- Important Factors in Choosing the Best Digital Torque Wrench
- Comparing Different Digital Torque Wrench Brands
- eTORK EC3250 1/2″ Drive Torque Wrench
- Powerbuilt ½” Digital Ratcheting Torque Wrench
- Gearwrench 1/2″ Flex Head Electronic Torque Wrench With Angle
- ACDelco ARM329-4i 1/2” Heavy Duty Interchangeable Digital Torque Wrench
- CDI Torque Computorq3
- Milwaukee Tool M12 Fuel 1/2″ Digital Torque Wrench
- ASG TW400 Digital Torque Wrench
- Norbar NorTronic 1/2″ Square Drive
- Atlas Copco STRwrench
- Desoutter Q-Shield 200-C
- Choosing the Right Brand for Your Needs
- Conclusion
Digital torque wrenches are a commonly found production tool across various industries. It offers torquing precision that no analog counterparts could match.
Due to their popularity, there are numerous digital torque wrench brands that you can choose from. Each offers a wide array of digital torque wrench products with varying sizes, torque ranges, accuracy levels, and prices.
For those who are new, the immense range of digital torque wrench choices in the market can be overwhelming. Fortunately, this article will walk you through the most reliable brands, compare the strengths and weaknesses of their products, and help you determine the one that suits your needs the best.
After all, you deserve the best digital torque wrench that you can get. Precision in torquing is crucial, it directly impacts the quality and safety of your products.
Important Factors in Choosing the Best Digital Torque Wrench
In a nutshell, there’s no such thing as a “perfect digital torque wrench” in the market. Each product comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Similarly, there’s no “best digital torque wrench brand”, as each brand typically aims for a certain segment of customers. Some brands can offer a more general assortment of digital torque wrenches, while others can be more oriented toward a certain niche.
Nonetheless, there are several key indicators that you should consider when buying a new digital torque wrench:
Size and Torque Range
Before buying a digital torque wrench, determining the correct wrench size and torque range is a must. Wrenches come in different sizes and torque ranges, as they are built for different purposes.
There’s a wide variety of wrench sizes, each corresponding to the nuts and bolt sizes that they can handle and their torque range. A torque range is the amount of torque (generally stated in Newton meters/Nm or foot-ponds/ft-lb) that a wrench can provide.
The most common digital torque wrench sizes are ¼, ⅜, ½, and ¾ inch wrenches. The smallest wrenches can be used to fix your gardening equipment, while the larger ones are used to fasten bolts in an airplane’s wings.
Hence, it’s important to know the type of work that your digital torque wrench will do before purchasing one.
Precision Rate
Another key indicator to look for is precision rate. A Digital torque wrench is indeed far more accurate than analog wrenches. However, they are still susceptible to imprecision.
A digital torque wrench’s precision rate is measured by its possible deviation, the difference between the torque stated on the wrench’s readings, and the actual amount of torque in the field. As a reference, the ISO 6789:2017 standards require a maximum deviation rate of ±4% or ±6% (depending on the wrench type).
Higher-end wrenches typically have a deviation rate of 2% or lower. The lower the possible deviation is, the better.
Moreover, always check if there’s a calibration certificate from the manufacturer included in the packaging. This certificate ensures that the said wrench has been proven to be accurate and ready for use. It’s also a plus point if it has passed relevant certifications, such as those from ISO or any relevant national certification body.
Wrench Material and Build Quality
While the first two factors were quantifiable, this factor is rather qualitative. Digital torque wrenches on the market are built from differing materials and varying build quality,which generally corresponds with their price.
Ideally, the wrench body should be made of a strong and corrosion-free material, such as stainless steel or chrome-plated. For the handle, choose the material that offers a firm grip and is comfortable for hand use. For this factor, it’s best to try your prospective wrenches directly and feel them for yourselves.
To add, always visually inspect the wrench for any possible defect. If any defect is spotted, immediately report it to the distributor/manufacturer. The earlier it’s detected – the better, as often your wrench has a limited guarantee period.
User-Friendliness
A decisive advantage of digital torque wrenches over their analog counterparts is the availability of a fully digital interface. Thus, it’s easier to input torque value, check the wrench’s torque readings, and integrate with quality control mechanisms.
Moreover, digital torque wrenches can also omit light (such as color-specific lamps) and/or sound (such as a beep) feedback signals to their user. These signals are useful to inform the user if the desired torque value has been reached in order to prevent overtorquing.
Furthermore, it can also notify the user if an incorrect torque value has been inputted – perfect for quality control.
Ideally, a good digital torque wrench offers both light and sound feedback signals, which allows full situational awareness to its user.
