Pneumatic Torque Wrench

Pneumatic torque wrenches are air-driven tools that are made specifically to put high torque onto a nut or bolt to break it free (unscrew it) or tighten it. Normally, the user has full control over the amount of torque a pneumatic torque wrench puts onto a bolt or nut, so they are similar to hand-driven torque tools in that sense.

How It Works

A pneumatic wrench is basically two components put together into one tool. It's a torque mutliplier or gearbox that takes a small amount of power and multiplies it into much more power. This is coupled to a pneumatic (air-powered) motor which supplies the power to be multiplied.

The multiplier of the torque can be from a few tens of times more than the power applied to several thousand. Ratios of up to 4,000:1 are possible in these gearboxes.

Unlike impact wrenches or pneumatic wrenches, pneumatic torque wrenches allow control over the amount of torque (usually via adjustments to incoming air psi) applied.

Other Features of Pneumatic Torque Wrenches

Another feature of the pneumatic wrench is its low vibration and "air release" ability, which is due to its continuous gearing. Normal impact wrenches use hammers rather than gears, which gives them a "pumping" or vibrating feel when being used.

Pneumatic torque wrenches are available with capabilities of 118Nm all the way up to 47,600Nm. These have a range of air input requirements from small psi options (50-200psi) to very large (20-25CFM).

Pneumatic torque wrenches are common in large auto shops, industrial applications, and in automotive manufacturing.

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