Tightening Steps

Name

Name of the step.

Rotational direction

Each of the tightening steps can run either forward, that is to make a tightening, or reverse, to loosen the screw slightly. The arrows indicate this direction. Many of the tightening steps have a direction hard-coded to forward, for example Tighten to Angle, or Tighten to Torque. Steps such as Loosen to Angle or Loosen to Torque have their direction automatically set to reverse.

The reverse setting is not allowed for tools configured with Gear Front Attachment (GFA) of type open end. The tightening direction of the tightening program must be the same as the tightening direction of the open end tool for a tightening to be allowed to be run. It is possible to assign a loosening program to a tightening program for an open end tool, but if the direction switch is set to run the loosening program, the tool will be locked.

Step category

For each step, there is an option to choose a step category. By selecting step category, the NOK tightenings will be listed in the event result view with related detailed status together with the corresponding multistep error information. If no selection is made, the detailed status will be set to "uncategorized multistep error". The related detailed status can be customized.

Angle window

A joint is considered Hard if the screw is tightened to its full torque and it rotates 30 degrees (or less) after it has been tightened to its snug point. A Soft joint rotates 720 degrees or more after it has been tightened to its snug point. The hardness parameter defines the Angle Window for the gradient calculation. The harder the joint - the smaller the angle window.

Speed Ramp / Acceleration (only available in ToolsTalk 2)

For most of the steps it is possible to specify how the acceleration to the target speed should be achieved. Three different settings are possible; Hard, Soft and Manual. The acceleration defined will be used whenever a step is started. Regardless whether the tool is already running with speed at the beginning of the step, the ramp will be used to accelerate to the target speed of the step. This will be the case even if the speed at the start of the step is higher, or lower than the target speed.

Speed ramp - Hard and Soft mode

• Hard: 2000 rpm/s (Speed Ramp between 1000 and 10000 rpm/s is a Hard acceleration.)

• Soft: 500 rpm/s (Speed Ramp between 200 and 1000 rpm/s is a Soft acceleration.)

Speed ramp - Manual mode

• Speed:

  • Default value: 60 rpm

  • Minimum limit: > 0

  • Maximum limit: ≤ Tool Max Speed

• Acceleration:

  • Default value: 500 rpm/s

  • Minimum limit: > 0

  • Maximum limit: ≤ Tool Max Acceleration

Using speed shifts

1−5 angle triggers or torque triggers can be defined during a step, where the speed will shift.

Within one step, all the speed shift triggers are based on the same property, that is either torque or angle. They cannot be mixed within one step.

The Torque triggers and Angle triggers must be less than the step target, depending on the type of the step and the trigger type.

The Torque trigger and Torque speed also validate against the Max torque and Max speed of the tool. A warning or error indicator occurs whenever the Speed Shift settings exceed either the tool max values, or step max values.

The Torque triggers and Angle triggers must be less than the step target, depending on the type of the step and the trigger type.

The Torque trigger and Torque speed also validate against the Max torque and Max speed of the tool. A warning or error indicator occurs whenever the Speed Shift settings exceed either the tool max values, or step max values.

It is possible to push the settings to the tool when a tightening program has a warning, but not when a tightening program has an error (fault) indicator.

The speed shifts can be added in the Configuration field. To add a speed shift:

In the dialog box of a step that can have speed shifts, select Add speed shift. Then, select an angle range or a torque range.
The Speed Shift Angle/Torque fields open. Add values according to the table below:

• Angle/Torque trigger: Must be > 0

• Speed: Must be > 0

• Speed ramp type: Hard or soft

Brake type

The braking behavior of a multistep tightening program can be controlled at two possible locations in the program: in a step preceding a reversal of direction of the tightening, and/or at the final step of the tightening program. At other locations in the tightening program, the braking parameters will not be available in the step's general settings. Braking can be set to either Ergo stop or Inertia. Inertia will brake the tool completely, while Ergo stop will allow for a more ergonomic slowing down of the tightening.

Inertia has no additional parameters.

Ergo stop parameters:

• Adaptive brake: Set the Adaptive Brake to On or Off

• Ramp time: Only available when Adaptive Brake is set to Off. Insert time in ms.

Trace Setting

• Program: Use the settings as defined on program level.

• Manual: The trace sample type from the program level will be used, that is, Time or Angle. Using a different sample rate will override the setting on the program level.

Sample Time

Choose the sample time from the drop-down list (0.25 - 1000 ms)

Sample Angle

Choose the sample angle from the drop-down list (0.25 - 20 degree)

Torque

Available for all tools equipped with a torque transducer

Angle

Available for all tools

Torque Second

Only available for tools with two torque transducers

Angle Second

Only available for tools with two angle transducers

Current

Available for all tools

Gradient

Available if some step/restriction/monitor produces the gradient values