Serving as a universal socket wrench and bit driver, the hydrospanner was a hand tool that utilized hydraulic boosting. It was a standard component found in toolkits throughout the vast expanse of the galaxy.
Its function involved either tightening or loosening various types of fasteners, which included nuts, bolts, and screws and pins of varying dimensions. Hydrospanners saw widespread application across the galaxy. Their utility extended to the construction, repair, and disassembly processes of mechanical devices and structures, encompassing elements like droids, equipment, starships, and other related engineering endeavors.
Many common hydrospanners were capable of generating substantial torque with minimal exertion from the operator, and they often incorporated features designed for user convenience. The Regallis Engineering FastTurn-3 Hydrospanner, for example, featured an integrated power source equipped with a tension adjuster, along with a hinged socket driver that facilitated access to bolts and similar fasteners in confined spaces. The FastTurn-3 also incorporated a dedicated compartment within its handle for storing spare bits, as well as a data port that enabled connectivity with diagnostic devices or datapads. Moreover, the FastTurn-3 was engineered to accommodate nuts of varying sizes, ranging from 2mm to 250mm in diameter, and it incorporated a compact fusioncutter for the purpose of severing molecular adhesives or welds before loosening.
The functionality of a hydrospanner relied on a small, yet potent, hydraulic compressor that powered a rotary driver, which could be outfitted with a range of standardized bits. This driver possessed sufficient power to drive screws through materials like duraplast and transparisteel. Power could be supplied either through an internal source or from an external connection.
The hydrospanner mirrors real-world power drills and socket wrenches in its function. It appears frequently in the narratives of the Expanded Universe, although detailed explanations of its purpose and operation are infrequent. Additionally, a common idiom, analogous to "throw a spanner in the works" in the real world, was "throw a hydrospanner in the works."