How to form leads of through-hole components? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Bambur
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2011, 10:12:59 am
content: What's the way to form leads of resistors or diodes for example? When I look at assembled PCB's the leads are all round and nice looking. How do they do that?

author: hacklordsniper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2011, 10:16:42 am
content: There is a tool for it. You can find it on ebay for ~2$ or even cheaper from chinahttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Lead-Forming-Tool-Model-801-/260849384740?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cbbd5bd24

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2011, 11:54:37 am
content: Or just use flat nose pliers, like thishttp://www.goldschmiedebedarf.de/images/4490-541.jpg

author: hacklordsniper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2011, 11:58:27 am
content: Quote from: david77 on November 16, 2011, 11:54:37 amIf you want equal bends on all components used then you must use the lead bending tool

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2011, 12:10:45 pm
content: And soon you'll find that not all bends you want can be performed with the special tool and you will go back to the pliers.A bit of practice should suffice to become good at bending leads with the pliers.Of course the lead bending thingy does have it's place if you need to bend a whole bunch of 0,33W resistors, for example.

author: hacklordsniper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2011, 12:40:01 pm
content: Quote from: david77 on November 16, 2011, 12:10:45 pmI can bend anything with the tool i have, but i will not complain pliers are needed especially for larger components or components which cannot be bended on it (TO220 as an example)

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2011, 06:35:18 pm
content: For medium amounts of components to bend you use a manually operated Cutbendhttp://www.griptech.com/c/tapedaxial/After that it is automatic machines, ultimately feeding a THT place machine.

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2011, 01:18:15 am
content: i use a set of cheapo mini round nose pliers from the local craft store.-sj

author: hacklordsniper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2011, 06:17:19 am
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on November 16, 2011, 06:35:18 pmThat is sweet, but quite expensive

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2011, 07:10:32 am
content: Most local electronics places should sell those plastic lead formers.http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=T1495$2.20 at altronicsWhy buy off ebay and wait forever.

author: Flavour Flave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2011, 07:48:27 am
content: If you're in the EU here's a cheap bending tool £0.99 and free P&P.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170716401207?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

author: hacklordsniper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2011, 08:33:47 am
content: Quote from: metalphreak on November 17, 2011, 07:10:32 amIts true that most of the shops should have it, but for us in this part of the world ebay is only shop

author: ciccio
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2011, 12:05:18 pm
content: I use this tool, model PR2, made in Italy by Elcontrol Eneryhttp://www.elcontrol-energy.net/prodotti/index.asp?mylang=EN&random=706.See the attached PDF.You can adjust the distance of the bent legs by directly measuring the distance of holes on the PCB.You can have symmetrical or asymmetrical position of the component's body.It's fast and very reliable (mine is more than 25 years old).Out of topic: this Company designed, I believe in the 70's, model PS4: a wire stripper and cutter that was copied by many Chinese cloners, but they carried the cloners to court and they won!The only difference between the original one and the clones is that the original works flawlessly, the clones don't...EDIT : I've found another tool very similar to the one I recommend:http://www.hmcelectronics.com/product/HMC-Electronics/N300?refer=topsellerbut, for what I understand, it will not ply the leads automatically: you must ply them with your fingers...

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2011, 04:31:20 pm
content: Needle pliers, grab the lead next to the body, and push the leg down. Repeat at the other side. That way there is no stress on the body of the component and you get a nice compact bend. If the hole spacing is farther apart you just do it farther towards the body of the pliers.

author: hacklordsniper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2011, 04:51:16 pm
content: Quote from: Zad on November 17, 2011, 04:31:20 pmAnd what kind of stress does the tool for forming leads that pilers dont do?