The Brand’s Existing Distribution Network
Just like any industrial machinery, a digital torque wrench can break down and require repairs from a qualified technician. Thus, the availability of spare parts and servicing agents spread in your region is a considerable factor.
The larger the brand of your digital torque wrench is, the easier it is to find spare parts and repair services. It’s in your best interest to keep downtime as minimal as possible.
Cost
Last but not least, a digital torque wrench’s cost cannot be overlooked. A digital torque wrench typically costs hundreds of Euros, with some costing beyond EUR 1,000.
Generally, its price tag corresponds as well with its features, torque range, and quality. It’s important to find a balance between the required functionality and your company’s budget.
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Comparing Different Digital Torque Wrench Brands
All in all, finding the best digital torque wrench is indeed challenging – as there are plenty of factors that need to be taken into account. In this article, we will objectively evaluate the key features of digital torque wrench products from some of the most renowned brands.
For an even comparison, we will evaluate wrenches with an ½ inch drive as a benchmark. Not only it’s one of the most common drive sizes, but it’s medium size that is neither not too big nor too small allowing it to be used in a wide variety of industrial applications.
Furthermore, many brands produce multiple variants of digital torque wrench, even within the same drive size. In this comparison, we will select only the most powerful wrench (in terms of torque range) from each brand’s ½ inch drive category.
eTORK EC3250 1/2″ Drive Torque Wrench
Of all of the listed digital torque wrenches, eTORK’s EC3250 1/2″ Drive Torque Wrench is by far the cheapest option. With its price tag, comes an accuracy that’s subpar compared to most other digital torque wrenches. It also doesn’t offer any audio or visual feedback signal to its user, further making high-precision tasks challenging.
However, as a lower-end wrench, it does offer a surprisingly wide torque range: 25-250 ft-lb. To boot, it offers a generous lifetime warranty for non-commercial uses – something that is rare among its competitors.
eTORK itself is famous for its low-cost analog torque wrenches. However, at the time of writing, it only offers 3 digital torque wrench variants: all are within the ⅜” and ½” drive size.
Torque range: 25-250 ft-lb
Maximum measurement deviation: ± 3% (clockwise), ± 6% (counter-clockwise)
Audio and visual feedback notifications: None
Price: USD 114
Link to the product page: https://etork.com/product/1-2-drive-torque-wrench-ec3250/
Notable feature: Lifetime warranty for non-commercial/personal use (1 year for commercial use).
Powerbuilt ½” Digital Ratcheting Torque Wrench
Still in the low-end digital torque wrench segment, Powerbuilt’s ½” Digital Ratcheting Torque Wrench offers precision that is comparable to middle-range wrenches. At a ±2% maximum deviation rate, it’s indeed punching above its price range in terms of accuracy.
However, its torque range is fairly limited at 30-150 ft-lb. It also doesn’t offer any audio or visual feedback notifications. Interestingly, this is the only digital torque wrench available in Powerbuilt’s catalog.
Torque range: 30-150 ft-lb
Maximum measurement deviation: ± 2% (clockwise and counterclockwise)
Audio and visual feedback notifications: None
Price: USD 130.99
Link to the product page: https://www.powerbuilt.com/products/1-2-dr-digital-ratcheting-torque-wrench-1
Gearwrench 1/2″ Flex Head Electronic Torque Wrench With Angle
As stated in its name, Gearwrench brings a wide selection of wrench and torquing-related products to the market. For digital torque wrenches, their collection includes all of the most common drive sizes (¼”, ⅜”, ½”, and ¾”), plus the larger 1” wrenches.
Judging from the price and specifications, we are transitioning from lower-end wrenches to middle-level ones. Its torque range and measurement accuracy are good for mid-tier wrenches. It also offers a twistable wrench head up to 5°, allowing users to reach nuts and bolts in tight spaces.
It also comes with ample audio & visual notifications – a must-have feature for mid-tier digital torque wrenches. Considering its rich features, its price is a good deal among mid-tier wrenches.
Torque range: 25-250 ft-lb
Maximum measurement deviation: ± 2% (clockwise), ± 3% (counterclockwise)
Audio and visual feedback notifications: Both available
Price: USD 266.46
Link to the product page: https://www.gearwrench.com/products/torque-products/electronic/85079-12-flex-head-electronic-torque-wrench-angle-25-250-ftlbs
Notable feature: Thanks to its flex head feature, you can slightly twist the wrench head by 5°, allowing you to access nuts and bolts in tight spaces. Gearwrench also offers non-flex head wrenches at a lower cost.
ACDelco ARM329-4i 1/2” Heavy Duty Interchangeable Digital Torque Wrench
This AC Delco digital torque wrench offers a similar amount of precision to its Gearwrench counterpart. It’s also equipped with audio and visual feedback notifiers. Yet, its torque range is far less than its Gearwrench competitor.
