Functions
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Reverse. Possibility to change the direction of rotation of the working nozzle of the tool. The use of reverse depends on the type of tool and the type of work for which it is used. For example, when drilling, this function can be useful for releasing a jammed drill. And in screwdrivers (see "Interchangeable heads") a change in the direction of rotation is almost mandatory - otherwise it would be impossible to switch the tool from twisting to loosening and vice versa.
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Speed controller. The ability to smoothly change the speed of movement of the working nozzle (frequency of rotation or vibration). The adjustment itself is used to adjust the tool for different types of materials and work - for different cases, the speed is different. But smooth tuning is good because it allows you to set the required speed as accurately as possible - there are no strictly fixed adjustments in such models, and the operator can choose any option from minimum to maximum. True, a certain skill is required for the effective use of such a tool, but this problem can hardly be called serious even for beginners.
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Maintain momentum. A function that allows you to maintain a constant speed of rotation of the nozzle, regardless of the load on it. Without special adjustment, at a constant engine power, the rotational speed inevitably drops with increasing load and increases with
...a decrease. And the revs control system monitors the resistance on the nozzle and, if necessary, changes the power in such a way that the rotation speed remains constant. This has a positive effect both on the quality of work and on the service life of the nozzles and the entire tool.
- Soft start. The moment of starting is one of the most difficult in the operation of any electric motor. When the power is connected directly, in the first moments after the start, a high power flows through the windings, which leads to voltage surges in the network; in addition, the beginning of the movement occurs very abruptly, and this is fraught with jerks of the instrument, with the risk of releasing it from the hands with corresponding unpleasant consequences. The soft start function reduces the described troubles, if not to zero, then to a minimum: special circuits limit the starting power and ensure a soft and safe start of movement.
- Brushless motor. The presence of a brushless (brushless) motor in an electric tool. Such motors are noticeably superior to traditional collector motors in terms of efficiency, which makes it possible to significantly reduce energy consumption without sacrificing power; this is especially important for cordless tools (see "Power Source"), where this feature is predominantly found. In addition, brushless motors are less noisy and generate virtually no sparks during operation, making them ideal for working in high fire hazard environments. Their main disadvantages are traditional - the complexity of the design and high price.
— Backlight. The tool has its own lamp to illuminate the place of work. This feature is especially useful when working in low light conditions or in hard-to-reach areas that are otherwise difficult to illuminate. Note that in this case, it is the embedded system that is meant; some models may be equipped with portable lights as separate units, but such lights do not count as lights.
- Display. Own display in the design of the multifunctional tool is designed to visualize customizable parameters, display the battery charge level and display all sorts of related information. The specific implementation of the screen depends on the level of functionality of a specific instrument model.
- Connecting a vacuum cleaner. Possibility of connecting the vacuum cleaner directly to the tool. For this, a special pipe is usually used, one end of which is led to the place of processing, and the actual hose from the vacuum cleaner is connected to the other. Thanks to this, the work becomes much “cleaner”; True, the vacuum cleaner is far from always 100% able to remove sawdust and other waste, but in any case, it at least simplifies subsequent cleaning. The hose nozzle is usually made removable - this allows you to reduce the overall dimensions of the tool in cases where the vacuum cleaner is not needed or is not within reach. Note that before buying a model with this function, you should pay attention to its compatibility with the specific vacuum cleaner that you plan to use.
— Keyless replacement of nozzles. The presence of a clamping tool in the design that allows you to replace working nozzles without using a key. There are many varieties of such clamps, differing in the procedure for use, but they all have one thing in common: the work with the mount is carried out by hand, without the use of keys or other additional devices.Total number of nozzles
The total number of working attachments supplied with the tool.
The abundance of attachments allows the machine to be used with various materials and for various types of work. At the same time, this parameter significantly affects the cost. Therefore, when choosing, you need to proceed from how important a variety of possibilities is for you - so as not to overpay for extra nozzles that turned out to be useless in fact.
Note that this item is indicated only for engravers (see "Device") - for models of other types, specific types of nozzles are given in the corresponding item (see below).
Battery in set
The number of batteries supplied with the respective tool (see "Power source"). This item may also indicate whether the tool has a built-in battery.
The most popular battery-powered kit option these days is
2 batteries. This provides additional benefits that are especially convenient for long-term continuous use of the tool. So, when one battery runs out of charge, you can quickly replace it with another; and while one battery is in use, the second can be charged. This allows you to minimize or even eliminate breaks for charging.
Kits with one battery are not very common: these are mainly entry-level tools designed for small volumes of work, when breaks for charging are quite acceptable.
