The team at TECNA has put together a general guide on what are spring tool balancers, what is the difference between a zero gravity balancer and a retractor, how to select your tool balancer, and which tools are usually paired with which TECNA balancer model.
What is a Spring Tool Balancer?
A spring tool balancer serves as a mechanical device designed to hold and support a suspended tool or load. These devices maintain a consistent tension on the cable by utilizing a spring and either a tapered drum (zero gravity balancers) or a cylindrical drum (retractor balancers). The balancer can extend or retract the supporting cable to accommodate the movements of the tool or the load.
Tool balancers, and spring balancers among them, are tools used to hold a hand-operated tool or piece of equipment in position and help move and manipulate them to minimize human effort during use. They can be used for a variety of industrial or home applications where people and workers frequently use or move heavy objects and hand tools, and need them to be available, easy to move, and most of all safe to handle.
Tool retractors automatically return tools to a predetermined resting position after use, typically relocating them away from the active work area. The tool is commonly attached to a cable wound onto a reel with spring-loaded mechanics to achieve the retraction.
Zero Gravity balancers are able to balance the tool along their entire range of motion, facilitating the effortless handling and maneuvering of tools and equipment.
What are the features and benefits of ergonomic tool balancers and retractors?
- Maximize safety at work
- Create an ergonomic environment
- Improve production efficiency
- Balance tool weight, making them nearly weightless
- Help with positioning and servicing heavy equipment, motors, fans, etc.
- Suspend tools for easy access
- Help workers with repetitive tasks
- Hold fixtures, tools, welding guns, and other equipment
- Hold hoses and pipes
- Keep equipment, cables, plugs/sockets off of the floor eliminating trip hazards and risk of damage
- Reduce effort in sliding or opening/closing barriers/doors/hatches
- Used as a festoon system, can reduce wear on cables and hoses
- Stabilize tool position
- Improve accuracy
- Reduce operator motion
- Minimize worker fatigue
- Useful for tools of various sizes
- Reduce tool damage
Why should you buy a TECNA balancer
TECNA balancers are manufactured following the highest quality standards. A relentless commitment to quality control begins with the selection of materials, through personnel on assembly lines, process to packaging, and shipment.
Innovation and improvement are constant and continuous.
TECNA balancers are very durable and designed to last. From the lightest to the heaviest of our balancers, all are fit for the hardest working conditions.
TECNA balancers are safe. All balancers are manufactured in conformity with the DIN 15112 Directive. From 6.6lb (3kg) up to 397lb (180kg) all have fall protection safety.
Furthermore, all heavy-duty lines (9361 to 9371 and 9401 to 9456) feature a special double safety that engages immediately in case of breakage.
Breaking load on all critical parts is 5 to 10 times the maximum allowed load.
Cables are left bare, allowing for quick visual inspection. TECNA offers cable choice: Stainless steel, Dyneema® or Polypropylene.
Different materials on cables allow TECNA balancers to be used in many different situations, for example where a steel cable might scratch delicate objects.
TECNA balancers and TECNA retractors feature an aluminum die-cast body, combining strength with lightweight properties, resistance to impacts and scratches, and enabling a more compact design with enhanced durability. With ergonomic considerations and comfort in mind, TECNA balancers are designed to excel, benefitting you and your team.
How to select your too balancer or retractor
To choose the right tool balancer, you need to know the weight you need to balance and control.
This will determine the load capacity that the tool balancer must sustain. If you have overlapping load values between balancers generally choose the balancer that will work on its higher load range because it will be better optimized.
Basic rule: if you do not know what to choose, simply ask us contact@toolbalancersusa.com, (978) 560-3775
Additional features to look at are:
Cable stroke. How much do you need to move your load?
Cable material: if you are afraid to scratch delicate surfaces, you may want to check our Dyneema/Polypropylene cables: same load strength, but better with delicate surfaces around.
Environmental conditions: explosion-proof situations with gases, gasoline, fumes, etc. will require our dedicated ATEX family of spring balancers.
How to pair your tool with TECNA balancer?
