Crimp tool for open barrel terminals?

[nanofrog]

Nice and clean.   

[2N3055]

Nice work. 

[Lomax]

Apologies for the necro, but thought you'd like to see what I just stumbled upon: the Phoenix Contact CrimpFox-M:



Looks quite familiar, doesn't it!?

[shteii01]

Anyone tried Astro Pneumatic 9477?
https://www.amazon.com/Astro-9477-Professional-Interchangeable-Tool/dp/B0045CUMLQ

At 65-70 USD seems like a good deal.

[vltr]

Anyone tried Astro Pneumatic 9477?
https://www.amazon.com/Astro-9477-Professional-Interchangeable-Tool/dp/B0045CUMLQ

At 65-70 USD seems like a good deal.

I've used them.  They're generally OK.  I wasn't impressed with the quality of crimp I got on a few different open barrel connectors, but they worked pretty nicely on the regular red/yellow/blue crimps and some uninsulated ones as well.  I don't think they really compete with some of the more professional oriented(whenever something is cheap and has the word professional in its name, you know it's not)  crimpers in this thread, but they're a decent start to ratcheting crimp tools.

[Neomys Sapiens]

Don't get them confused with the real Astro crimp tools!
https://www.astrotool.com/

They are as genuine as 'Fuke' multimeters!

[shteii01]

Don't get them confused with the real Astro crimp tools!
https://www.astrotool.com/

They are as genuine as 'Fuke' multimeters!

Good point.

However.  I was actually looking at some other Astro Pneumatic tools the other week.  I did not actually know that they made/rebranded (I assume they are rebranding) a crimping tool.  Surprised the Hek out of me.  This crimper came up in one of the Amazon deals, otherwise I would have never seen it.

[nanofrog]

Don't get them confused with the real Astro crimp tools!
https://www.astrotool.com/

Their products always remind me of what Daniels Manufacturing Corp. offers.

[Neomys Sapiens]

That's not coincidental. Most of their products are covered by US/NATO standardisation.
And any part of M22520/X crimp tools are supposed to be interchangeable.
This applies to the dies and positioners, but probably extends to those spare parts for which a NSN exists.

For the same reason there is a Belzer wirestripper that is identical to the Stripmaster.

[biot]

In all the threads about crimp tools, the one thing I haven't come across is a recommendation for a tool that can crimp those regular Dupont terminals -- in one go. I realize the Engineer tool does it well, but that's three steps. Pressmaster has several dies that appear to have different front/back parts, but nothing that will match those Dupont terminals.

So does such a tool even exist? Particularly hoping nanofrog will have an answer here!

[nanofrog]

In all the threads about crimp tools, the one thing I haven't come across is a recommendation for a tool that can crimp those regular Dupont terminals -- in one go. I realize the Engineer tool does it well, but that's three steps. Pressmaster has several dies that appear to have different front/back parts, but nothing that will match those Dupont terminals.

So does such a tool even exist? Particularly hoping nanofrog will have an answer here!

The least expensive route I'm aware of would be to search for SN-28B on eBay or similar (i.e. $10.99 shipped to the US). Bit of a gamble, but at that price, I have to admit it could be quite tempting.

That said, the quality of the generic Chinese ratcheting crimp tools is questionable IME. The reason being it may not be able to adjust it into specs at all (I've run into this; hence the gamble comment above  ).

So I'd recommend dealing with the additional steps involved with using the Engineer PA-09 to get quality crimps without spending an arm + leg (you'd be looking at ~$250 - $650  ). BTW I'm assuming low volume bench use; if this isn't the case, I may be able to make better recommendations.

Also, setting your country in your user profile will help with recommendations. Particularly in regard to pricing & availability.

[nanofrog]

D-sub crimpers is another way you can look for them.

FWIW, I use an AMP 58448-2 (used one that's a lot easier on the wallet  ). As it happens, it's actually a rebranded Daniels Mfg. Corp. DCT4-130, so there's more than one way to acquire one if you're interested.

You could also look into a Daniels GMT series (find the one you need by the connector type), and see about locating a decent used unit.

I only have 4.8mm/.187" and 6.3mm/.250" open barrel dies for my Pressmaster, but they also make a 2.8mm/.110" die (4300-3150). Anything else small, I've a Engineer PA-09 as these add up rather quickly, even when buying used. So I'm willing to live with a little inconvenience rather than spending ever more $$$ on crimp tools.

[Lomax]

Pressmaster has several dies that appear to have different front/back parts, but nothing that will match those Dupont terminals.

I only have 4.8mm/.187" and 6.3mm/.250" open barrel dies for my Pressmaster, but they also make a 2.8mm/.110" die (4300-3150).

I use the Pressmaster 4300-3150 die to crimp "Dupont" (or "Mini PV" as they're also known) connectors with ok-ish results. It's important that the wire gripping part of the contact doesn't protrude beyond the crimping die - easily adjusted after placing the contact into the tool and closing it down until it just grabs it. The image on the left below shows the contact protruding; crimping in this position will crush and bend the contact. The picture on the right shows the contact after adjustment.



And here's a finished crimp:



Clearly, the insulation wrapping portion fails to grab the wire properly, and pierces rather than wraps as it is supposed to do, but the connection is good, and you can always bend the wrapping portion further with a pair of pliers. I tend to use heat-shrink tubing on Dupont connectors rather than the dedicated housings, unless I need to fit a large number of contacts to the same header; I prefer the deeper grip this allows on the mating pin and heat shrink fortifies the assembly somewhat. And yes, I know I stripped a bit too much off the wire - just a quick one to show you all the result of the Pressmaster die.

