Digital torque wrench cuts filing for car maker
A
Crane Electronics product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
May 29, 2008
As the minimum and maximum torque values are held within the wrench, it will then inform the operator via tri-colour LEDS if the readings are low, high or exact.
Using ProWrench Opta digital torque wrenches from Crane Electronics, a major car manufacturer has successfully introduced a new method of carrying out checks of the torque values of critical fastenings within their bodyshop.
The checks are carried out three times per shift and are performed using one 75Nm ProWrench Opta digital torque wrench.
The car manufacturer's previous method involved using various sizes of dial wrench and the readings were recorded on paper, which was filed at the end of every month.
This resulted in an ever increasing archive of recorded data and the potential for misfiled or unclear recorded information.
Crane Electronics' solution using ProWrench Optas and OptaComms software was selected after an assessment of the car manufacturer's lineside torque testing requirements and with the close involvement of the company's quality control and calibration departments.
The tools were rigorously tested together, including stringent tests of measurement accuracy.
The new method of checking was trialled alongside the existing system before implementation.
Using the ProWrench Opta, the staff member takes the wrench to the production line once it has been stored with all the data to carry out a specific check of torque values for a particular group of fastenings.
The wrench displays how many bolts have to checked and what the torque targets are.
As the minimum and maximum torque values are held within the wrench, it will then inform the operator via tri-colour LEDS if the readings are low, high or exact.
In a paper-based system, operators cannot manipulate data.
All readings taken are stored with time, date, user and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
At the end of the shift, results are uploaded to Crane's OptaComms software and then exported to a spreadsheet of recorded data.
Twelve months into the project, there has been a 50% saving in operator time to carry out torque checks and there has been a major reduction in production line stops due to torque checks.
The ProWrench Optas record all VIN numbers with corresponding torque readings for each model variant, giving excellent traceability.
The virtually paperless system, with electronic archiving, is resulting in reduced administration costs.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact Crane Electronics
Related Stories
- Cropico ohmmeter enhances unit resistance testing
- Megger supplies test equipment to training schools
- Silo-Weigh solves weighing problem at Castle Hill
- Zwick updates plastics testing machine
- SGS supervises office construction
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