It also cost almost 30 Dollars more. However, it comes with a useful feature: an interchangeable wrench head. This means that you can adjust the head type according to the job requirements – instead of buying two separate wrenches.
ACDelco itself is a part of General Motors – one of the world’s largest automotive companies. Hence, their products are heavily automotive-oriented. Their portfolio also includes many other digital torque shapes of varying sizes and functionalities.
Torque range: 14.8-147.5 ft-lb
Maximum measurement deviation: ± 2% (clockwise), ± 3% (counterclockwise)
Audio and visual feedback notifications: Both available
Price: USD 299.99
Link to the product page: https://www.acdelco-tools.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=61_87&product_id=180
Notable feature: It has an interchangeable wrench head feature, which allows you to use it for various purposes. ACDelco also offers non-interchangeable wrenches at a lower cost.
CDI Torque Computorq3
CDI Torque’s Computorq3 offers similar features compared to other mid-tier digital torque wrenches. This is reflected in its precision rate, torque range, and the availability of audio and visual cues.
However, it does cost significantly more than the two aforementioned mid-tier wrenches.
As the name suggests, CDI Torque specializes in manufacturing all sorts of torque tools. Besides digital torque wrenches, they also manufacture torque calibrators, torque screwdrivers, and other torque appliances.
Torque range: 25-250 ft-lb
Maximum measurement deviation: ± 2% (clockwise), ± 3% (counterclockwise)
Audio and visual feedback notifications: Both available
Price: Varies according to the distributor and marketplace, typically around USD 600-700
Link to the product page: https://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?m=53784&i=470827&p=14&ver=html5
Milwaukee Tool M12 Fuel 1/2″ Digital Torque Wrench
The M12 Fuel series from Milwaukee Tool brings something new to the table: electronic motors. Compared to muscle-powered wrenches, electronic motors can do torquing work at a much faster rate.
Its precision rate is on par with other mid-tier wrenches. Interestingly, it can be connected with Milwaukee Tool’s One-Key app, allowing cross-platform integration. This advantage is beneficial for any modern-day production facility and is typically present only on higher-end wrenches.
Of course, these extra features correspond well with its price tag. At USD 699/wrench in most major stores, it costs more than twice the previously cited Gearwrench and ACDelco mid-tier wrenches. Its torque range is also below its 2 competitors.
Milwaukee Tool is a part of Techtonics Industries – one of the world’s largest power tools manufacturers.
Torque range: 12.5-150 ft-lb
Maximum measurement deviation: ± 2% (clockwise), ± 3% (counterclockwise)
Audio and visual feedback notifications: Both available
Price: USD 699
Link to the product page: https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Fastening/Impact-Wrenches/2466-20
Notable feature: It’s one of the few digital torque wrenches that is equipped with electric motors. Thus, it no longer relies on the physical strength of its user and can do torquing works faster than human-powered wrenches. Moreover, it’s compatible with Milwaukee Tool’s One-Key app, allowing it to connect with your PC, tablet, and smartphone.
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ASG TW400 Digital Torque Wrench
From its features and cost, ASG’s TW400 can be considered a part of the high-end digital torque wrench category. It has an immense torque range, a high precision rate (max deviation of ±1%), and is equipped with audio and visual feedback cues.
Moreover, it can be linked to your PC through ASG’s very own software. This datalink capability is useful for traceability purposes. ASG itself has a wide choice of digital torque wrenches, where most fall within the higher-tier wrench spectrum.
Torque range: 29.5-295 ft-lb
Maximum measurement deviation: ±1% (clockwise and counterclockwise)
Audio and visual feedback notifications: Both available
Price: USD 932.11
Link to the product page: https://asg-express.com/tw400-digital-torque-wrench/
Notable feature: Similar to other high-end digital torque wrenches, it can be connected to a PC through ASG’s PC Front-End Software (PCFE).
Norbar NorTronic 1/2″ Square Drive
The NorTronic 1/2″ Square Drive from Norbar offers similar features with other high-end digital torque wrenches, such as ± 1% deviation rate, audio and visual alarms, and datalink capabilities with other devices. Unfortunately, its torque range is slightly under the previously mentioned wrench from ASG.
Besides this, Norbar also sells a wide array of digital torque wrenches that you can choose from. Norbar itself is part of the Snap-On Group, one of the world’s largest power tool producers.
