We all know that whether using a conventional electric screwdriver or an automatic screw locking machine, it is common to encounter situations where the torque reaches the preset target torque and stops, but the screw is not fully tightened. This is often referred to as screw floating, also known as "floating high" or "floating nail." So why do screws float? Generally, there are six main reasons:

1. The preset target torque value is too low;

2. Poor consistency of incoming product materials;

3. Impurities in the threaded hole;

4. Rust or damage to the thread;

5. Changes in material, such as hole diameter, screw diameter, or variations in pre-applied anti-loosening adhesive;

6. Misalignment or poor positioning during screw insertion.

The root cause is the change in friction during the tightening proc

Are you struggling with recurring screw floating issues that are hard to eliminate? A 45-degree floating error of just 0.2mm is nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye. So how can you solve this "floating" problem once and for all? The first step is to analyze the cause. Once the real reason is identified, apply the appropriate solution. For floating screws caused by inconsistent incoming materials, here are two practical methods to quickly resolve the issue. Save them now so you don’t lose them!

1. Choose the right smart tightening gun and use a clamping torque control strategy. Simply set the clamping torque. After detecting the fitting point, assess the floating condition and apply a fixed clamping torque. This ensures consistency in clamping torque for each tightening. It’s easy to set up, requires no lengthy validation, and can both detect and solve floating screw issues.

2. For automated workstations, install a displacement sensor on the tightening module and use feedback to the PLC for detection. The principle is that there will be a compression amount when tightening the screw. This compression is converted into a signal, and through data processing and comparison, if the screw does not reach the expected compression amount, it can be determined that the screw is floating. Of course, combining both methods yields even better results in solving floating issues.