APPLICATION |
BALANCER SOLUTION * Models available also in the following lines: ATEX CERTIFICATION ESD PROTECTED CERTIFIECATION FOOD INDUSTRY COMPLIANCE |
Suspended Tools (light) |
9310-9313; 9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9446L-9450 |
Suspended tools (heavy) |
9336L-9340; 9446L-9450; 9354-9359; 9502-9525 |
Power tools |
9310-9313; 9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9446L-9450 |
Air Tools |
9336L-9340; 9446L-9450; 9502-9525 |
Pneumatic Tools |
9200-9203; 9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350 |
Hydraulic tools |
9346L-9350; 9502-0525; 9401-9456 |
Screw drivers |
9200-9203; 9310-9313; 9320-9323; 9336L-9340; |
Guns |
9336L-9340; 9446L-9450 |
Torque arms |
9346L-9350; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Drills |
9200-9203; 9310-9313; 9320-9323; 9336L-9340; |
Chipping Hammers |
9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Jackhammers |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Hammer Drills |
9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Air Hammers |
9346L-9350; 9502-9525; 9361-9371; 9354-9359 |
Die Grinders |
9346L-9350; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Belt Sanders |
9346L-9350; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Planers |
9346L-9350; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Clinchers |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Riveters |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Huck Bolters |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Rivet Guns |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Huck Riveters |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Dot Peen Markers |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Marking Tools |
9300-9313; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Strapping Tools |
9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Cable Tie Machines |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Plug/socket holder |
9310-9313; 9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350 |
Charging stations |
9310-9313; 9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350 |
Pallet Wrap Machines |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Nail Guns |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Staple Guns |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Saws |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371; 9354-9359 |
Electric Tools |
9346L-9350; 9502-9525; 9361-9371; 9354-9359 |
Weld Guns |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Internal Transguns |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
External Transguns |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Cable Weld Guns |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Electric Saws |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Slaughterhouses and butchering tools |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Meat-Processing Plants |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Food processing |
9502-9525; 9346L-9350; 9320-9323; 9300-9313 |
Dairies |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Meat Saws |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Bone Cutters |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Bone Saws |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Eyelet Applicator |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Ham Peeler |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Skin Remover |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Deboning Machines |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Band Saws |
9401-9456; 9502-9525; 9361-9371 |
Washdown nozzles |
9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Commercial Laundries |
9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Industrial Laundries |
9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Steam Irons |
9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Commercial Ironing Equipment |
9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Door Closers |
9336L-9340; 9354-9359 |
Mobile barriers or sliding windows/hatches for automation |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340 |
Oven / Dish washer protection holder |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9354-9359 |
Robotics |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340 |
Cable Guides |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340 |
Festooning |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340 |
Hose Festooning |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340 |
Water Hose Suspension |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9354-9359; 9502-9525 |
Power Cable Festooning |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9502-9525 |
Power Cable Suspension |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9502-9525 |
Fuel Hose Suspension |
9336LAX-9340AX; 9346L-9350; 9502AX-9525AX |
Pipes |
9336LAX-9340AX; 9502AX-9525AX |
Cable Festooning |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9502-9525 |
Cable Suspension |
9320-9323; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9502-9525 |
Vacuum Hose Suspension |
9502-9525; 9346L-9350 |
Vacuum Lifter |
9346L-9350; 9346L-9350 |
Tank / truck /vehicle / car washing stations |
9502AX-9525AX; 9346L-9350; 9336L-9340 |
Assembly workstations |
9320-9323; 9300-9313; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350 |
Assembly tools |
9320-9323; 9300-9313; 9336L-9340; 9346L-9350 |
Drum fillers |
9336L-9340; 9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Pallet fillers |
9336L-9340; 9354-9359 |
Bag fillers |
9336L-9340; 9354-9359 |
Drum dispensers |
9320-9323; 9300-9313; 9336L-9340 |
Crimping Tool |
9300-9313 |
Pneumatic Crimper |
9320-9323; 9300-9313; 9336L-9340 |
Hydraulic Crimper |
9346L-9350; 9354-9359 |
Suction Pumps |
9354-9359; 9502-9525 |
Bottling Tools |
9336L-9340; 9354-9359 |
Power Washing Equipment |
9336L-9340; 9502-9525 |
Pressure Washing Equipment |
9336L-9340; 9502-9525 |
Weaving machines |
9336L-9340; 9502-9525 |
Shoemaking equipment |
9336L-9340; 9502-9525; 9300-9313 |
Bootmaking equipment |
9336L-9340; 9502-9525; 9300-9313 |
Cobbler equipment |
9336L-9340; 9502-9525; 9300-9313 |
Heating tools |
9336L-9340; 9300-9313; 9346L-9350 |
Spray Paint Guns |
9320-9323; 9300-9313; 9336L-9340 |
Powder Coat Guns |
9320-9323; 9300-9313; 9336L-9340 |
Bottle Cappers and Bottle Capping Equipment |
9336L-9340; 9354-9359 |
Fitness / Rehabilitation equipment |
9336L-9340; 9354-9359; 9502-9525; 9401-9456 |
Hospital equipment / Patient lifting equipment |
9336L-9340; 9354-9359; 9502-9525; 9401-9456 |
Pulley therapy |
9336L-9340; 9354-9359; 9502-9525; 9401-9456 |
The above applications are just a general suggestion. BD Solutions LLC and Tecna cannot be held responsible for suggesting a particular pairing between an application and a particular balancer model. If you have any questions, please contact us to receive full support within limits of competence and liability.