Crimping Ampseal with other than factory tool  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: r-mm
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2022, 01:08:43 pm
content: Has anyone had success crimping Ampseal terminals with a non-factory tool?

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 06:37:43 am
content: I almost never use factory tools for crimping since the factory tools tend to be ridiculously expensive.These crimp pins are the classical type (two flaps that need to be bent around and back down) so any correctly sized crimping tool should do fine.Just test it out to see you found the correct crimping tool setting by grabbing a pin with pliers and try to pull it off. For the larger pins you can pretty much pull as hard as you can and it shouldn't come out. If it does come out then you need to use a smaller crimp setting or squeeze harder. Using the wrong setting could also cause issues with inserting the pin into the plastic housing as using a too large setting might flatten it too much and make it too wide to fit. Main point is first do a test run to see if you got things right before you commit to crimping the actual cable bundle.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 08:39:17 am
content: R-mm, we used many types of crimp pin tools.Many are simple pliers types, some have remplaçable dies.There are 3 standard pin diameters.The best tools are articulated with for leverage, with a click ratchet action, once a crimp is starting, you always fully close the jaw for a perfect crimp.We gotm used USA and EU brands, far superior to the Chinese junkers.We have paid $5..20 for ours at eBay, ham Fleas and CL.Jon

author: r-mm
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 03:36:55 pm
content: Thanks for the responses. Jonpaul are you saying you have successfully crimped multipin Ampseal connectors using non-factory tools? Are there any models you can share which have worked for you?I presume you succeeded in not distorting the pins so the connectors mate well?ThanksRuss

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 04:45:36 pm
content: Quote from: Berni on February 21, 2022, 06:37:43 amNope, hold on.These have the pointed insulation wings. Those are designed to wrap around the wire without puncturing it. That requires a circular insulation die, and unfortunately the vast majority of cheap crimp tools perform an F-type insulation crimp (the one that looks like an m), which mangles the insulation crimp.OP, take a look at Molex: they have a number of $100-150 crimp tools, and one of those is bound to be the right size and have the circular insulation die.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2022, 05:08:04 pm
content: Rebonjour I have no Ampseal, never heard of it before.If you can get a spec of the pins or a good close-up photo I can compare to the industry standard pins wemuse, Molex, AMP, Berg and also see which tools and dies wemused.I think the pins are same for many connection housingsJon

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2022, 06:18:49 am
content: Quote from: tooki on February 21, 2022, 04:45:36 pmIf you don't have a tool with a circular jaw shape you can also flip the crimp pin 180 in the jaws to crimp it the wrong way around. Yes the pointy part will press into the bottom a bit but you are not supposed to crimp it down too hard for insulation in the first place. For this kind of abuse the cheep non ratcheting crimpers are better. Might not be the proper way of doing it but can save you in a pinch when you find yourself out in the field without the exact correct tool. The crimp will last just fine.My main point is that you don't need a special specific crimp tool from the specific manufacturer for the specific AMP crimp pins. As long as one of your existing crimpers has roughly the correct jaws it will do. Especially if this is just a one off thing for 1 connector. Perhaps if you are doing a lot of these connectors on a regular basis on a real production run then you might invest in the exact purpose built crimper, mostly for the piece of mind that it is done correctly for sure.