Thanks again nanofrog.
That Waytek crimper (re-branded Pressmaster "MCT"?), as of August 2016:
- Is it still made in Sweden? I contacted Waytek but haven't received a response yet.
- Are the dies accurate and durable? They are expensive, I've seen them sold for $40-$111.
I'm pretty precise and don't need the tool to do the work for me. What the tool does have to do, if I understand crimping, is: Be accurate (in this case the die machining?), apply enough force to cause the proper "Cold Weld", and not fall apart due to use. Have you any experience with the "MCT" model by chance?
BTW, on a minor note and just for the heck of it, what do you think of those hammer crimers for large terminals? I tried it out on some 6AWG welding wire and a ring terminal, dremeled it apart to take a look.. idk. It is said that a "cold weld" fuses the wire strands and terminal together like a solid piece. How much of an exaggeration is that? Ever dissected/teardown a good crimp before? Any pics?
Wezag has a number of interchangeable systems. It also has a system with two handle styles (CS30 or CK100) that use the same dies.
The price on this one is seems ok: http://www.ebay.com/itm/S-G-Tool-Aid-18980-Master-Ratcheting-Terminal-Crimper-Set-/191305543811?hash=item2c8ab2f083&item=191305543811&vxp=mtr
Anyone use it? Made in?
Just a thought that comes to mind: How hard/expensive would it be to get a machine shop to machine a die out of a piece of steel? And what type of steel would be used? You know.. find a good tool (ratcheting or hydraulic), and then just make the dies you need.
Am I the only one that thinks it shouldn't be this problematic/difficult to find a crimping solution?
Just a thought that comes to mind: How hard/expensive would it be to get a machine shop to machine a die out of a piece of steel? And what type of steel would be used? You know.. find a good tool (ratcheting or hydraulic), and then just make the dies you need.
Am I the only one that thinks it shouldn't be this problematic/difficult to find a crimping solution?The setup costs would very likely cost more than buying a ready made die. Of a name brand/high quality tool, the Pressmaster MCT* had the lowest TCO when I was looking.
FWIW, you can get dies and use them in a 1 ton arbor press (Panavise makes the 561 Crimp Press Retrofit Kit for the die shape of the kit photo previously posted).
Another alternative, and the one I'd suggest if you're going to pass on the MCT, is look for used name brand crimpers in good shape on eBay (they come up regularly, and real deals can be had if you're patient ).
* Waytek 560 being the least expensive way to get one and the dies they offer, even for the Weatherpack die used for automotive connectors (i.e. GM).
nanofrog, your information is excellent and you have been helpful to the extreme. Thank you! Is there a "points" system on this forum? I'd giver you a star.
Yes, the MCT is the most tempting I have seen thus far, I'm just concerned it might not have the dies I need. I'll do a little more homework on what I need.
$80 per die does seem kind of steep. I never paid half that for any crimp tool, all of which I got used. Penny wise and pound foolish, perhaps.
I ended up with a wide selection, from MIL pin and socket to PIDG to RG58. I'm only missing tools for Deutsch terminals and ferrules, but I haven't needed those, yet.
Earlier Weidmuller Stripax Plus 2.5 was mentioned. I actually got one for free once, it had bad 'teeths' (Not the cable cutter, the stripping part) and I've been looking around for spare teeths... I been using other strippers and the spare parts have been easy to find. Maybe I'm just blind ^^
Mechanical, without interchangeable inserts
Is the Pressmaster 4300-3150 die set the correct die for crimping stuff like Molex KK and similar connectors?
