How does torque control work?
What is torque control? |
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All cordless screwdrivers deliver torque, but only some have a feature called torque control.
Torque control is also known as an adjustable clutch. |
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Torque control is used when inserting screws and allows you to select the level of torque you need for the task at hand.
When that level is reached, the chuck and screwdriver bit stop turning, preventing too much torque being delivered at one time. |
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How does torque control work? |
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When driving in screws, the cordless screwdriver will encounter resistance, making it harder to drive the screw in. | |||
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Enough torque must be delivered to overcome this resistance and drive the screw to the correct depth. | |||
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If too much torque is delivered, the screw can be driven in too deep or you can lose control of the screwdriver and damage the work surface or head of the screw. | |||
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Torque control allows you to pre-set a maximum level of torque for your task, using the torque control ring. Once that level is reached, the clutch will disengages the tool’s drive shaft, and stop the screwdriver bit from turning. | |||
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When this happens, the motor inside is still turning, but the chuck and screwdriver bit have been stopped, so the screw cannot be driven any further in.
If the screw has not been fully driven in when the screwdriver stops, then you know that a higher level of torque is needed. |
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You can then release the speed control trigger, lift the screwdriver from the screw, and adjust the torque level accordingly. This is done using the torque control ring.
Can you feel torque control kick in?Usually, yes. When the optimum torque is met, the drive shaft will ‘click’. You will often be able to hear this and then feel the tool ‘shuddering’. This is the motor turning, but the chuck and bit remaining stationary. |
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Without torque control, it is easy to drive the screw too far into the material or lose control of the screwdriver. | |||
What about models without torque control? |
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Cordless screwdrivers without torque control still deliver torque, but they don’t have an adjustable torque ring. Instead, the torque level is increased and decreased using the speed control trigger only. | |||
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The further you squeeze the trigger in, the faster the screwdriver will go, but the less torque it will deliver. | |||
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The more you release the trigger, the slower the screwdriver will go, but the more torque it will deliver. | |||
