Torque wrenches offer best of both worlds

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 20, 2008

Torque tool is designed to meet the demands of both shop floor operatives and quality management personnel.

Crane Electronics reckons the tools in its new IQWrench Opta angle and torque wrench range are both easier to use and more versatile than simple audit wrenches.

The company has merged comprehensive SPC functions with an advanced torque readout and a superior torque/angle wrench into an ergonomic package it reckons is hard to beat.

The new wrenches cover a torque range from 0.1 to 1500Nm.

The IQWrench Opta is a light, smart and fast torque tool that has been designed to meet the demands of both shop floor operatives and quality management personnel.

It has been developed in direct response to the growing need for full torque traceability, accurate torque/angle measurement and removing human error from the fastening/audit process.

Like all Crane Electronics torque tools, it is designed and manufactured in the UK.

To achieve torque traceability, the IQWrench Opta can store torque and angle data, as well as information of who used the wrench, what work was done with it, and when it was carried out.

For complex fastening and assembly processes it offers automatic tool head recognition and a choice of communication options, including wireless, to the customer's network.

Crane also has the capability of adding automatic recognition into already existing bespoke tool heads.

A wide range of measurements can be carried out.

Besides torque and angle measurement modes for track, peak, move-on and yield; the IQWrench Opta can also save multiple traces/graphs of this data that can be downloaded to the user's PC for further analysis and manipulation.

With the latest rechargeable battery technology and doubled memory size, the IQWrench Opta can easily be used throughout a shift without the need to recharge it.

The tool is extremely easy to work with and operator acceptance is achieved through the light ergonomic design, the easy-to-read display and the fast speed of processing.

A choice of vibrating, visual and audible alarms gives the operator a clear indication of the fastening status and whether he has met the defined torque/angle specifications.

IQWrench Opta is also point of load insensitive ensuring precise measurement however the wrench is held.

It is easy to set up the IQWrench Opta.

It can be password protected to avoid unauthorised tampering with the settings and completed readings.

Authorised users can easily set up torque routines and torque characteristics on their PC and downloaded it to the IQWrench Opta.

Equally torque readings can be easily uploaded from wrenches to the PC and integrated into existing QA systems whether Excel spreadsheets or corporate databases.

As an added advantage, the IQWrench Opta can save multiple torque traces that can be downloaded to a PC and then visualised - for example, the overlaying of torque graphs.

As all of Crane Electronics' torque tools are developed and manufactured in the UK and therefore any unforeseen challenges or potential applications can quickly be addressed.

The company's customer support team has direct access to the in-house engineering and software departments.

Repairs and recalibration can also be undertaken by Crane's UKAS accredited calibration and repair centre.