Patent ID: 7954557

Claim:
A method for controlled tool operation, the method comprising the steps of: providing a hand-held tool including; a lug nut driver operatively associated with the tool; and a lug nut driver controller operatively associated with the tool, the controller being adapted for sensing a magnitude of torque applied by the tool and being adapted to alert the operator of a torque error; providing a control unit having a first connection communicating with a cradle and a second connection communicating with a shop management system, the cradle being dimensioned for docking the tool to enable communication between the tool and the control unit, providing a shop management system being in detachable communication with the tool, the shop management system controllably generating work orders relating to lug nut driving operations; providing a display operatively associated with the tool and the controller; retrieving information for at least one work order on the shop management system; transmitting at least one work order to the control unit for storage in the control unit; selecting a work order stored on the control unit and transmitting the work order to the tool; performing a lug nut torque application related to the work order using the tool; recording service information including data corresponding to the actual torque applied; transmitting the service information including the data corresponding to the actual torque applied to the control unit; and transmitting the service information including the data corresponding to the actual torque applied from the control unit to the shop management system.