Affordable crimp tools?

[elektrinis]

Hello,

We have a project and upcoming small production run. We are going to use this 1.5mm pitch connector:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/1-292228-7/A101022TR-ND/1863243
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/1-353908-7/A99793-ND/1864005
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/353907-1/A99378TR-ND/1938173

Unfortunately we were unable to find a matching crimping tool, that is affordable (?$200). We have tried several from Chinese "Pro's kit" and Japanese "Engineer" - no good, crimps are too wide and will not fit in to housing.
So do we really need to buy $2500 crimp pliers (seriously?) to get some quality crimps?
We have this hand tool, but can't find suitable dies online:
http://www.te.com/en/products/application-tooling/browse-products/all-products/hand-tools/manual-hand-tools/pro-crimper-3-hand-tool.html

Edit: TE says this is the only compatible tool, $1900:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/1729069-1/A99879-ND/2039998
This is, um, outrageous.

[krivx]

The Japanese Engineer brand makes several crimping tools for different sizes, the PA-09 does small pitches (http://www.engineer.jp/en/products/pa09e.html). I'm not sure if I've used it for those exact pin but I have used it for 1.5mm pitch connector pins.

TBH, for a production run I would look at ratcheting tools for repeatable crimps, especially if you have multiple people with different experience levels. How many jobs are you doing?

edit: forgot to mention, they also do an "ultra-precise" tool with removable die down to 0.7mm size http://www.engineer.jp/en/products/pad11_13e.html

[elektrinis]

We have this PAD-11 from your link. There are many problems with it:
1. two-step crimps - conductor and insulation done in separate operations.
2. no ratcheting and depth adjustment
3. in one position crimps are too wide, in other too narrow and crushed until breaks apart and impossible to remove.
so waste of money and time.

Search continues...

[krivx]

We have this PAD-11 from your link. There are many problems with it:
1. two-step crimps - conductor and insulation done in separate operations.

I think this is where the cost goes - every non-expensive crimping tool seems to do it this way.

Is it possible to outsource this? Just buy pre-made cables?

[nanofrog]

We have this hand tool, but can't find suitable dies online:
http://www.te.com/en/products/application-tooling/browse-products/all-products/hand-tools/manual-hand-tools/pro-crimper-3-hand-tool.html

That's a rebranded DCT from Daniels Manufacturing Corp.

DCT Page. Think you're looking for a DCT4-130 die (Sub-D Contact 20-24 / 24-28)

Few other manufacturers you could look at, should you need it:
Wezag
Pressmaster
Rennsteig (they offer more standard models with locators AFAIK, should you want that)

Wiha rebrands crimpers from some of the above manufacturers, so that may be a source as well (certainly easier to find & purchase online). KCToolco.com sells Wiha lower than anywhere else I've seen (PM sent on this). 

[elektrinis]

Thank you nanofrog very much, will have some more options to choose from.
We prefer sellers in EU, because import from elsewhere is quite expensive.

We already have the "pro crimper", however it has no suitable blades... And we are a little tired of experimenting with various crimpers that should be compatible and are not. It is a pity that almost never crimp profile or at least terminal or blade photo is shown... Will have a look at those links.

[nanofrog]

Thank you nanofrog very much, will have some more options to choose from.
We prefer sellers in EU, because import from elsewhere is quite expensive.

We already have the "pro crimper", however it has no suitable blades... And we are a little tired of experimenting with various crimpers that should be compatible and are not. It is a pity that almost never crimp profile or at least terminal or blade photo is shown... Will have a look at those links.

Glad it helped. 

I'd contact Daniel's first, and see who their EU distributors are. Worst case, you may be able to order what you need directly from Daniels (though potentially a PITA, even if the costs are acceptable).

FWIW, Wezag and Rennsteig are German companies, and Pressmaster is located in Sweden. So either brand should be accessible to you should it turn out the Daniels die set isn't feasible. Xcelite is another rebrander of Pressmaster's crimp tools, so that may be a source as well.

Also, it would help if you go into your user profile and set your country. That will display your nation's flag, which makes it easier to post relevant links. 

[ajb]

Supposedly there is a Molex cross for the Mini CT terminals (or at least that's what one cable assembler told me recently), so it may be worth looking into the tooling for that and see if it works for you.