Generally, when an impact driver or impact wrench offers electronic speed and torque control, the two are tied to each other. The lower the speed, the lower the torque, somewhat proportionally.
Over at the GJ a week or two ago, I read some Milwaukee fans’ concerns that the new One Key brushless impact tools might not offer torque control.
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If you recall, tool control is a major feature of Milwaukee One Key. The difference between a One Key impact tool, and non-One Key Milwaukee M18 Fuel Gen2 impact tool, is the ability to customize the One Key tool to your needs and preferences.
Basically, users want to be able to dial in the speed and torque limits for an application, and were worried that One Key might not allow for such independent control.
I checked with Milwaukee, and they said:
You can absolutely adjust the speed and torque individually. See attached screenshot.
So, there you have it.
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The new Milwaukee One Key impact driver and impact wrenches are coming out soon.
Are you happy to see that you can set the max torque and speed? And don’t forget that this can be done for all of the 4 separate operation modes.
If you ask me, I think it’s a big deal that you can do this. I’ve heard some complaints and questions over the years, about how and why Milwaukee and other brands set the speed and torque levels for their multi-speed brushless impact tools.
Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel high torque impact wrenches provide a good example of this. The 1/2″ wrench with pin anvil has 350 ft lbs and 600 ft lbs max torque modes, while the 1/2″ wrench with friction ring anvil has 100 ft lbs and 700 ft lbs max torque levels.
Why? Because Milwaukee tailored the settings for their intended user base.
I asked about this a while back, and Milwaukee explained:
1/2″ friction ring users are most commonly in maintenance trades and their most frequent fastening application requiring control is fastening a nug but into a vehicle.
1/2″ pin detent users are most commonly in construction trades and their most common applications requiring control over max torque applied onto a bolt requires anywhere from 240-350 ft-lbs of max fastening torque.
In short, 1/2″ friction inch users require higher high end torque and lower low end torque than 1/2″ pin detent users.
Milwaukee has not discussed plans to release One Key versions of their M18 Fuel high torque impact wrenches. Still, I hope you can see the parallel.
Let’s say you’re in the construction trade, but 350 ft lbs is not low enough for your needs. That’s 4,200 in lbs of torque. Let’s say you want the high torque to function at the 100-150 ft lbs level (1200 – 1800 in lbs) that’s at the higher end of what a typical impact driver can deliver. You can’t mix and match.
But One Key allows you to customize your tool exactly as you like it.
There might still be limitations, but we might have to wait until we have our hands on a One Key impact driver or wrench to find out.
Milwaukee tool Steve
Yes Torque control is awesome. And if anyone ever gets their hands on my one-key tool then then I can turn them off so no one can use them when they steal them.
Stuart
One Key tools can be reset to factory settings.
So yes, while you can cripple a tool’s torque delivery on all the different modes, anyone can undo all that with a button press or two. I don’t remember the exact sequence (press down on the One Key button?), but it’s probably a user manual Google search away.
Nathan
I’ll admit that’s impressive. Not sure how useful that level of customization really is, but it’s a neat idea.
I suspect they will eventually offer a set of downloads so as you have custom setups for various fasteners and the like. Pre tested so an not to break heads or strip out etc.
IE impact driver can be loaded up with a “deck screw – 1-7/8” setup and all you have to do is pull the trigger full and the computer sets the max torque, max speed and a ramp up profile that is tested to “rarely” break a screw or strip on etc etc but still fully sink them.
Milwaukee tool Steve
On Milwaukee tool north America facebook I found this
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204365360293831&set=o.146797228656&type=3
Is it a m18 fuel pin nailer from UK
Mike
No one gonna use it for torque control it’s a stupid idea if you can’t control your torque with trigger control then your a amateur there are too many things that can go wrong you drop your tool and now your locked out of your tool electronics and power tools don’t mix
John L
I spoke with Milwaukee customer service and was informed that if the firmware ever went out on the tool then the tool would have to come in for servicing. This is a fine example of your point. They weren’t clear as to whether or not the tool would work in its traditional manner if the one key firmware were corrupted/damaged.
Milwaukee tool Steve
You do have a point but their are jobs when torque control comes in great handy!
but overall the reason I think Milwaukee came out with One-Key is for commercial use just think for a minute your the manger of some big project and someone’s misusing your company’s tools you want to know who, or if your wondering the condition of your tool, what part you need or how much torque your putting into it. Their is sooooo much one-key can do and I think it’s just the first step in the world of electronics and tools mixed together…
Nathan
so you’re so awesome you never fatigue either. Or you never get distracted while doing some monotonous task.
must be nice. However there are thousands of people that do repetitive tasks to the point of distraction.
These features are almost identical to the setting you’d see on production run assembly drivers and the like.
I wouldn’t buy one for myself – mostly because it’s too expensive. But I’d like to have the ability. Exact reason I bought the Dewalt 3 setting Impact Driver vs the cheaper on. On small screws – or thin materials it’s nice to be able to clock the thing down without having to bang out the slipper clutch on a drill/driver.
Mike
I agree 100%! I only carry one hammer, a six pound pony sledge. Sometimes it’s called an engineer’s hammer. I use it for everything! I can do that because I have perfect control and only apply the exact force needed. Sure, it takes me four minutes to drive a finish nail because I have to be so careful. And sure, I bend every third nail and split every work piece I come across. But those are small prices to pay to be superior to those moran’s who don’t have the control I do.
