TEST AND MEASUREMENT | TORQUE CALIBRATION
TALKING TORQUE The development of the world’s rst truly universal
Traditionally, torque wrench
calibration machines have
been intended for speci c
manufacturers’ products.
For laboratories and OEMs this can
be a real nuisance, requiring several
different machines to cover each
torque wrench manufacturer; which
can be expensive and takes up a lot of
bench space. For this reason, a truly
universal calibration machine is a
godsend.
Which is why Advanced Witness
Systems Ltd (AWS) sought to design
just such a machine. The design
project, which took only 18 months
to complete, enables AWS to offer
calibration accredited laboratories
and large OEMs the most advanced
and truly universal torque wrench
calibration machine in the world.
Based in Banbury, Oxfordshire,
AWS is a designer of torque
transducers, instrumentation control
systems, calibration apparatus and
certi cation software programs. Its
pedigree traces back more than
40 years to managing director Ron
Sangster who has been involved in
developing national and international
torque standards as well as national
standard calibration machines. While
torque wrench calibration machine has proved a
considerable success.
consulting for the National
Physical Laboratory he
designed the Master
2kNm Torque Calibration
Machine, which has
been proven to be one
of the most accurate
torque calibration
machines in the world.
Sangster’s aim
“We received a
high level of technical
support from igus, as
well as many samples
from the igus iglidur
bearing, drylin E linear
drives and e-chain ranges,
to realise the initial
design concept for
therefore was to develop
a truly universal machine,
able to meet the ISO6789:2017
manual torque tool standard,
that would be able to guarantee the
absolute and consistent accuracy
of any torque wrench, be it a tool
for use with bone screws used in
prosthetic surgery, a click torque
wrench for tightening a car’s wheel
nuts or a torque wrench used for
aviation, construction and heavy
machinery assembly. He also wanted
the machine to operate quietly and
require as little maintenance as
possible. “Technicians appreciate
using quiet equipment in their
labs, unwanted background
noise can be annoying,” he
explains. “They also do not
want to have to regularly
maintain their equipment –
long life and high reliability
are therefore other key
criteria.”
During this development
process, AWS turned to
igus for its low friction plain
bearing, drylin linear drives
and cable management systems.
On searching the market for low
maintenance and low friction
bushings and bearings, linear drive
systems and cable management
systems, designers at AWS contacted
igus. “We received a high level
of technical support from igus, as
well as many samples from the
igus iglidur bearing, drylin E linear
drives and e-chain ranges, to realise
the initial design concept for the
machine,” adds Sangster.
the machine”
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