In addition, many modern cordless tools are supplied
without batteries. This configuration assumes that the customer will purchase additional batteries at his own discretion (many models are compatible with several brands of power elements at once). In addition, this option may be useful if you already have a battery on hand. This happens quite often, since many well-known manufacturers use universal batteries suitable for different types of branded power tools. So, for example, a battery from a previously purchased jigsaw or grinder may well be compatible with an engraver or renovator from the same company.
As for non-removable batteries, this is a rather
...rare and specific option. Such tools are as compact as possible, but the batteries themselves cannot be quickly changed - so during work you will inevitably have to take breaks for charging. Therefore, this power supply method is typical for low-power tools. In them, small dimensions are more important than a long period of continuous operation, in addition, low capacity allows you to achieve good autonomy even with small sizes (and, accordingly, capacity) of batteries.Battery platform
The name of the battery platform supported by the device. A single battery platform is used to combine various power tools of the same brand into one line (renovator, engraver, screwdriver, grinder, circular saw, etc.). Devices on the same platform use interchangeable batteries and chargers. Thanks to this, for example, there is no need to select a battery for each individual model of a power tool, because one purchased as a spare battery can be used in various power tools, depending on the situation or as needed. Batteries of the same platform basically differ from each other except perhaps in capacity.
Battery capacity
The capacity of the battery that the tool with the corresponding type of power is equipped with (see above).
Capacity is essentially the amount of energy a battery can store. The more powerful the device, the more energy it needs to work and the higher the battery capacity should be so that it does not have to be charged too often. At the same time, capacious batteries have a large weight and dimensions, which significantly affects the convenience of work. Therefore, the power of the battery tool is relatively low — otherwise, too bulky batteries would have to be used.
To some extent, this parameter also determines the time that the tool is able to work without recharging. However, taking into account the fact that different models can noticeably differ in power consumption, it makes sense to compare with each other by battery properties only tools with very similar specifications — and even then very approximately.
Note that the same tool can work with batteries of different capacities — it is enough that they are compatible in terms of connectors and operating voltage. However, if you are looking for a spare battery or a replacement for a failed battery, it is best to choose a variant of the same capacity as the original one.
Compatible batteries
Battery models compatible with the tool.
When choosing a tool, this information is relevant mainly for models without a battery in the kit (see "Complete battery"). For tools that come with batteries, the battery model is more of a reference—it's mostly "for the future" if a spare or replacement battery is needed. However, this data can also be useful in the selection process - for example, to assess compatibility with an existing battery on the farm, or to find detailed data on compatible batteries and determine how they meet your requirements (in particular, there are formulas that allow you to determine the time of continuous operation from a specific battery; these formulas can be found in special sources).
Charging time
The time to fully charge the battery that the tool is equipped with from a standard charger (when using other batteries or a “non-original” charger, this time may vary both in one direction and in the other).
For battery tools in general, see "Power source". And charging time data gives you an idea of how you'll need to organize your workflow and how long breaks you'll need to charge your batteries. The specific duration of the process will depend both on the capacity of the battery (all else being equal, a more capacious model takes longer to charge), and on the technologies used by the manufacturer to increase charging efficiency.
Also note that the specific meaning of this parameter also depends on the number of batteries in the kit. Recall that there are often several of them at once (see "Batteries in set"), and while one battery is working, the rest can be charged. This allows you to reduce interruptions to a minimum, and even completely do without them. But if there is only one battery, charging breaks will inevitably be required in full. This is especially true for tools with a built-in power source (in models with replaceable batteries, the situation can be corrected by purchasing additional batteries).
Charger
A device for charging the batteries used in the tool with the appropriate power supply. For models supplied with such a device, the charger model may be additionally specified in the characteristics. This information can be useful not only for finding a spare or replacement charger, but also in case the household has other cordless tools and / or batteries for them. The fact is that many manufacturers nowadays use universal batteries that are compatible with a whole set of tools from the same brand; so, for example, a complete charger may be quite suitable for a cordless grinder or drill from the same manufacturer.
On the other hand, a lot of modern cordless tools come
without a charger at all. This option will be optimal, first of all, if a compatible memory is already available, and there is simply no need to overpay for a second device. In addition, the lack of a charger will be appreciated by those who want to choose this accessory separately, without relying on the manufacturer's decision.
Additional handle
The presence of
an additional handle in the design or delivery set of the tool (it can be either built-in or removable).
This handle makes it easier to hold the tool with two hands, which is important when processing hard materials that require significant effort — or in delicate work, where precision and maximum control are important. Note that, as a standard, it is done based on right-handed users, however, many tools allow you to change the location of the handle, for the convenience of "left-handed" work.