SmartBolts Direct Tension Indicating Fasteners
Rhino Assembly Corporation and SmartBolts® have formed a partnership to offer direct tension indicating fastener systems technology to manufacturing facilities in North America.
Why use a direct tension indicator? Torque-wrenches do not measure bolt tension accurately. Precision is usually only about +/- 30%, because friction is not taken into account. The friction factor depends on the material of the bolt, nut and washer, type of plating, surface smoothness, machining accuracy, degree of lubrication and the number of times a bolt has been previously tightened. Fastener manufacturers often provide information for determining torque requirements for tightening various bolts, accounting for friction and other effects. However, in field applications, this information is often not available, practical or administered poorly.
Direct tension indicators on the other hand respond to fastener tension ONLY, ignoring torque inputs, providing a true measure of joint tightness. Tension is the critical factor in ensuring joint tightness. The best direct tension-indicating methods are based on measuring strain in the fastener shank using the elongation when tensioned.
Get Tension. Get the SmartBolts Advantage.
Benefits
- Safe: SmartBolts® take the guesswork out of safety, giving you peace of mind because you know your bolts are doing their job. Using SmartBolts results in less fatigue for installers – no repeated torque wrench calibration, no sample re-tightening, no turn-of-nut confirmation required – installers can easily identify and focus on loose bolts to re-tighten. The ability to visually inspect fasteners also creates safer working conditions – particularly in elevated structures and areas exposed to hazardous materials.
- Accurate: Immediate and accurate verification of tension through SmartBolts® technology is based on the most accurate principle used to measure fastener tension – actual fastener elongation under load. DTI SmartBolts® are accurate to within 10% of design tension, HR SmartBolts® to within 5%.
- Reliable: Bolts fitted with our indicators can be used and re-used time and again for a reliable reading of joint clamping force. When used according to specifications, SmartBolts® can have a useful life of 20+ years.
- Savings at every stage of your business
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SmartBolts®
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Direct Tension Indicating Fasteners
Standard grade DTI SmartBolts indicate whether a joint is loose or tight with a clearly visible indicator that gradually darkens from bright red when loose to near black as the fastener is tightened. Accurate to within 10% of design tension.
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High Resolution SmartBolts®
HR SmartBolts indicate whether a joint is loose or tight with a visible color change from yellow when loose to green as the fastener is tightened to design tension, and to green-black when tightened beyond design tension. HR SmartBolts are highly accurate – specified at 5%, but often as precise as 2% of fastener minimum tensile strength.
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