CORDLESS IMPACT DRIVER: A New Era in Cordless Screw Gun Technology
CORDLESS IMPACT DRIVER: A New Era in Cordless Screw Gun Technology Will Lazration 3/16/2010 AUDIENCE and SCOPE The purpose of this article is to inform contractors about a new type of cordless screw gun called an impact driver and how this innovative tool can save them both time and money. A cordless screw gun is a necessity for any successful contractor, therefore they already know their importance to their line of work, but many don’t know how this new impact driver would be even more beneficial to them. An article such as this would be found in any magazine that deals with the construction industry or any home improvement magazine. INTODUCTION A cordless impact driver is a type of cordless screw gun that combines the rotating action from a regular screw gun and the hammering action from a hammer drill to drive screws faster and more efficiently. This efficiency correlates into longer battery life, a problem with conventional cordless screw guns. Until recently, the technology to combine the conventional screw gun and the hammer drill into one small, lightweight, portable unit was unavailable. Through the efforts of major tool manufacturers, such as DeWALT, the impact driver was created (see figure 1). Figure 1: DeWALT 18V Cordless Impact Driver HOW AN IMPACT DRIVER WORKS HAMMER & ANVIL SYSTEM The key design feature of a cordless impact driver is the hammer and anvil system as shown in figure 2 to the left that generates extra torque. Unlike the conventional hammer drill where the hammer moves in and out, the hammer and anvil system in an impact driver is designed to stay put. To create the “hammering motion”, the hammer attached to a rotating electric motor rapidly pounds the anvil, which is attached to the screw bit. This motion creates a distinctive sound, which gives the drill its name. The typical cordless impact driver hammer and anvil system generates up 3,000 blows per minutes to the screw bit. Figure 2: BOSCH 12V Impact Hammer and Anvil System RECHARGEABLE BATTERY Just like its counterpart the cordless screw gun, the cordless impact driver takes advantage of rechargeable batteries (see figure 3). However batteries used into today’s impact drivers are far superior the rechargeable batteries of the past Today’s batteries use Lithium Ion technology which allows them to stay charged for over two times the amount when compared to the conventional cordless drill batteries (see figure 4). Figure 3: Makita 18V Lithium Ion Battery An advantage of rechargeable batteries is that they come in a variety of sizes that include: • • • • • Figure 4: Makita 18V Lithium Ion Battery vs. Conventional Battery 9.6V 12V 14.4V 18V 36V Each battery size correlates to the impact driver’s power. This translates into a wide variety of impact drivers to meet the demands of even the toughest jobs. ADVANTAGES of a CORDLESS IMPACT DRIVER There are many advantages of using a cordless impact driver compared to a conventional cordless drill or a hammer drill. Some of the advantages include: • • • • • • The torque created from the hammer & anvil system is transferred throughout the drill and not into the hand of the operator. A conventional hammer drill sends vibrations all the way up the arm of the operator. The added torque allows the driver to driver screws faster than conventional screw guns. It also take the torque out of operators hands. In conventional screw guns the max torque than can be applied is equal to the strenth of the operator. Because it drives screws faster and more efficiently, productivity rates will increase. It can drive longer screws into harder material with ease, without stripping the head off the screw The hammer and anvil don’t require any additional power to create the additional torque. This means the rechargeable battery lasts just as long, and less time is spent re-charging batteries. Can loosen rusty bolts with ease • • • It weighs on average 3.5 lbs for an 18V unit. This lightweight enables the operator to work longer without worrying about fatigue. It employs a quick release chuck system that uses screw bits like the one shown in figure 5. This allows for faster bit changes, and eliminates slip. Conventional drills slip if the chuck isn’t tight enough on the bit. Small compact design enables it to be used in places that conventional cordless drills cannot fit into. Figure 5: Quick Connect Screw Bit TYPICAL USES FOR a CORDLESS IMPACT DRIVER TIGHTENING LAG BOLTS Lag bolts are used frequently in deck and stair construction due to the amount of weight they can support. Because lag bolts are long and require large amounts of torque to install (see figure 6), a cordless impact driver is a perfect tool for the job. Figure 6: Tightening a Lag Bolt with a Cordless Impact Driver BUILDING DECKS Figure 7: Installing Composite Decking with a Cordless Impact Driver Construction of the average size deck requires over twenty five pounds of screws. The majority of the screws