Tool tester keeps truck production running

Having purchased a JRS Opta joint rate simulator, Ford Otosan truck plant can now carry out all tool testing within a short time and without disturbing the production line.

Ford Otosan's Inonu plant in Eskisehir, Turkey, produces heavy trucks, engines and powertrain components.

Previously the truck plant used dynamic torque transducers and data collectors to perform verification on air tools used throughout the plant.

However, the time required for this meant that it had to be carried out during production therefore disrupting the assembly.

Having purchased a Crane Electronics JRS Opta joint rate simulator from Genmar, Crane Electronics's Turkish distributor, Ford Otosan truck plant can now carry out all tool testing within a short time and without disturbing the production line.

Moreover, the time required to test each tool is so short that each tool can be removed from the line, tested alongside the line and returned without any significant impact on production.

The JRS Opta tool test station accurately and repeatably simulates joint rate without the use of threaded fasteners.

It measures torque angle and pulse count on most types of angle nutrunners and impulse tools, as well as most types of torque wrenches.

Ford Otosan's unit features an LCD to give a clear reading for the operator, plus it has a bank of LEDs that give an at-a-glance indication of high, OK or low.

In addition, a TorqueStar Opta is included for use with transducers to measure and record data from tools while they are used on the production line.

This way a joint's characteristics can be "learnt" and the data transferred to the JRS Opta to allow it to simulate the joint accurately.

Mumin Ozkan, Sales Engineer at Crane's Turkish distributor, explains how the contract was won: "We are the official distributor for Turkey and have a good relationship with Ford Otosan".

"There are numerous Crane rotary and stationary transducers, as well torque data collectors in use throughout the factory".

"Nevertheless, we had to tender for the contract, and we won by offering a package that was the closest match to Ford Otosan's technical requirements, their cost expectations and technical local support through Genmar".

Murat Ozkirsehirli, Manufacturing Engineer at Ford Otosan, adds: "The JRS Opta has saved Ford a lot of time".

"It is a major advantage that we no longer have to wait for the end of a shift to test the tools".

"In the near future we want to use the JRS within the whole plant for all kinds of tightening, tool verification and calibration activities".

"We are very happy with the new equipment".

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