Every joint must meet a torque spec to hold parts in place. A hand tool can stress a wrist and stall a crew. A torque arm shifts that load to a bracket or floor stand. A screw feeder hands each fastener in one swift move. That duo can boost pace and cut error in a single stroke.
The challenge of torque and part flow
Tech teams face two core hurdles on a fastener line: force and part supply. Force at the tool tip fights back on an operator’s wrist. Part supply that drops or jams halts the entire run. Both issues erode quality and drive scrap.
Key issues on a manual line
- Wrist fatigue that leads to a slip or skip at a joint
- Torque variance when fatigue sets in
- Part hunt pauses that break the rhythm
- Jams that stall a cycle until staff clear a rail
A robust line meets each torque spec and feeds every screw without pause. No wrist stress. No downtime. No error.
Role of a torque arm
A torque arm holds a power tool in mid–air with one finger. It clamps to floor, rail or bench. Pivot joints let a crew move a tool to any axis without extra effort. The arm frame channels torque reaction into its mount so no force returns to staff.
Tool support and reaction control
A bracket at the arm tip locks to a quick‐change collar on a tool body. As the tool delivers torque the arm intercepts that reaction. Staff guide the tool over a joint with no kickback. A spring counterbalance keeps the tool weight at near zero.
- Quick‐lock collar for sub‐second tool swap
- Spring or gas strut balance across the tool mass
- Pivot joints set at 45° or 90° to suit a part height
- Mount options: floor plate, rail clamp, bench bracket
Mount options and reach envelope
A floor plate gives a 360° swing radius up to 2.5 m. A rail clamp can span a long line with one arm on each station. A bench bracket fits tight cells with limited space. Each model has a max reach and payload spec. Match that to your tool weight and joint pattern first.
Role of a screw feeder
A screw feeder stores and aligns fasteners for one‐hand pick. A bowl cracks a bulk load into a single track. A wheel handles mixed part runs with quick part swap. A linear tube acts as a seamless hand‐off chute for long lines.
Part buffer and delivery path
A feeder holds a buffer count that matches your cycle. If your line runs 25 joints per minute and buffer dips under ten parts drop a light at the station. Staff refill the hopper in seconds. A fail‐safe switch halts the power tool at the pick port if the track runs dry.
Key buffer options
- 500–1 000 parts in bowl feeder for high‐volume line
- 100–300 parts in wheel feeder for mixed runs
- 50–100 parts in linear hopper for compact bench
Feeder styles: bowl, wheel, linear
Bowl feeder
- Vibratory motion sorts parts on a spiral track
- High buffer for steady runs
- Bulk fill from top of bowl
Wheel feeder
- Rotating disk with part pockets
- Quick deck change for new part shape
- Low noise footprint
Linear feeder
- Gravity‐feed tube with air assist
- Minimal noise
- Tight fit in narrow cell
Benefits of torque arm and feeder combination
Coupling an arm with a feeder turns a two‐hand task into a one‐hand sequence. A crew fetches a screw at chest height with one hand. The other hand guides the tool to the joint. The arm holds all tool weight and reaction. The feeder aligns all parts in a fixed port. Staff never hunt a screw. They never lift a tool to shoulder height. They never feel a kickback.
Primary gains
- Zero force on wrist at tool tip
- One‐hand pick and set sequence
- Stable cycle time that meets program
- Full part trace and torque log if tied to a controller
A line that once ran at 20 joints per minute can vault to 30 joints per minute with no extra staff. That rise comes with scrap cut in half and rework off the board.
Key factors for solution selection
A one‐size‐fits‐all kit rarely fits floor reality. Match torque arm and feeder specs to your part mix, line speed and space layout first.
Torque arm checklist
- Torque range: 0–100 Nm, 50–200 Nm or higher
- Payload: tool weight plus socket assembly
- Reach: radius in mm and vertical span
- Mount type: floor, rail or bench
Feeder checklist
- Buffer size: parts per minute times cycle interval
- Track pitch: part length, head shape and material
- Swap time: hatch or deck change method
- Power need: air or electric actuator
Control panel link
- Real‐time pick count and torque data
- Light stack or HMI prompt for refill
- Halt signal on dry track
Tool service
- Calibration interval for tool accuracy
- Spare arm joints and spring kit
- Feeder rail spare segments for fast swap
Installation and maintenance plan
A robust install and service plan keeps both arm and feeder live at 99 percent uptime. A simple rail clamp allows tool swap in seconds. A feeder rail that lifts out in one motion clears track jam in under 30 seconds.
Layout and flow
First step: map air and power drops to each station. Mark each feed port at an ergonomic height. Stagger arm pivot points to avoid tool collisions. Use floor tape to outline staff zone and part refill zone.
Spare kit and tool service
Keep one spare quick‐lock collar per arm. Kit one rail segment per feeder. That allows a full station swap if a part jam or tool failure pops up. Plan a calibration rack at tool cribs for tool set check each week. Label each station with ID and tool profile.
Operational best practices
Staff training raises both pace and part match rate. A coach run at shift start can iron out any rail jam risk. A torque arm move drill cuts motion time to under one second per joint. A feeder refill trigger at 20 percent buffer keeps station live.
Staff drill list
- Dock tool collar to arm adapter in two moves
- Slide feed port to pick port with one finger
- Press tool trigger after part pick in one seamless move
- Watch light stack for refill alert at buffer low
A 15 minute station review at each break ensures no hardware shift. A tool swapped at station rack cuts pause to under 10 seconds.
Why Choose Flexible Assembly Systems?
Our kit pairs torque arm and screw feeder with a single control panel. You gain full part count and torque log to your factory system. You get one supplier for arm frame, feeder rail, tool collar and HMI link.
Flexible Assembly Systems offers
- Custom floor layout design service
- On‐site demo with your tools and parts
- Spare kit shelf with arm joints and rail segments
- Weekly calibrate and repair swap plan
- HMI link that feeds data to your MES or ERP
Each part sits in spec. Each joint logs to part ID. Each station runs at peak pace with no wrist load and no jam pause.
Next steps for your floor
Map your current torque load and part mix. Call our team for a no‐charge site review. Let us fit one pilot kit at a key station. Track your joint rate and error count for a week. See the gain in pace and quality. Then roll our kit across your line. No torque skip. No part hunt. No wrist ache.