Making the switch from air to electric tools doesn’t just bring precision, it unlocks a world of data with great potential for process optimization and traceable results.
But data is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what your smart electric tool can do for you. There’s also a world of tightening strategies that can enhance performance, ensure quality, and support your production goals.
Unlock potential with tightening strategies
In manufacturing, joint behavior can vary significantly from one tightening to another. As a result, different applications require different tightening approaches to achieve the target torque, failing to do so increases the risk of inconsistencies and quality issues. Tightening strategies help you stay in control.
What is a tightening strategy and why does it matter?
When it comes to tightening, simply reaching a target torque isn’t always enough. Traditional air or basic electric tools can be mechanically adjusted to target a specific torque level, but do not have the capability to generate any tightening data. They rely instead on retrospective manual checks to confirm tightening accuracy and quality
So, what does it take to move beyond basic torque control? It starts with the right combination: smart tools connected to powerful torque controllers. This pairing opens the door to tightening strategies that boost precision and reliability, and facilitates rebalancing without needing extra hardware.
Tightening strategies in smart tools help you adapt to real-world joint conditions and optimize each tightening for precision, consistency, and long-term reliability. Every tightening captures data, giving you full visibility over the process. True traceability enables analysis of tightening curves, detection of anomalies, and continuous fine-tuning of your processes. With this data, instill confidence in your tightenings.
Our smart tools can be augmented with one of three standard strategies to match your application needs:
Quick Step
Reduces the joint’s preload scatter by adding an initial step with a given torque and speed, and eventually reducing the target speed in the final step.
Two Step
Builds on Quick Step by adding a small time delay between the first and final step to counteract joint relaxation.
Three Step
Goes a step further by introducing a loosening step between the first and final step to help overcome short-term relaxation effects and reduce preload scatter.
Three Step also enables joint conditioning, tightening the joint to an initial torque, then releasing the load by a specified conditioning angle, and finally re-tightening the joint to its target torque or target angle. This sequence helps stabilize the joint and secure a more consistent clamp force.
Whether you're chasing precision, quality, or both—our strategies are built to support your goals.
From torque to tightening strategies with smart tools
To unlock the full potential of your tools, combine them with a torque controller for smarter tightening strategies and reliable data tracking.
At Atlas Copco, we offer a range of controllers to choose from:
Physical controller
Our Power Focus 8 controller connects up to 20 tools, whether through a hybrid setup of one cable tool and up to 19 battery tools, or a fully wireless configuration with up to20 battery tools.
Virtual controller
ToolsControl is our fully remote virtual controller that centralizes asset management for greater efficiency with ease. By eliminating the need for dedicated hardware, it clears the shop floor of unnecessary equipment, improving accessibility and creating a more streamlined production environment.
Integrated controller
With an integrated controller you combine the functionality of a tightening controller with the ease of a wireless smart tool. Our Tensor IxB tools operate with a fully embedded controller. This reduces hardware on the line, enabling faster setup and more agile production. With confirmation directly in hand, there's no need to search for external validation, giving you greater confidence in every tightening.
To extend the capabilities of whichever controller option you choose, we have set up Virtual Stations. Virtual Stations help define tool type, tool functionalities such as tightening strategies, and the kind of data that should be reported, all while also enabling control and connection of up to 15 different tool families. With different levels to choose from, Virtual Stations allow for flexible, program-specific setups, that match your application.
Explore our full range of Virtual Station offerings. Dive deeper into how to work with Virtual Stations here.
Smart Integrated Assembly: Our roadmap to a Smart Factory
Tightening strategies are just one piece of a much larger puzzle. As production lines grow more complex, manufacturers need systems that are flexible, connected, and future ready. That’s where Smart Integrated Assembly comes in.
Smart Integrated Assembly is our concept for building the smart factory, combining tools, software, and services into one powerful ecosystem. With Smart Integrated Assembly you gain the ability to adapt, optimize, and continuously improve every step of your production process.
Conclusion
Smart tools and their tightening strategies empower you to adapt with precision and confidence. These aren’t just technical enhancements, they’re strategic enablers that help you meet modern dynamic production demands, effortlessly. With our smart tools, get data over all your tightenings, giving you deeper insights and control. By combining smart tools, intelligent controllers, and flexible solutions, you move beyond simply tightening bolts.
Ready to take the next step? Make your line smarter with tightening strategies designed to handle whatever comes your way.
