The Boltup® Calculator has five options on the home page:

For all the options with the exception of the Quick Torque option you will be able to choose between torque and tension.

ANSI / MSS / ISO Flange: This option will calculate or recommend a bolt load for any ANSI/ASME, MSS, or ISO flange. Calculation of the bolt load can be from the operating conditions (e.g. pressures and temperatures) or you may also select to specify a bolt load or stress. As a further option, Hydratight will recommend a bolt load for your application.

Custom Weld Neck Flange: If your application is a special flange such as used on a pressure vessel or heat exchanger, and you have all the material and dimensional details, this option will calculate a minimum bolt load for you. You may then enter your own additional bolt load or stress. As a further option, subject to data you have entered, Hydratight will recommend a bolt load for your application.

Proprietary Flange / Hub or Clamp Connector / Engineered Joint: Each of these options calculates either a torque or tension value from your specified bolt load or bolt stress. It is not possible to recommend a bolt load for these applications.

Select Proprietary Flange if your application is a flange designed to a proprietary manufacturer's design. You will need to ask the manufacturer to provide a required bolt load or stress.

Select Hub or Clamp Connectors if this is your application. It is usual for the manufacturer to provide a bolt stress.

For any other application you should select Engineered Joint, provided a gasket is not fitted. Applications will include most mechanical clamping designs using bolting or studding to clamp two metallic plates together. Examples include the joints in diesel engines, turbines, rolling mills, cranes, bearings, etc. For a greater explanation please read Appendix 1.0 at the end of these instructions.

There is also the option for a Quick Torque calculation. This option will allow you to select a suitable RSL wrench and calculate the tool pressure for you. You may choose between a standard ANSI/ISO/MSS flange, bolt diameter or nut A/F. Since insufficient information is provided for calculating a bolt load or stress, the calculation will be based on a bolt stress of 50000 psi or 345 N/mm˛, based on 50% of the yield strength of A193 Grade B7 bolt material. This is a commonly accepted value used by industries in the event no better information is available.

You also need to set the default units you wish to work with. Choose between Metric or Imperial. You may still change units as you progress through the calculations.