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What is Cruise Missile Designer And Manufacturer

Torque Auditing Equipment Incorporated in Assembly Process Eliminates Source of Fuel Leaks  

A designer and manufacturer of cruise missiles needed to eliminate possible sources of fuel leaks, as well as maintain a record of proper assembly. Proper tightening of the multiple brass fuel line fittings became the focus of the quality improvement effort.

Problem

The manufacturer could not use traditional torque auditing methods on joints because it could result in over-tightening and degrading of the joints. Instead, assembly personnel monitored fitting tightness by recording fitting assembly torque values on a manual log and check sheet. This added a time-consuming and error-prone step to the assembly process.

Solution

A DataMyte 3053 collector with an electronic torque wrench was incorporated into the fuel line fitting assembly process. The collector was configured to use its “set” algorithm and to provide assembly personnel with two distinct tones as programmable torque thresholds were crossed.

The first threshold was set at 10% below the target value to serve as an alert when the nominal value was being approached. The second threshold signaled that the nominal applied torque had been achieved. When assembly personnel heard the second (nominal) alert, they released pressure on the wrench handle. The 3053 collector then stored the maximum applied torque value for that installation, then automatically advanced to the next fitting, prompting personnel on its value. This process was repeated until all fittings in the setup were tightened.

By incorporating the collector and electronic torque wrench into the assembly process, the manufacturer virtually was able to eliminate leak sources in fuel line fittings. As an added benefit, time and labor spent on manual logs was eliminated by the automated data collection system.

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