Sometimes I see guys using the appropriate tools. Now they even have tools that can be adjusted to different tasks. Anyone who would ever use either are looser’s who are not awesome and have perfect control like me. All you need is one big hammer and the control to use it each and every swing.
Ronrude
We use insgersol rand preset torque guns in a factory to put the proper torque on a fastener. At $1300 a bare tool, this could be a cost savings if the torque is accurate
Mike
There’s no way in hell you’re going to be able to drive something to 200lbs, not 150, not 250. You don’t have that level of control with an impact driver. I ratchet yes, but not an impact driver.
Lenny
I think the whole one key thing is interesting but I would not pay extra for it. I equate this to my flat screen tv. It has menu after menu of adjustments that can be made to the picture. I played around with these when I bought it but eventually just defaulted back to the factory settings which were better. Personally I don’t see the need nor would I use it.
Chris
What happens if this function fails and you rip off your bolt head. Technology is awesome to a point but I’m not sure I would trust this if I’m tightening to a specific torque range.
Nathan
I would suspect like most operational software – if there is an internal fault or break – tool shuts off.
I could totally see something like that working well in a tire shop, etc. impact wrench – dial XXX ft-lbs – run down the lugs. If milwaukee could sell it with a calibration sheet – and it was easily re-calibrated. It might be a hell of a idea.
OH and I’d like Dewalt to consider something similar – but not on BT.
in manufacturing environments these things exist and they work very very well. IR makes some of the best.
Chris
I agree it would really be nice but I don’t know if I could convince myself to 100% trust especially if it’s controlled with a phone app. I would have problem using it to torque lug nuts I was thinking some with a little more finesse.
Rx9
“fastening a nug but into a vehicle”
What kinds of cars are THOSE techs working on?
Nathan
well see those are what hold on the turboencambulator to the wheel hubs.
It’s a combination of a nut and a sprag.
Rx9
Of concern here is what actual ft-lb torque rating do those “power levels” represent, and to what degree of accuracy/repeatability are they?
David
I think it would be nice to have if you were torquing lug nuts back on your car. Set it to 90% of what the final torque should be, then go around with a torque wrench for the final 10%.
It would be nice if they had something similar at the lube and state inspection places were they just do three du-du-dus of the impact wrench to tighten your wheels back up. It would be kind of like a valet mode for an impact wrench. Hopefully over time the cost comes down for this technology.
Paul
Here’s a thought but I do not see this in the screen shot. It looks like you can only adjust the torque from 1-10 (or can you crank it up to 11 if you just need a little bit more than 10). That is arbitrary and the actual torque value will change depending on the model of the tool used. How precise could they make this? For example, could you set it to foot pound/newton meters and have this act as a build in torque wrench? I am sure there are more technical challenges to the tool itself for precision’s sake but doesn’t Stanley make something very specialized for the automotive industry to do this? More importantly, settings would be consistent between tool models (old to new) or from brand to brand. This would allow 3rd party fasteners to play nice and not have to produce profiles for every model available. Less guess work on the user as well.
John
I agree I wish the torque levels translated to actual measurements instead of 1-10 as it would appear from the screen shots. I would imagine, probably in the manual, somewhere there is a range chart or what each number is ie
1 = 35 – 45 ft lbs
2 = 45 – 55 ft lbs
Something like that. I don’t think it’s going to be supremely accurate like a torque wrench but somewhere in a range of values. Still though it would be helpful to see actual measurements instead of 1-10.
Mike
It’s a gimmick people don’t waste your money they have 3 speed impact driver for the same purpose I own a 3 speed dewalt impact have never changed the speed ever just like a drill I never change the clutch settings either didn’t black and decker come out with something like that on their drills just keep battery technology advancing you make a battery that will last 10 times longer at the same size of the batteries today then we’ll get somewhere
Pablo
I wouldn’t say it’s a gimmick, I could see this being used in an small scale assembly setting, so your workers aren’t blasting away at tiny fasteners with the torque cranked up.
Most larger manufacturers will still use certified torque rated equipment from Cleco and such, but for the small to medium sized operation, this could be useful.
For homeowners, yeah, total waste, but people will still buy them as a luxury item/bragging rights.
XXIIIFM
Hah, You may find a few things in common with mister pony sledge up there.
You say you never change your impact driver speed, do you always leave it on 3? tBH That’s mostly how I use my Milwaukee impact driver. Occasionally dial it down for delicate stuff, but often I just wish they’d put the full range on the trigger.
If you never adjust the drill Do you even use the clutch for its intended purpose? ( to deliver the torque needed to sink a fastener flush and promptly disengage) Cause if you use it properly you can set it up and hand the thing off to a blind guy with arthritis and he’ll be driving screws dead flat all day without a problem.
Jason. W
I work at a subaru factory making the outback and legacy. ALL of our “guns” are torque controlled to their specific need on that station. If millwaukee came out with a wireless charging 12v onekey tool, they would own the market for factory work.
I have 63 seconds to get my work done. Having to change a battery in the middle of that is awful.
Pale Rider
I think it’s weird that there’s no information on how the «Level» settings correspond to foot pound/newton meters.
I’d like to set a low max for my wheel bolts and for other things, then use a proper torque wrench for finishing up.
Aaron Williams
Got the Milwaukee 1-in need to know how to set foot pound torque with the one key everything is RPMs and torque one through 10 I need a chart that converts RPMs or the one through 10 to foot pounds of torque how do you find that