What Gives Power to Your Impact Wrench?

Understanding how an impact wrench works is vital in assisting you as the consumer in making the right choice. We are going to go through a few key technical factors to assist in this decision.

1. Do you know how an impact wrench works?
2. Learn to differentiate hard and soft joints?
3. Discover the main impact mechanisms
4. Make the right choice

From the smallest maintenance task to the largest industrial maintenance operations the choice of the right tool is key to ensure maximum performance and comfort. Choosing the right impact wrench will not only ensure maximum performance and comfort, but also the durability of your tool. GOOD TO KNOW – The maximum torque is a good measure of how much power is available for removing rusted, corroded and stubborn fasteners.

Do you know How an Impact Wrench Works?

An impact wrench is a power-tool designed to produce a high torque output with little effort by the user. The tool accumulates energy by rotating a mass and then delivers the energy (IMPACT) suddenly to the output shaft. Depending on the application or the job that needs to get done, the torque range, the power but also the comfort of use requirements may vary, so will the impact mechanism (Clutch) design in terms of weight, vibration, speed, and durability.

BEWARE OF OVER TIGHTENING

For some applications tightening requires precision and torque control such as tyre changing, when you need to torque bolts to the manufacturers specifications. Using tools with torque limited functions coupled with a torque wrench will ensure the correct tightening and avoid over tightening and damaging studs. [su_divider top=”no” style=”dashed” divider_color=”#cccccc” size=”1″ margin=”25″]

Learn to Differentiate Hard and Soft Joints

Soft or hard joints designate the junction of the two surfaces that are assembled or disassembed.

SOFT JOINT

Low resistance to turning until the bolt (or nut) reaches its seating, after whcih resistance slowly increases. A joint in which the plates and material between the nut and bolt bearing surfaces have a low stifness when subjected to compression by the bolt load. Often the placement of a gasket in a joint results in a soft joint.

HARD JOINT

Low resistance to turning the bolt (or nut) reaches its seating, after which resistance rapidly increases. A joint in which the plates and material between the nut and bolt bearing surfaces have a high stifness when subjected to compression by the bolt load. Metal to metal results in a hard joint. [su_divider top=”no” style=”dashed” divider_color=”#cccccc” size=”1″ margin=”25″]

Discover the Main Impact Mechanisms

PIN CLUTCH

Principle of Operation

Ball lifts cam, causing pins to strike blow on anvil. After blow, spring returns pins to starting position

Benefits

• Extremely low vibration clutch for better operator comfort
• Excellent on hard joints with a good power/weight ratio

SINGLE DOG

Principle of Operation

The single dog mechanism is a hammer cage which is rotating and driving the hammer to strike a blow on the anvil. The hammer disengages from the cage and rotates for another blow.

Benefits

• Compact clutch
• Lighter than the twin hammer version
• Excellent for maintenance and repair operations (MRO)

TWIN HAMMER (also called the double dog)

Principle of Operation

The twin hammer mechanism is a hammer cage which is rotating and driving twin opposite hammers to strike a blow on the anvil. The hammers disengage from the cage and rotate for another blow.

Benefits

• The best choice for light vehicle maintenance
• High energy per blow
• Vary durable clutch
• Excellent for hard joints
• All around clutch with a high power/weight ratio

ROCKING DOG CLUTCH (Pinless or Double)

The best choice for heavy vehicle maintenance

• Durable & easy maintenance operation (Thanks to only two main moving parts)
• Efficient (Thanks to the heavy cage blow efficiency, this clutch performs well even with limited air flow)
• Maximum Power
• Excellent durablity, good for soft pullu-up jobs

THE 2-JAW CLUTCH

The best choice for tough duty

• Symetric (The hammer is round and closed to avoid lateral vibrations)
• Versatile and comfortable (Efficient for all types of joints, the two jaw clutch is one of the quietest technologies, dramatically improving operators comfort)
• Minimize side vibrations
• High energy per blow, high ultimate torque

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Choose a Cordless Impact Wrench Make the Right Choice

To select the wright impact mechanism, you should always define first what is the job you want to get done, and what is the type of joint you will be tightening or loosening. This table will help you to choose the right impact mechanism In addition to the joint conditions and the difference between the impact mechanisms, you should also consider the level of service you operate, your requirements in terms of torque, and also the current setup of your airline network [su_divider top=”no” style=”dashed” divider_color=”#cccccc” size=”1″ margin=”25″] To get the best from your impact wrenches, ensure you have an air pressure of 6.3bars, and a clean and lubricated airline network. If you dont follow those elementary rules, you will end up with a less powerful tool, in case of a too low air pressure, or a shorter tool lifetime in case of higher air pressure. If you have any doubt, always refer to the operator manual,provided by the tool manufacturer. http://www.cp.com/en