that will help you select the kind of power tool you require.

Machine Screw – Hard Joint
Low resistance to turning until the screw head reaches its seating, after which resistance rapidly increases. For rapid screwdriving with moderate torque accuracy choose a high speed tool. For close torque limit or when the quality of thread is uneven, choose a lower speed tool. This is also recommended for brittle material. The most suitable clutch is a shut-off type. An alternative choice is a slip type.

Machine Screw – Soft Joint
Low resistance to turning until the screw head reaches its seating, after which resistance slowly increases. A slower and more powerful torque tool should be used to seat the fastener properly to minimize relaxation in the joint. Most suitable clutches: Shut-off type. Slip type possible.

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The TB is small preset production torque wrench with a fixed head. The versatile wrench is available with different head configuration options, like open, box, flare, hex key and ratchet head. TB models are designed to have one permanent head style attached to it. When the TB torque wrench achieves torque, the head breaks-over signaling to the operator to stop applying torque to the fastener or bolt.

Break-Over torque wrenches are essential to limiting the amount of torque applied to an assembly or fastening. Break-over torque wrenches, typically deflect 20-90 degrees on torque delivery, thus indicating torque has been reached. Many break-over wrenches require manual resetting, while others have an automatic resetting feature.

The slim TB torque wrench is a pre-set tool that offers a tamper-proof internal torque adjustment setting. There is no external adjustment scale, so the wrench must be preset using a torque tester. Small and lightweight, the TB wrench is ideal for applications with limited space. Mountz offers various TB wrench models covering a torque range of 25 inch-ounces up to 50 inch-pounds.

A pre-set torque wrench is similar to a person setting an alarm clock to signal the achievement of a selected time. The torque wrench is pre-set to the required torque value of the application and then the tool signals the operator when torque is achieved.

Designed and manufactured to meet or exceed the accuracy and repeatability requirements of ISO6789: 2003, Mountz offers the TB wrench in six different colored aluminum handle options, which allows production areas to color-code specific torque values for various fastening applications.

The correct tightening of SMA connectors used in RF cabling applications is essential to ensure optimum performance. The TB torque wrench is commonly used in these applications. Break-Over Wrenches are essential to limiting the amount of torque applied during the assembly process.
Controlling torque is essential for companies to ensure their product’s quality, safety and reliability isn’t compromised. The failure of a three-cent fastener that isn’t properly tightened can lead to catastrophic or latent failures. Fasteners that are insufficiently torqued can vibrate loose and excessive torque can strip threaded fasteners. Using a quality torque wrench has become increasingly important for many companies to ensure that proper torque is being applied and maintains gauge requirements associated with the ISO 9001 Quality Standard.

Experience, Quality and Reliable
If you want to boost the speed and efficiency of your assembly processes, you should look into SEMS, or “pre-asSEMbled” fasteners. These handy devices combine the screw and the washer into a single component, eliminating the need to match the right items up and slip the washer into place by hand. It also simplifies your inventory by giving you one part to track and purchase instead of two. SEMs have been around since the 1930s and come in inch-measure or metric varieties. (Looking for a source…Mr. Metric)

SEMs typically come with some form of lockwasher to prevent slippage once the screw is firmly secured. Two popular choices include internal-tooth and external-tooth lockwashers. Internal-tooth SEMs have teeth have ring the inside diameter of the lockwasher to bite into the substrate and hold the washer in place, while external-tooth SEMs perform the same task with teeth extending from the outside diameter of the washer.

Double SEMs contain two washers instead of just one. In addition to a lockwasher, a double SEM also has a flat washer that sits on top of the locking washer. The lockwasher may have internal or external teeth, but more commonly it comes in the form of a split lockwasher. Split lockwasher see lots of use in automotive and aerospace manufacturing due to their ability to fit into narrow holes. Double SEMS come in brass, steel and stainless steel in sizes ranging from narrow to wide.

Of course, sometimes all these options can get a little confusing. Which SEM is right for your needs? Do you need more than one kind? If you want to make sure you’re ordering the right products, don’t just order blindly — contact us and we’ll be glad to discuss it with you and help you with your purchase.

Experience, Quality and Reliable
In the manufacturing and assembly world, tightening, controlling, or measuring torque fasteners is imperative for production efficiency. An inadequately torqued fastener can vibrate or work loose: conversely, if the tension is too high, the fastener can snap or strip its threads. Faced with these problems, manufacturers are realizing that precise torque control can spell the difference between a safe, reliable, and economical product and complete disaster.

Anybody who has to tighten a threaded fastener and needs to control, monitor, or measure torque needs sophisticated torque tools. If manufacturers want to save money, make their workplace safer, enhance product quality, or reduce their exposure to liability; only specialized high-quality torque tools will get the job done properly.

1. Pick the Right Torque Tool
A wide variety of torque tools are available to control or measure the torque applied to fasteners, from electric screwdrivers to large industrial torque wrenches, torque analyzers, torque sensors, pneumatic screwdrivers and torque multipliers. These tools utilize calibrated torque setting mechanisms that may be factory pre-set or user-definable. When the specified setting is reached, the tool gives a visual, audible, or tactile signal. The anticipated production output, the type of materials being joined, the amount of torque required, and the specified fasteners determine the selection of tools for a given application. Lighter materials such as wood or plastic may require only lightweight tools; likewise, heavy materials such as steel may require stronger or larger tools. If torque data must be gathered during the assembly process or quality process, tools should also have connection ports such as USB, RS-232 and other cabling connections.

2. Establish a Torque Calibration Program
Calibration is fine-tuning the torque control process in a production environment. Torque calibration should be checked periodically to determine whether torque tools are operating at their proper settings. Many tools don’t have a locking device, and users may easily change their torque settings. When this happens, the tool falls out of adjustment.

A regularly scheduled calibration program enables quality control personnel to correct divergence from proper settings, whether it’s because of normal slippage over time or because of adjustments to the tool. Begin by setting a calibration interval initially based on severity of the application and the tool manufacturer’s recommendations. If the applied torque values are out of range, cut the calibration interval in half and re-test the tools.

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Hand torque multipliers are the ideal tools for applications where air and electricity aren’t easily accessible. The gearing design allows for a high torque output with minimal input. These tools are commonly used in petrochemical, power generation, transportation, shipping and maintenance industries.

The hand torque multiplier is the ideal tool for dealing with difficult nuts and bolts – those requiring extreme applications of torque for loosening or tightening. This compact, versatile torque multiplier applies precise amounts of torque or power in nearly all heavy-duty fastening situations, eliminating the requirements for multiple operators, and enhancing safety as well.

The hand torque multiplier by Mountz is engineered for enduring performance. Mountz offers various hand torque multiplier models with a maximum torque capacity up to 36,800 foot-pounds, satisfying the requirements of even the most demanding MRO applications. Some models include a strong (anti-wind-up) ratchet, allowing jobs to be completed efficiently and safely.

From tightening large industrial bolts used in windmill gearbox assemblies to bolting maintenance applications for oil & gas pipelines and rigs, the Mountz hand torque multipliers achieve precision torque in a cost-efficient manner.