Ergonomic evaluation of a fixture used for power driven wire-tying hand tools

Abstract Using metal wire to tie components together is common on construction sites. The wire-tying task, accomplished using pliers, involves repetitive forceful exertion and awkward wrist postures. In this research, the use of a powered screwdriver with a specially designed fixture for clamping and twisting metal wires was introduced. The powered driver-fixture combination was proposed as an alternative to the traditionally used pliers for wire-tying tasks. A laboratory experiment to simulate the wire-tying task using two power screwdriver-fixture combinations was performed. The experimental results showed that the normalized EMG of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle and flexor carpi ulnaris muscle of the right arm were significantly ( p Relevance to industry Non-power hand tools such as pliers are commonly used in metal wire wrapping and tying tasks. In this paper, tools that combine a fixture and powered screwdrivers for wire-tying task are introduced and evaluated. The powered screwdriver-fixture combinations enable wire-tying tasks being performed more efficiently, with less force and wrist motion, and with a better subjective rating.