Torque range: 24.33-243.3 ft-lb
Maximum measurement deviation: ± 1% (clockwise and counterclockwise)
Audio and visual feedback notifications: Both available
Price: Varies according to the distributor and marketplace, typically around USD 1,700-1,800
Link to the product page: https://www.norbar.com/products/view/product/categoryname/electronic-torque-wrenches/rangename/nortronic/pname/nortronic-1-2-square-drive-330-n-m-915mhz/category_multid/48/range_multid/369/id/11441
Notable feature: This digital torque wrench can feed information to Norbar’s PC-based The Torque Data System (TDS). This feature is useful to archive your past torque measurement data.
Atlas Copco STRwrench
The innovative STRwrench from Atlas Copco possesses an abundance of features. Its accuracy is the highest among all wrenches in this article; at max ± 0,5% deviation. Its torque range is also the most broad, thanks to its exchangeable wrench head feature. Hence, it’s capable of many torquing jobs – without needing to buy another wrench.
It’s connectible with your other devices through Atlas Copco’s multiple torque software, and other production-enhancing digital tools. Last but not least, it’s equipped with audio and visual feedback alert features.
Atlas Copco itself is a multinational giant in producing industrial tools, and is known for its internet-of-things compatible industrial hardware.
Torque range: 5.9-296 ft-lb (depending on the attached STRwrench smartHEAD)
Maximum measurement deviation: ± 0,5% (clockwise and counterclockwise)
Audio and visual feedback notifications: Both available
Price: N/A, contact Atlas Copco directly for the exact quotation. Wrench heads for different sizes are sold separately.
Link to the product page: https://www.atlascopco.com/en-us/itba/products/assembly-solutions/quality-assurance-in-tightening-and-fastening/wrenches/strwrench
Notable feature: STRwrench’s exchangeable head feature means that it can handle nuts and bolts of various sizes, and greatly expanding its torque range as well. In addition, it can be integrated with Atlas Copco’s wide selection of torquing software that serves various purposes, ranging from quality control to monitoring the wrench’s performance.
Desoutter Q-Shield 200-C
Desoutter’s Q-Shield 200-C shares typical features with most other high-tier digital torque wrenches: very high precision, audio and visual notifications for situational awareness, and integration capability with other devices thanks to Desoutter’s software.
However, its torque range is very limited compared to other high-end wrenches in this article.
Torque range: 14.8-148 ft-lb
Maximum measurement deviation: ± 1% (clockwise and counterclockwise)
Audio and visual feedback notifications: Both available
Price: N/A, contact Desoutter directly for the exact quotation.
Link to the product page: https://www.desouttertools.com/tools/5/torque-measurement-systems/53/torque-wrenches/532/qshield-wrenches/5325/qshield-c-digital-smart-wrench/p/6159352020/q-shield-200-c
Notable feature: Just like other smart wrenches, Q-Shield 200-C can be connected to your PC using Desoutter’s dedicated software.
Summarizing the Comparison
To simplify our findings, we have compiled the key specifications of the featured digital torque wrenches below:
Choosing the Right Brand for Your Needs
Choosing the most reliable digital torque wrench is indeed challenging. From the comparison above, one can generalize the types of digital torque wrenches into three 3 categories; lower-, mid-, and higher-end tiers. Each has its capabilities, features, and costs. Some wrenches can transcend this grouping and are difficult to classify due to their extraordinary features, such as Milwaukee Tool’s M12 Fuel.
In general, lower-tier wrenches are suitable for personal uses, such as building living room furniture or fixing your bicycle. They’re cheap, but not all can pass the stringent industrial requirements for precision, such as the ones set in ISO 6789:2017.
Meanwhile, mid-tier wrenches easily cost more than twice their lower-end counterparts. However, they do offer accuracy rates that are ISO 6789:2017 compliant – making them sufficient for industrial uses. They also come with color-coded lights and vibration signals, making it easier to know if the correct torque value has been applied.
Higher-end wrenches take it a step further – with an even higher precision rate and datalink capabilities than your other devices. This allows your digital torque wrench to go beyond merely tightening nuts and bolts.
It can serve purposes such as feeding real-time information for quality control purposes or a digital recorder that will be used in your future audits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s best to fully understand your company’s needs before buying a digital torque wrench. These wrenches come with various features and price tags. For maximum production efficiency, it is always recommended to stick with higher-tier wrenches.
Not only do they have the best precision, but they also have one key advantage that others don’t: datalink capability. When your digital torque wrench can automatically obtain and send information with your other devices, it will save your company a good deal of cost & time.
Gone are the days when your quality control officers must go back and forth between the assembly line and the office to collect information and input them in a spreadsheet on a PC. Or the time when your company has to print hundreds of pages of instruction manuals for your workers for each industrial machinery.
Explore Azumuta’s Quality Management and Digital Work Instructions modules to learn more. Thanks to technology, your digital torque wrench can do so much more than fastening nuts and bolts.
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