LOAD CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES
i-Bolt® Fastener Systems
i-Bolt® Technology provides precision bolt load measurement and control in production assembly, development testing, quality validation and maintenance inspection.
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CLOSING THE CONFIDENCE GAP
A low level of confidence exists in bolted joint operations for the automotive, aerospace, construction, rail, nuclear and petrochemical industries. Even though these are among the most common and most critical assembly procedures, they rely on indirect estimates of clamp load such as torque, torque-angle or yield. These methods produce fastener installed load variations from ±15% up to ±50% regularly, resulting in joint failure.
The Load Control Technologies i-Bolt® Fastener Systems platform has taken proven ultrasonics and made them reliable, user friendly, 100% repeatable and ready for tightening with any type of tool. Tools are now controlled by measuring clamp load directly in the fastener with typical tightening accuracy of ±3% (3σ) independent of the operator. i-Bolt® Fastener Systems also provide the capability to inspect load in the actual joint with zero disturbance and ±5% (3σ) accuracy through the life cycle of the bolt.
VERSATILE
Tighten to desired load with any type of tool and acheive ±3% (3σ) accuracy.
ACCURATE
Inspect load in the actual joint with zero disturbance and ±5% (3σ) accuracy through the life cycle of the bolt.
DATA DRIVEN
Track and produce a database of each fastener using its unique ID. Record automatically every tightening or inspection.
Transforming Your Fasteners
The i-Bolt® Technology takes the end users’ fasteners and applies a permanent 2-D transducer (only 50 microns thick) at the top or bottom of each bolt. The form, fit or function of the fastener is not affected or changed. Unlike conventional ultrasonic, the technology does not require parallel surfaces and is independent on common transducer attachment procedures. Each bolt type and joint is first ultrasonically qualified by Load Control Technologies.
The end user fills out an Application Information Form (AIF) for each joint/bolt type. LCT replicates the end user’s joint, generates the ultrasonic parameters and stores the ultrasonic signatures (including the zero load reading) of each individual bolt against their respective unique ID in the barcode embedded in the transducer.
The bolts go through a development qualification process which is a non-recurring engineering activity that includes the i-Bolt design and excitation optimization, calibration and testing throughout the measurement range in terms of joint length, bolt bending conditions and measurement temperature range.
The transducer applied is permanent and enables load inspections and tightening throughout the life of the joint at any time with near perfect repeatability.