Pre-set torque screwdriver service life

[Ali]

These things - this particular one being made by Wera, I think by the colours, but any brand and torque figure has been worn off by regular use in a small scale production environment.

What is the typical service life - I suppose, the number of screws it’s expected to tighten between service or calibration (if that’s possible)?

Are they ok to use to undo screws as well as tighten them?

 

[Barking Mat]

Get it calibrated to check.

Or check it with a reliable torque wrench.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Certainly looks like a wera one.
Wera give a 5000 cycle / 1yr warranty so it should be good for at least that.
Like any torque tool, it will depend how it's been treated/used/stored.

If you are anywhere near Frome I can check what it's set to on a torque tester.

They are fine for using to undo screws. (No torque limit in reverse)
Having said that, I'd consider it a measurement tool so I'd be keeping it in the cupboard with the other measurement tools rather than in the drawer with the other screwdrivers.

Ie. If I had installed a screw with this, then realised I'd put in the wrong hole, I'd be taking it back out with this rather than walking off to fetch a different driver.

If I had to take an ikea wardrobe apart I wouldn't use this to don't just because I liked the way the handle feels..

 

[Agroshield]

What is the typical service life - I suppose, the number of screws it’s expected to tighten between service or calibration (if that’s possible)?

If used in any environment with a quality system, the process documentation of that system will tell you how often it requires service or calibration. On something critical, that could be a shorter period than that recommended by the manufacturer. The long and short is that the question is impossible to answer in any general sense - the 'right' answer depends highly on the circumstances of use.

 

[Erie Fred]

If used in any environment with a quality system, the process documentation of that system will tell you how often it requires service or calibration. On something critical, that could be a shorter period than that recommended by the manufacturer. The long and short is that the question is impossible to answer in any general sense - the 'right' answer depends highly on the circumstances of use.

Yup ^^^ "Air-O-Planes or Ikea's".

Each one is different.

 

[Ali]

If used in any environment with a quality system, the process documentation of that system will tell you how often it requires service or calibration. On something critical, that could be a shorter period than that recommended by the manufacturer. The long and short is that the question is impossible to answer in any general sense - the 'right' answer depends highly on the circumstances of use.

It should do, but it hasn’t been written yet, I’m helping them get some sort of system in place.

It tightens / loosens 6 screws up to 15 times per day. It’s just screws for a machining fixture so not critical other than failure of a job.

It is used exclusively for this purpose.

 

[hotponyshoes]

It should do, but it hasn’t been written yet, I’m helping them get some sort of system in place.

It tightens / loosens 6 screws up to 15 times per day. It’s just screws for a machining fixture so not critical other than failure of a job.

It is used exclusively for this purpose.

I expect more will depend on the staff training than the reliability of the tool.

More than once I've seen people tighten things with a torque wrench then give it another tweak with a t-bar "just to make sure"

 

[Keithmac]

For me, I would never use any torque measuring instrument to undo a fastener (I would torque a Left Hand thread though).

All depends what you are happy to do with your own tools (lol).

 

[Agroshield]

It should do, but it hasn’t been written yet, I’m helping them get some sort of system in place.

Maybe you can do some sort of statistical process control. Buy another one and check one screw each day. On the day the two tools disagree, you are only 90 screws away from the last known good place. If 90 is too many, check more frequently; if 90 is inconsequencial, check less frequently.

 

[Keithmac]

Maybe you can do some sort of statistical process control. Buy another one and check one screw each day. On the day the two tools disagree, you are only 90 screws away from the last known good place. If 90 is too many, check more frequently; if 90 is inconsequencial, check less frequently.

You would have to make up a very robust testing method, it takes more torque to move an already torqued fastener.

The Torque Test Channel on YouTube have some interesting setups to compare tools.

 

[Agroshield]

You would have to make up a very robust testing method...

Thanks. Out of curiousity, would anyone know what the failure mode of a tool like that would be? Would it fail by not clicking (overtorque the item) or would it fail by premature eclickulation (undertorque the item)?

 

[RichardM]

I would contact the manufacturer and ask the what service routine to put in place. If the manufacturer isn't know as it appears not to be in your case, start afresh with a known product.

 

[Keithmac]

Thanks. Out of curiousity, would anyone know what the failure mode of a tool like that would be? Would it fail by not clicking (overtorque the item) or would it fail by premature eclickulation (undertorque the item)?

Hard to say unless you know exactly how the tool is designed, what the major wear items are and how that effect the mechanism.

I think digital torque devices "should" be more resistant to mechanical wear but could be wrong.

 

[Ali]

Thanks for the tips. I’ll get in touch with the manufacturer and report back.

 

[Maker]

At work (Air-O-planes), torque drivers are (should be) checked before each use against a tester, and the tester goes for calibration annually.

New screwdrivers come in with a year's calibration.