Too Loose or Too Tight?
10 Steps to Torque Control
In the manufacturing and assembly world, tightening, controlling, or measuring torque on 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, (more)
Product Spotlight
Wizard Plus (PDA Torque and Force Analyzer) features the ability for SPC testing and producing ISO calibration certificatess
The Wizard Plus is PDA Torque and Force Analyzer that can be used for torque calibration, joint
testing, auditing or for force and load measurement or verification of load cells. The Wizard Plus is CF2 Card that plugs into a Pocket PC or Laptop/PC. It features the ability for SPC testing and producing ISO calibration certificates. The Wizard Plus is the ideal torque analyzer for organizing and storing test data for ISO and SPC documentation. (more)
Product Application
Tightening Up Torque Standards Saves Cost for Boeing: Wizard Plus Calibration
System to Ensure Consistent Torque Values
In aerospace projects, there are no "do overs." Even minor errors can prove expensive or deadly. NASA's $125 million Mars Climate Observer burned up in the Martian atmosphere when the manufacturer gave NASA English measurements for thrust, rather than the metric units NASA was used to. A loose piece of foam cost seven shuttle astronauts their lives.
But careless mishaps also take place on the manufacturing floor. In 2003, for example, the U.S.
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's $233 million NOAA-N Prime weather satellite was severely damaged by falling three feet to a concrete floor at Lockheed Martin's satellite factory in California. When one crew failed to document that it had removed two dozen bolts from a cart used to turn the satellite over, and the other crew failed to follow procedures and check if the bolts were in place before moving the satellite, the end result was a $135 million repair bill.
To read more of this story, as published in the Quality Magazine,
Mountz News
Mountz Calibration Lab in San Jose, CA Receives ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation
Mountz, Inc. receives ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from ACLASS accreditation services for its calibration lab in San Jose, CA. (more)
Torque Tip
Verifying the Assemblers and the Fastening Process
To improve a fastening process, one should verify that the correct numbers of fasteners have been properly installed into the assembly and that the tool has completed the fastening cycle. (more)
