Jason, our Cannondale rep., told me about a torque quality control system they use for assembly of Cannondale’s. He referred to it as a “smart wrench”.
Basically, there is some data recording/storage device in the wrench. You set the appropriate torque setting on the wrench and then key in the bike’s serial number on a digit keypad in the wrench handle.
You apply the torque and the wrnech sounds a tone when it reaches the specified torque, lke the wrenches we are using now. But this wrench stores the data referenced by the serial number. At the end of the day you download the wrench to a hard drive which stores all the torque spec data for given bikes.
This would be a back up to the current checklist/quality control system we give customers now.
Jason suggested the system was expensive. If a similar system cold be had for less than $1K I may be on board. Right now we use the big, “settable” Craftsman torque wrenches that click when you reach torque spec. Some stored documentation of the torque readings would be good to have.
Any ideas on whether or not a product like this is avialable? We asked at Production Tool and had limited results.
http://www.mcmaster.com/
goto page 2634 in the electronic catalog.
looks like 750 for the wrench and more for a cable. Then you would have to have some software to read it and store it
This reply is more about torque wrenches in general. The most accurate ones would be like a Snap-on “Torqometer”, a dial torque wrench, typically with +/-1% accuracy across its range. Clicker torque wrenches are usually only accurate in the top 50% of their range, and their accuracy is closer to +/- 5%. For dealing with low-torque-spec fasteners, a Torqometer is the way to go.
I agree that it would be cool to record all the torques used in the assembly of a specific bike, but another issue in that recording is that you would have to tighten everything in the same order for it to be useful, or you’d have to make an entry specifying the item being tightened for every item.
All torque wrenches should be calibrated periodically.
Prices vary. I think the one you’d want is around $280. Snap-on also has some electronic torque wrenches that have downloadable data as well. Very similar to what you posted.
I can’t find my price guide, but the rep I have bought tools from is Steve Christophersen. The number I have for him is 1-800-759-8877, ext 9975. I haven’t bought anything in a couple of years, so I can’t vouch for the number. However, Steve is great to deal with. He has the account at the General Motors Engineering Building.
We’ll check this out. It is also worth mentioning that the current trend to put torque specs on components is a good one.
It puts the information at your finger tips and has made people who were oblivious to torque standards start asking questions about it.
That is key. At the very least, weight bearing components such as stems, handlebars, seatpost binder bolts and saddle clamp bolts should be set with a torque wrench.
Oh, they dont like you marketing bike parts here so you are selling wrenches…Jeesh…
(I for one like you posting about new stuff in the forum…I hate to think I need to look to another thread to see cool new things). cant recall you EVER implying “Buy Now” but I do recall you sending people to other shops like one in Ireland I got my new Time pedals from…thanks Tom.