P-MASTER WIHA LAPP CEMBRE ABIKO DESCRIPTION
####################################################################################################################################
Modular
====================================================================================================================================
4300-3144 43144 62000125 4300-3144 OMP45 RJ45 connectors 8/8, 8/6, 8/4
4300-3132 43132 62000126 4300-3132 OMP11 RJ11 connectors 6/6, 6/4, 6/2
Turned Pin
====================================================================================================================================
4300-3147 43147 62000127 4300-3147 OPB0140 Turned pin connectors 0.14-4mm²
4300-3148 43148 62000128 4300-3148 OPB6099 Turned pin connectors 6-10 mm²
Endsleeves
====================================================================================================================================
4300-3127 43127 62000115 4300-3127 OEB0210 Endsleeves connectors 0.25-10mm²
4300-3153 43153 62000116 4300-3153 OEB1625 Endsleeves connectors 16-25 mm²
4300-3154 43154 62000117 4300-3154 OEB3550 Endsleeves connectors 35-50 mm²
Insulated Terminals
====================================================================================================================================
4300-3129 43129 62000110 4300-3129 OAA0525 Red/blue insulated connectors, 0.5-2.5 mm²
4300-3128 43128 62000111 4300-3128 OAA0160 Green/yellow insulated connectors 0.1-6mm²
4300-3258 43258 - 4300-3258 OSW0525 Red/blue heat shrink connectors
4300-3262 43262 - 4300-3262 OSW0360 Green/yellow heat shrink connectors
Open Barrel
====================================================================================================================================
4300-3150 43150 62000118 - ORB0110 Open barrel connectors, 0.1-0.25/0.25-0.5/0.5-1.0 mm²
4300-3151 43151 - - - Open barrel connectors, 0.5-1.5/1.5-2.5 mm²
4300-3146 43146 62000120 4300-3146 ORB0560 Open barrel connectors, 0.5-1.5/1.5-2.5/4-6 mm²
4300-3202 43202 - - - Like 4300-3146, but crimps are lower and wider
4300-3709 43709 - - - 6.3 mm Flag Terminals 0.75-2.5 mm²
4300-3427 43427 - - - 6.3 mm Flag Terminals 1.0-2.5 mm²
4300-3348 43348 - - - 8mm Flag Terminals 1.0-2.5 mm²
Closed Barrel
====================================================================================================================================
4300-3241 43241 - 4300-3241 - Non-insulated connectors 4-6/10 mm²
4300-3142 43142 62000112 - OKB0560 Non Insulated connectors 0.5-6 mm²
4300-3137 43137 62000113 4300-3137 OKB0725 Non-Insulated connectors 0.75-2.5mm²
4300-3139 43139 62000114 - OWB4099 Non-Insulated connectors 4-10 mm²
Coaxial
====================================================================================================================================
4300-3136 43136 62000123 4300-3136 OCC1113 RG58, RG59, RG62AU, BNC/TNC Coax connectors
4300-3141 43141 62000121 - OFO5432 SMA, SMB, SFR, ST, SC Fiber Optic connectors
4300-3140 43140 62000122 4300-3140 OCC0908 RG174, RG179, BNC/TNC Coax connectors
4300-3138 43138 62000124 4300-3138 - RG6, Belden 1694A, Twinax BNC, CATV F type connectors
4300-3386 43386 - - - CATV connectors RG6, 59 Sqr 1.72/Hex 8.23 mm
4300-3181 43181 - - - BNC, TNC connectors RG6, Belden 8281, 1694A Hex 1.73/8.23/6.48 mm
4300-3247 43247 - - - BNC, TNC connectors Sqr 0.7 Hex 3.85/3.25 mm
4300-3182 43182 - - - BNC, TNC connectors Sqr 1.07 Hex 8.23/6.48 mm
4300-3249 43249 - - - BNC, TNC connectors Sqr 1.72 Hex 5.41 mm
4300-3459 43459 - - - BNC, TNC connectors Sqr 0.73/1.72 Hex 3.25/4.30/5.41 mm
4300-3460 43460 - - - BNC, TNC connectors Sqr 1.20 Hex 3.25/4.52/5.41 mm
4300-3404 43404 - - - BNC, TNC connectors Hex 1.73/2.03/2.54/10.90 mm
4300-3403 43403 - - - BNC connectors on BT 2002, 2003 cable Hex 1.46/5.18/6.81 mm
Proprietary
=====================================================================================================================================
4300-3727 43727 - - - Metri-Pack 150 & 280 type connectors 0.75-1.5/2.5-4.0/4.0-6.0 mm²
4300-3242 43242 - - - Weather Pack type connectors 0.5-0.8/1.0-2.0/3 mm²
4300-3706 43706 - - - Automotive type connectors with Wire Seal 0.5-1.5/1.5-2.5/4.0-6.0 mm²
4300-3707 43707 - - - Automotive type connectors wrap-around crimp 0.5-1.5/1.5-2.5/4.0-6.0 mm²
4300-3708 43708 - - - Automotive type connectors over-lap crimp 0.5-1.5/1.5-2.5/4.0-6.0 mm²
4300-3541 43541 - - - Solarlok, turned pin type, 2.5-4.0/6.0 mm²
4300-3540 43540 - 4300-3540 - MC3 Ø3mm, turned pin type, 2.5-4.0/6.0 mm²
4300-3539 43539 - 4300-3539 - MC4 Ø4mm, open barrel type, 2.5/4.0/6.0 mm²
4300-3426 43426 - - - TE/AMP Timer type connectors without Wire Seal 0.5-1.0/1.0-2.5/2.5-4.0 mm²
4300-3425 43425 - - - TE/AMP Timer type connectors with Wire Seal 0.5-1.0/1.0-2.5/2.5-4.0 mm²
4300-3428 43428 - - - TE/AMP SuperSeal 1.5 System type connectors with Wire Seal 0.75-1.25/1.5 mm²
Personally, I tin the wire a bit, dip it in a lil bit of flux, put it into the "free area" (just before the actual connector) and solder it into place.
I know most people wouldn't bother doing it this way though, but I just like the extra stability it provides.
This is why there's a market for ratcheting crimp tools that accept multiple dies IMHO (for us hobbyists and/or field techs). The trade-off of course, is the user requires additional knowledge as to how to execute a proper crimp terminal for whatever die & terminal being used (strip length, correct die for the terminal being used, and proper use of crimp tool.