are required to screw the decking boards down. In today’s society, composite decking boards are used (see figure 7). The problem with composite is that it’s extremely hard, and can drain batteries of conventional screw guns in minutes. The cordless impact driver is the ideal tool for the job. The hardness of the composite is no match for it power, and it creates that power without sacrificing battery life. METAL STUD FRAMING Framing in commercial building construction is made from cold-rolled metal studs, not wood like in residential construction. Nails cannot be used in this application; therefore small “pan head” screws are used to hold the components together (see figure 8). In order to be productive a carpenter needs to have a screw gun that meets the torque demands of driving a screw into metal. This is the perfect job for a cordless impact driver. Figure 8: Metal Framing with a Cordless Impact Driver OTHER USES Figure 9: Drilling Holes with a Cordless Impact Driver • • • • • • • Installing ductwork Drilling holes (see figure 9) Install cabinets Assembling Furniture Hanging Shelves Hanging Doors Anything that you would use a conventional cordless drill for TOP CORDLESS IMPACT DRIVER MANUFACTURERS There are numerous tool manufacturers who make cordless impact guns; however five manufacturers that compromise the majority are Makita, DeWALT, Hitachi, Milwaukee, and Bosch. Examples of an 18 V model for each manufacturer are listed below. MAKITA Hex Shank No Load Speed Impacts Per Minute Maximum Torque Battery Overall Length Net Weight 1/4" 0-2600 RPM 0-3400 IPM 1420 in-lbs 18V LXT Lithium Ion 5 1/2" 3.3 lbs Figure 10: Makita BTD144 DEWALT Hex Shank No Load Speed Impacts Per Minute Maximum Torque Battery Overall Length Net Weight Figure 11: DeWALT DC827KL 1/4" 0-2400 RPM 0-2700 IPM 1,111 in-lbs 18V Lithium Ion 5 3/4" 3.7 lbs HITACHI Hex Shank No Load Speed Impacts Per Minute Maximum Torque Battery Overall Length Net Weight 1/4" 0-2600 RPM 0-3200 IPM 1,111 in-lbs 18V Lithium Ion 6 37/64" 3.5 lbs Figure 12: HITACHI WH18DL MILWAUKEE Hex Shank No Load Speed Impacts Per Minute Maximum Torque Battery Overall Length Net Weight 1/4" 0-2600 RPM 0-3200 IPM 1,400 in-lbs 18V Lithium Ion 5 3/4" 3.2 lbs Figure 13: Milwaukee M18 2650- BOSCH Hex Shank No Load Speed Impacts Per Minute Maximum Torque Battery Overall Length Net Weight Figure 14: Bosch 26618-21 1/4" 0-2800 RPM 0-3200 IPM 1,500 in-lbs 18V Lithium Ion 5 3/4" 3.2 lbs CONCLUSION There is no question that power tools have come a long way since the since the invention of the first portable electric drill by Black & Decker in 1917. (1) Today’s power tools are a staple of modern technology. Incorporating technology such as Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries into tools is something Black & Decker never dreamed of in 1917. One of these tools, the cordless impact driver, is paving the way for a new era in power tool technology. Its innovative hammer and anvil system generates tremendous amounts of torque required to drive screws into even the hardest material. Along with its lightweight, comfortable design, it is the must-have cordless screw gun for any contractor’s inventory of tools. Because the impact driver is so efficient in turning electrical energy into work, battery life is not sacrificed when using it. The innovative quick release chuck system allows for quick change of screw bits and drill bits. The number of uses for this tool is endless. All of this innovative technology allows the operator to be more efficient, and in today’s society where time is money, will add up to a substantial cost saving for any contractor. (1) Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_&_Decker on 2/27/2010 Works Cited www.boschtools.com www.dewalt.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_&_Decker Figure 1: http://www.cordlessimpactdriverreviews.com/How-A-Cordless-Impact-Driver-Works Figure 2: http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/th/content_26/Q3_2009/bosch-B001C4AQVG-1-lg.jpg Figure 3: http://www.makita.com/en-us/Assets/Images/Accessories/cordless/batteries/1L.jpg Figure 4 & 10: http://www.makita.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/ToolDetails.aspx?ID=316370 Figure 5: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BH26R41SL.jpg Figure 6: http://www.coptool.com/images/25618.jpg Figure 7: http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/decks/misc/skirting/xdexpg28.jpg Figure 8: http://www.fleetmag.com/images/article/1223324105623__Milwaukee_HexImpactDriver_0.jpg Figure 9 & 14: http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=26618-01 Figure 11: http://dewalt.com/tools/cordless-impact-driverswrenches-drivers--wrenches-dc827kl.aspx Figure 12:http://www.hitachipowertools.com/store_item.php?iID=578&arrPath=1,2,20,p578,&tab=2 Figure13: http://www.milwaukeetool.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=265021&CategoryName=SC%3a+Impact+Drivers
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