Wanted: Tyco Crimp Tool

[Uncle Vernon]

There are markup and then there are markups, but so far this is outrageous!
I am trying to source a crimp tool for Tyco Micro Mate-N-Lok connectors and thus far cannot find one for less than the price of a small car. I have one well worn crimper at present which cost me around $150 a decade or so ago.

The tool I am after is Tyco p/n: 91501-1 which is going at element14 for $1012.44.

Can anyone recommend a good  sensibly priced alternative source or tool? Sensible suggestions welcome.

[dumpystig]

DigiKey (US) = $622
RS Components (UK) = £388

Still an awful lot of dosh for a crimp tool...

[Uncle Vernon]

DigiKey (US) = $622
RS Components (UK) = £388

Still an awful lot of dosh for a crimp tool...

Thanks dumpystig

Yeah Digikey AU is $649.63 and RS-Australia is $640.00 both list prior to tax shipping and the few percent of discount I may be able to get. They must be smoking the good stuff over at element14.
I was expecting around the $300 mark and that is still robbery for a non production tool.  I wont be using these connectors anywhere other than where I absolutely have to.

Cheers for the reply.

[dumpystig]

No prob pal.
Whatever you end up paying it doesn't look like it's gona be cheap; p*ss-taking on a grand scale. The guys over at Element 14 are probably wading knee deep through 'the good stuff'.

[Jimmy]

and they wonder why no one uses there connectors as standard bring the tooling prices to a reasonable level

[mikeselectricstuff]

For most connectors you can get away with a generic tool of the right size - if you are doing enough of them that this is slow or inconvenient, the labour saved will usually cover the cost of a good tool.
 

[PetrosA]

If you don't have to have that inline crimper and you can use a head that's only rated down to 22 AWG, you could pick the dies needed (558) and the tool (560) on this page for way less...

http://order.waytekwire.com/products2/M50/340/200/500/1/Frames%20And%20Dies/Crimping%20Tools/Tools/



The other thing to check is whether you can get replacement parts for your crimper. It might be the cheaper option.

[Uncle Vernon]

For most connectors you can get away with a generic tool of the right size - if you are doing enough of them that this is slow or inconvenient, the labour saved will usually cover the cost of a good tool.

Battling with the generic tool is prettymuch what I have been doing. Or more specifically a very similar AMP tool. To say it's fiddly is an understatement, it crimps OK but unless you are dead eye accurate each and every time the connector pin is distorted just enough to make the plug assemblies difficult to align.

I don't have the quantities necessary to make outsourcing worthwhile but I am wasting enough time to make it a pain. I guess my only option is to suck it in and fork over too many dollars. I don't expect a hobby shop price but $650 odd is a bit rich. I  guess this is Tyco's way of recouping the volume discounts to the OEMs, hit up on the end users for tooling. The pin and shell prices are quite reasonable.

[Uncle Vernon]

The other thing to check is whether you can get replacement parts for your crimper. It might be the cheaper option.

No can do with the tool I am using the dies are not replaceable, but I do have a box full of others tools so it may be an option with one of them.

If you don't have to have that inline crimper and you can use a head that's only rated down to 22 AWG, you could pick the dies needed (558) and the tool (560) on this page for way less...

http://order.waytekwire.com/products2/M50/340/200/500/1/Frames%20And%20Dies/Crimping%20Tools/Tools/

Thanks PetrosA, I couldn't open your link, but used it as a reference for some other searches. The die I found that looks equivalent to the 558 looks like it suits Mate-N-Lok not Micro Mate-N-Lok, I'm not looking at the same site however so could be my error. 

Your option looks the way to go if there is something out there. Thank you for your efforts.

[PetrosA]

Try this:

http://goo.gl/CZCpZ

You may be right about the incompatibility with micro, though.

[Precisiontools]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-Rennsteig-AMP-Mate-N-LOK-Crimp-tool-Crimper-GERMANY-/140573496855?pt=BI_Electrical_Equipment_Tools&hash=item20bad55617

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Harley-OEM-AMP-TYCO-crimp-tool-crimper-MATE-N-LOK-/250849847732?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a67d0e9b4

The top link is the go...Rennsteig are nicely made and you have the utility of changing out the jaws for other terminals. Check his link on the the page to the Rennsteig site and check the range of jaws.

Cheers.