Edit: Someone should tell Pressmaster about the popularity of the Raspberry Pi / Beaglebone etc - there are millions of hobbyists (and plenty of pros too!) with no good way of crimping the only connector that mates with them. Can we have a dedicated Dupont die for the MCT please? Better still: a die that also includes positions for Molex Mini-Fit JR and Micro-Fit. I for one would happily pay a handsome penny for such a chunk of metal...

[nanofrog]

I use the Pressmaster 4300-3150 die to crimp "Dupont" (or "Mini PV" as they're also known) connectors with ok-ish results. It's important that the wire gripping part of the contact doesn't protrude beyond the crimping die - easily adjusted after placing the contact into the tool and closing it down until it just grabs it. The image on the left below shows the contact protruding; crimping in this position will crush and bend the contact. The picture on the right shows the contact after adjustment.

Clearly, the insulation wrapping portion fails to grab the wire properly, and pierces rather than wraps as it is supposed to do, but the connection is good, and you can always bend the wrapping portion further with a pair of pliers. I tend to use heat-shrink tubing on Dupont connectors rather than the dedicated housings, unless I need to fit a large number of contacts to the same header; I prefer the deeper grip this allows on the mating pin and heat shrink fortifies the assembly somewhat. And yes, I know I stripped a bit too much off the wire - just a quick one to show you all the result of the Pressmaster die.

Nicely done on the photos. 

That die is definitely making a hatchet job of the insulation portion.   

FWIW, I'm also fond of using heatshrink like that. 

Edit: Someone should tell Pressmaster about the popularity of the Raspberry Pi / Beaglebone etc - there are millions of hobbyists (and plenty of pros too!) with no good way of crimping the only connector that mates with them. Can we have a dedicated Dupont die for the MCT please? Better still: a die that also includes positions for Molex Mini-Fit JR and Micro-Fit. I for one would happily pay a handsome penny for such a chunk of metal...

Time for an email barrage. 

Out of curiosity, how's the used market for crimpers in the UK?

[Lomax]

Nicely done on the photos. 

Thank you - though all credit should go to Ricoh and their Caplio GX200; finest macro ever seen on a pocket camera - I often use mine as a kind of microscope!

That die is definitely making a hatchet job of the insulation portion.   

I knew you would say that - but it is true. The die has a dimple in the top portion which folds the "wings" into the cable. I'm almost tempted to get a second one and grind off the dimple with a... die grinder.

FWIW, I'm also fond of using heatshrink like that. 

See; I'm not crazy 

Time for an email barrage. 

I was thinking I might send them an email, just to see what they say... I suspect copyright will be the issue they raise.

Out of curiosity, how's the used market for crimpers in the UK?

Pretty bad. The UK has gone from 70% of GDP from industry to 20% in just a few decades. No one makes anything here any more; it's all "money for nothing" now. Casino style. Consequently anything that resembles a professional/industrial tool is rare on the second-hand market. I buy a lot of stuff from Germany instead. But if you're looking for a dodgy financial instrument, or a tax evasion scheme, business is booming!

Edit: Don't get me wrong: if you can make money sitting on your arse, twiddling your thumbs, good on ya! Congratulations. I just fear the laws of thermodynamics take a different view, and that chickens have it in them to eventually come home to roost.

[Monkeh]

Edit: Someone should tell Pressmaster about the popularity of the Raspberry Pi / Beaglebone etc - there are millions of hobbyists (and plenty of pros too!) with no good way of crimping the only connector that mates with them. Can we have a dedicated Dupont die for the MCT please?

Obtain yourself some connectors with a modern style of insulation clamp. Look at JST RE and RF.

[Lomax]

Couldn't resist; here's the humble 555 as captured by the GX200 - full frame followed by a pixel:pixel crop.

[nanofrog]

I knew you would say that - but it is true. The die has a dimple in the top portion which folds the "wings" into the cable. I'm almost tempted to get a second one and grind off the dimple with a... die grinder.

Worth a shot.

See; I'm not crazy 

I'm sure I am though, as I've gone to buying the stuff by the reel. 

I was thinking I might send them an email, just to see what they say... I suspect copyright will be the issue they raise.

Can't hurt to try.

Pretty bad. The UK has gone from 70% of GDP from industry to 20% in just a few decades. No one makes anything here any more; it's all "money for nothing" now. Casino style. Consequently anything that resembles a professional/industrial tool is rare on the second-hand market. I buy a lot of stuff from Germany instead. But if you're looking for a dodgy financial instrument, or a tax evasion scheme, business is booming!

Edit: Don't get me wrong: if you can make money sitting on your arse, twiddling your thumbs, good on ya! Congratulations. I just fear the laws of thermodynamics take a different view, and that chickens have it in them to eventually come home to roost.

At least Germany is an option for used tooling. 

As per the financial stuff, it's the same here. What really gets me, is those responsible for creating this mess won't likely suffer the consequences. 

[biot]

D-sub crimpers is another way you can look for them.

FWIW, I use an AMP 58448-2 (used one that's a lot easier on the wallet  ). As it happens, it's actually a rebranded Daniels Mfg. Corp. DCT4-130, so there's more than one way to acquire one if you're interested.

Thanks for the great advice, nanofrog. I'll be on the lookout for one of those at a good used price, and use my SN-28B in the mean time (of course I have one. Hate it.)

Lomax, those pictures are amazing. Excellent example of why the wrong tool just isn't going to crimp well.

[nanofrog]

Thanks for the great advice, nanofrog. I'll be on the lookout for one of those at a good used price, and use my SN-28B in the mean time (of course I have one. Hate it.)

You're welcome. 

What's wrong with your SN-28B?

I ask, as you *might* be able to adjust it to the correct crimp pressure. If it's the die, Lomax's idea of using a die grinder (Dremel, Proxxon, ...) might also be worth a shot.