The client needed a system to safely and ergonomically tighten a vehicle ball joint assembly fastener. Additionally, tooltip position verification was a requirement to reduce the chances of the wrong fastener being torqued.
GCI designed a smart torque tube mounted to an overhead platform for maximum flexibility while satisfying all of the project requirements. Mounting the system on an overhead bridge crane allows for a large footprint to be covered with only one tool. Once the system is near the fastener, the 360-degree sleeve allows the tool to rotate and hit fasteners at different angles.
The “smart” feature aspect of this system helps guide the tightening process. Encoders on each torque tube joint and the overhead bridge crane allow tracking of the tooltip position. The GCI Adaptics® software uses the encoder data to guide the operator through each step and only allows the tool to be activated when in the correct locations.
Once the operator is in the correct position, the remote start button locks up the torque tube joints and activates the tool. This ensures the system is ready to absorb the reactive torque forces.
Project Details
Maximum Capacity:
300 FT-LBS
