Description
Electric fans, rice cookers, blenders and kettles leave Vietnamese appliance plants by the million each year. Inside each one, small screws hold motors, heaters and handles in place. When QC wants to audit those screws, the Snap-on TEC3A Torqometer gives a real reading. Its 1/4-inch drive dial runs to 35 kg·cm on one scale and 30 in-lb on the other.
Where 35 kg·cm fits on an appliance line
Plastic housings strip easily, so a screw driver set too high cracks bosses and splits clips. On the other hand, a screw set too low lets a fan blade wobble or a heater plate rattle. So engineers check the clutch drivers on the line against a dial wrench like the TEC3A. They also audit sample units at the end of each shift.
- Fan motor and blade hub screws.
- Heater plate and thermostat screws in rice cookers and kettles.
- Blender base, coupling and blade unit screws.
- Handle and lid hinge screws on small kitchen goods.
Snap-on TEC3A Torqometer row
| Item | TEC3A (Snap-on CAT1500i p.335) |
|---|---|
| Square drive | 1/4 in |
| Metric range / steps | 35 kg·cm / 1 kg·cm |
| US range / steps | 30 in-lb / 1 in-lb |
| Length | 9-29/32 in |
| Width / head depth | 2-11/16 in / 1-1/4 in |
| Storage case | PB9 |
This row sits in Snap-on’s Combination US/Metric Reading/Standard 2% Accuracy chart. Snap-on’s chart note adds that wrenches in it ship without a certificate of calibration, though a certificate version exists.
Neighbors on the same chart
The TEC1A sits one row up, with a 16 kg·cm scale and the same short body. Meanwhile, the TEC6A one row down reaches 90 kg·cm in 2.5 kg·cm steps. So pick the Snap-on TEC3A Torqometer when your appliance specs fall roughly between 10 and 30 kg·cm. In that zone the needle travels well up the dial, where reading gets easy.
Basic needle or follow-up?
On a Basic model, Snap-on says one needle shows the torque achieved. That suits a QC tech who watches the dial during each pull. If a second person must read the result, the TEC3FUA adds a follow-up needle instead.
Line-side care for the Snap-on TEC3A Torqometer
Keep the wrench in its PB9 case at the QC bench, rather than loose in a parts bin. Also zero-check it at the start of each shift. Snap-on warns against using a Torqometer to break fasteners loose, so back out tight screws with a hand driver. Finally, send the TEC3A for outside calibration on a fixed cycle, because Snap-on says accuracy depends on it.
Ordering for your QC bench
Lost in HCM supplies this wrench, and SMK Vietnam lists it as a partner item for appliance and electronics buyers. To price one or several, request a quote from Lost in HCM. For other sizes, explore our torque wrenches list, check snapon.com, or contact SMK Vietnam for advice.
Appliance QC questions about the TEC3A
What does 35 kg·cm come to in newton meters?
Roughly 3.4 N·m. So the TEC3A covers small appliance screws whose specs sit in the low single digits of N·m.
Is there a signal light version of the TEC3A?
No. Snap-on shows no signal model in this row. The only alternative at this size is the TEC3FUA, with a follow-up needle.
How low can a QC check go on this dial?
Snap-on gives accuracy from 20% of full scale, so the floor sits near 7 kg·cm or 6 in-lb. For lighter screws, step down to the TEC1A.
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