Abstract: An improved hand-held fastener driving tool is provided with an adjustable torque limiting control. The tool is portable, and is electrically powered using either a battery pack or a power cord as a power source. The tool drives collated fasteners (e.g., screws) into solid objects. The motor current is measured to determine the amount of torque being applied to a screw by the motor and mechanical drive components. As the screw bottoms out, the motor torque increases to a point where it exceeds the user-adjusted torque limiting control. The motor is automatically turned off at that point, thereby preventing the screw from being stripped.

Abstract: A conventional stud welding tool is substantially improved by providing the tool with an electrode with an adjustable aperture capable of grasping studs with a variety of sizes. The adjustable aperture is in the form of a chuck having a plurality of sliding fingers movable along intersecting axes and positionable along these axes to form an aperture of a desired diameter. The fingers have a threaded exterior surface, and the chuck includes a wheel having a threaded interior surface for engaging the threaded exterior surfaces of the fingers for moving the fingers along their axes in response to rotation of the wheel. The chuck is automatically closed and opened by a control circuit in response to the condition of a variety of sensors connected to the control circuit. Also, a collating strip of studs and a feed assembly is used to automatically deliver studs to the electrode under control of the control circuit.