The invention of tools has allowed us to advance to the top of the food chain by allowing us to do things without being limited by the human body.
Today, we can manufacture the components that make up a supercomputer in the blink of an eye. Every year that passes by brings with it new inventions, innovations and advances in technology. With more complex electronics comes more intricate ways of manufacturing. The tools we use to produce, repair and troubleshoot them have also needed to incorporate newer technologies.
Hand tools for use on electronics manufacturing production lines have become smarter. When you can identify what tool you need for a specific task, you can get the job done much faster and more efficiently. The right choice of tool often results in a finished product that has a higher build quality.
The ability to carry out electronics manufacturing is one such example of humanity’s most remarkable feats. Electronics manufacturing requires precision on a miniature scale, which poses many unique challenges. The materials used in electronics manufacturing are often delicate to touch and sensitive to electrical currents, rendering them useless. Not to mention the fact that assembly usually requires tiny screws and other small components.
Given the fact that there are hundreds of different tools that do almost the same thing, how do you know which ones are the best for your application?
Which assembly tools are right for my production application?
The first step is to identify what you need by defining what products you will be building. Then, determine what types of fasteners they need and whether or not what you are producing will be simple and fast or slow and complex.
Knowing your fastener type and production speed will go a long way in determining what tools are right for you. Once the fastener type is known, you can then figure out how much torque will need to be applied to ensure you are not damaging your products during assembly.
Next, the speed at which you need to produce your products also matters when deciding on tools. If you need to make thousands of products that require large quantities of fasteners or more a day, you’ll probably need to go with power tools.
On the other hand, if you will produce fewer products that are more specialized and only require a few dozen or hundreds of fasteners, you might be better off using hand tools.
When looking for where to purchase your tools, compare the pricing and your budget. But keep in mind that you get what you pay for, and cheaper tools often break down sooner and require more frequent servicing. This could lead you to spend even more than you were planning for because you need to replace tools that break.
To review the steps:
- First, identify your needs and use this information to figure out what tool you will need.
- Once you know what tools you require, start looking at different manufacturers who make them.
- Compare the options, thinking about short-term and long-term issues that may arise.
Now, let’s discuss some of the essential tools for your electronics manufacturing production line:
Manual Torque Screwdrivers
When it comes to electronics manufacturing, a little torque doesn’t hurt. It seems like every year, technology and electronics find a way to become even more compact and convenient to carry around. Because of this, you are working with smaller and smaller screws and components.
Even though these screws are small, it doesn’t change the fact that they must be tightened to specification. And over-tightening them will most likely cause them to become damaged. So what’s the solution? Manual torque screwdrivers are easy to adjust for any assembly operations and ensure operators do not apply too much torque.
Manual torque screwdrivers come in many shapes and sizes to best suit your needs, such as inline, inline micro, or pistol grip style. Each of these has its use in particular applications.
Electric Screwdrivers
Electric screwdrivers can significantly increase speed and efficiency of assembly and can be precisely shut off once they reach their pre-set torque. Electric screwdrivers are also offered in multiple grip styles bringing the added benefits of ergonomics and reducing strain on the operator.
Torque Testing Equipment
Besides ensuring your products are the highest quality they can be, your tools also need to be maintained and calibrated regularly. Torque testing equipment allows you to check the output performance of your torque tools. Even the best of tools fall out of calibration at some point as a part of regular use and wear and tear.
Soldering Iron
A 20-watt or 30-watt soldering iron can be used for through-hole components. The tip size will depend on what it is being used for, but typically you will need smaller if you are using it for soldering surface mount components. A soldering iron should last you a very long time if taken care of properly.
Tweezers
Don’t underestimate the advantages of having small tweezers at your disposal. Tweezers can help with holding onto and placing micro-components when working with circuit boards and the like. And they can help, especially when you are soldering or desoldering components.
Wire Strippers
Wire strippers strip off the wire insulator from its conductor before connecting to another wire or soldered.
Pliers
Longnose pliers and side-cutting pliers both have useful applications in electronics manufacturing. Nose pliers help you hold components that have short leads or are too hot to handle. Side-cutting pliers can be used to trim off excess component leads into shorter lengths before use.
All electronics manufacturers differ, and that also goes for their assembly process. Each different application may need a completely different set of tools and for that we are here to help.
To learn more about the most important electronics production line tools, call Delta Regis Tools at 1-888-500-2755 or contact us here.
