Lead forming tool design for 3D printer

[ChrisKiwi]

Just found this on thingiverse http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:26025 thought it might be useful.

[notsob]

you can get them at your local component supply store

jaycar TH-1810 for example

[ampdoctor]

I hate those things.  The bends always look like crap when you're done.  Unless you're populating a board with something on the order of 50-100 axial components, you'll get much better results both visually and mechanically by slowing down and using a pair of needle nose pliers.

[ChrisKiwi]

The bends always look like crap when you're done.

I've never had a problem, perhaps your just blaming the tools because you can't get it to work properly?

[ChrisKiwi]

you can get them at your local component supply store

jaycar TH-1810 for example

Yes, $9.90 if you live in NZ.  I'm assuming you followed the link.  If you had a 3D printer why spend $9.90 buying one when you could print a custom one, or several and give them away to your friends 

[ampdoctor]

The bends always look like crap when you're done.

I've never had a problem, perhaps your just blaming the tools because you can't get it to work properly?

No problem using the tool.  It's just that the lead bender tends to make the bend rather rounded whereas if you make the bend with a pair of pliers you'll get a sharp bend with a very tight radius that looks crisp and professional.  Another issue I've had with them is that they don't always bend the leads at exactly the right place relative to the through hole location.  Then you're left with leads that are either angled in or out slightly.  When this happens you can either say screw it and just leave them that way or you're back to pliers and adjusting the bend location anyway.

With the pliers method, you just center the component between the pads, grab the leads at the through hole's centerline and bend.  The leads are now going straight down thru the center of the pads resulting in a beautiful solder joint.  It takes a few more seconds this way but the results are significantly better.

[LEECH666]

I do it the same way as ampdoctor. I own one of those lead forming tools tho. I hardly ever use it.

Cheers,
Florian

[G7PSK]

I often use a surgical staple remover to make bends in leads, they produce a nice omega shape in the lead for vibration absorbing and heat expansion purposes.