Overview of Available Step Restrictions

To make sure the tightening stops if something unexpected happens, it is possible to add restrictions to the multistep tightening program. These restrictions could, for example, test that a maximum torque is not reached or that a part of the multistep tightening does not take too long to run. Each step has its own set of mandatory step restrictions and optional step restrictions. The mandatory restrictions are included when dragging a new step to the multistep program. All steps can have up to four restrictions each.

The following restrictions are automatically added to every step that is added to the multistep tightening program:

Default step restrictions

Step Restriction

Applicable Steps

Maximum Time

All

Maximum Torque

  • Tighten to Angle

  • Tighten to Torque+Angle

  • Wait

  • Socket release

Maximum Angle

  • Tighten to Torque

  • Wait

  • Run until Digital Input

  • Loosen to Torque

  • Thread Cutting to Torque

  • Rundown

  • Tighten to Yield

  • Torque Calibration

CTh – Cross Thread

This restriction checks the angle from the point where torque passes Start torque (T1) to the point where the torque passes End torque (T2). If the angle measured from Start torque (T1) is higher than Maximum limit (Amax), the tool is stopped immediately.

When the torque passes End torque (T2), the measured angle is checked against the limit Minimum limit (Amin). If the angle is lower than this limit, the tool is stopped immediately.

Parameter

Description

In illustration

Start Torque

Must be <=0.

T1

End Torque

Must be <=0.

T2

Minimum Limit

The low angle limit.

Amin

Maximum Limit

The high angle limit.

Amax

A – Maximum Angle

This restriction measures the angle. If the measured angle reaches the Maximum Limit, the tool is stopped immediately. The angle is measured from the start of the restriction or, if specified, from the point where the torque passes Trigger Torque for the first time during the restriction.

Parameter

Description

Trigger Torque

If specified, this is the torque from where the angle is measured.

Maximum Limit

If this limit is reached the tool is stopped immediately.

T – Maximum Torque

This restriction checks the torque. If the measured torque exceeds the Maximum limit, the tool is stopped immediately.

Parameter

Description

Maximum Limit

If the torque reaches this specified limit the tool is stopped immediately.

Ti – Maximum Time

This restriction checks the time. If Maximum Limit is reached, the tool is stopped immediately.

Parameter

Description

Maximum Limit

If this time is elapsed, the tool is stopped immediately.

Rh – Rehit

This restriction checks the torque. If the measured torque exceeds the Detection Torque, the tool is stopped immediately and the program jumps to the end of the program. It is only possible to add step Rehit restriction to the first step of the multistep tightening program. Once the Rehit restriction has been added to the first step it shall not be possible to move the step to any other position within the tightening program. The Rehit restriction has to be deleted from the first step in order to move it to other position in the tightening program.

Parameter

Description

Detection Torque

If the measured torque exceeds the Detection Torque, the tool is stopped immediately and the program jumps to the end of the program. Must be greater than zero.

RT – Rescinding Torque

This restriction checks the torque and if the measured torque drops below the condition of the restriction the tool is stopped immediately and the program jumps to end of the program. There are two methods of Rescinding Torque Restrictions for Torque and Angle control processes

Parameter

Description

Type

Torque control processes or Angle control processes.

Torque control processes: Torque control processes checks the torque. If the measured torque drops below the Rescinding Torque Limit the tool is stopped immediately and the program jumps to the end of the program. For the restriction to be active the torque must first exceed 110 % of the Rescinding Torque Limit

Angle control processes: This restriction checks the maximum torque reached during the restriction. For the restriction to be active the torque must first exceed the Trigger Torque. If the measured torque drops below the maximum torque for longer time than Rescinding Torque Time the tool is stopped immediately and the program jumps to the end of the program.

Rescinding Torque Limit

Default: 10 Nm. Must be > 0.

TG – Torque Gradient

This restriction checks the gradient and if it is outside the limits the tool is stopped immediately and the program jumps to the end of the program.

Parameter

Description

Gradient Angle Window

Specifies Angle Window:

  • For Hard Joint: Angle Window = 1.

  • For Soft Joint: Angle Window = 20.

  • Manual: Manually set Angle Window.

Angle Window

Available when Gradient Angle Window is set to Manual. Must be > 0 and <= 100.

Trigger Torque

Must be > 0 and < Tool MaxTorque.

Damping

Frequency in which the gradient is being calculated. Must be > 0 and < 100 and < Angle window.

Minimum Limit

Must be >= -100.

Maximum Limit

Must be > -100 and > Low limit.

Torque Filter Type

The type of the filter:

  • None: No filtering of the torque is used. The raw values are used as-is in the gradient calculation.

  • Five-point: The torque value used in the calculation are filtered using a sliding average filter over 5 torque samples.

  • Low pass: The torque values is filtered with a simple discrete Infinite Impulse Response filter.

  • Sliding Average: The torque values used in the calculation are filtered using a sliding average filter over a Number of Samples specified by the use.

Cut-off Frequency

Needs to be specified when Torque Filter Type is set to Low pass:

  • 20 Hz

  • 40 Hz

  • 90 Hz

  • 200 Hz

  • 600 Hz

Number of Samples

Needs to be specified when Torque Filter Type is set to Sliding Average:

  • 2

  • 4

  • 6

  • 8

  • 16

  • 32

TAW – Torque in Angle Window

This restriction checks that the measured torque in the Angle Window Length is between the Torque limits. If the measured torque is outside the limits the tool is stopped immediately and the program jumps to the end. The Angle Window Length starts at the Start Angle from the point that the torque first passed the Trigger Torque. If Trigger Torque is not set, then the Start Angle begins at the start of the restriction.

If the end of the Angle Window Length is not reached, the status of the restriction is NOK.

Parameter

Description

Trigger Torque

Must be >= 0

Start Angle

Must be >= 0

Window Length

Must be >0

Minimum Limit

Must be >= 0

Maximum Limit

Must be <= Minimum limit

TCD - Torque vs Current Deviation

This restriction verifies that all current measurements converted to the corresponding torque are, at most, the Maximum deviation away from the actual torque measured with the torque transducer. The restriction starts when the torque reaches Trigger Torque for the first time during the step and is active until the step reaches its target.

If Trigger Torque is never reached, the monitor will report OK.

Parameter

Description

Trigger Torque

Must be >= 0

Maximum Deviation

Default: 1, Must be > 0