Why Torque and Angle?

Torque is an affordable, relatively accurate means of measuring the work required to rotate a fastener. The challenge is turning the fastener and stretching the bolt to a tension suitable to withstand the forces that the bolted joint is subjected to in a controlled assembly environment. Materials change. The condition of the materials change. Different joints not only have different torque requirements they also different aspects of relative importance to safety.

Think about safety-critical joints. By using torque plus angle, we use torque as a way to measure the snug point of the fastener. Snug is the point where all additional rotation results in bolt stretch or tension. Now by switching to measuring the rotation, or angle, we can turn the fastener an appropriate number of degrees to achieve the desired bolt stretch. Despite uncontrollable, often erratic, influences on the torque measurement, torque and angle are significantly more accurate.

That increase in accuracy comes from knowing the fastener materials, thread pitch, and the nature of the fastener, (blind hole, through-hole, etc.) With thread pitch, you know how far the faster will travel based on the number of degrees it is rotated.

The trade-off for more precise measurement is sacrificing speed. An impact gun is quick to get the lug nuts tight so your wheels don't fall off. Given the speed of application and operator variance, people find that their rotors are warped. That didn't come from overheating the brakes. That came from an uneven torque application from the impact gun.

In walking customers through the operational features of our 1250 Series Exacta 2 digital torque and angle wrench, one of the first comments we hear is that the operators new to torque and angle will have to slow down a bit before they start to build new muscle memory. Everyone is fine with the pace change because safety is more important than speed.

In the industrial assembly world, trade-offs are a given. If greater accuracy is critical, then a different fastening strategy is required. Torque and angle are likely to be the basis of that strategy.

Within our torque and angle functionality, there are five ways to consider angle in the torque calculation.

Five Modes of Measurement

The 1250 Series Exacta 2 digital torque and angle wrench operates in a total of five (5) torque measurement modes. They are:

T2A: Torque to Angle - Measures torque first and then measures the number of rotational degrees for that fastener.
TAM: Torque with Angle Monitoring - Measures angle first, and then measures torque.
PTM: Prevailing Torque Mode - Factors out friction.
Residual Torque: Measures the torque value of previously tightened fasteners
Peak Mode: Measures torque with no angle measurement or calculation.

The torque and angle modes are provided to give you options for the best method of measuring bolt stretch. Let your local Sturtevant Richmont Wireless sales professional guide you through all the angles involved in snug torque and fastener rotation.