TO92 lead forming - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: veedub565
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2024, 11:51:02 am
content: Is there a DIY way to bend the legs on a TO92 device without spending a fortune on a specialist tool ? I'm building a project kit and the spacing on the PCB is for cut tape TO92 devices I think, and the legs on my devices are straight. I guess I could just bend them with tweezers, but be nice to get it looking neat.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2024, 11:58:00 am
content: sadly make your own or buy theseshttps://www.excelta.com/products-lead-forming-pliers

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2024, 12:08:06 pm
content: Quote from: veedub565 on June 02, 2024, 11:51:02 amUse flat-nose pliers, not tweezers.Just practice with some cheap TO92 transistors until you’ve got the hang of it.

author: veedub565
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2024, 02:28:07 pm
content: I saw this, but it's expensive for a but of plastichttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285690060615?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D265705%26meid%3D2bf992f4c075451886a08210616d016f%26pid%3D101875%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D204721887494%26itm%3D285690060615%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D4429486%26algv%3DSimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuWithLambda85KnnRecallV1V2V4ItemNrtInQueryAndCassiniVisualRankerAndBertRecallWithVMEV3CPCAutoWithCassiniEmbRecall&_trksid=p4429486.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A2856900606152bf992f4c075451886a08210616d016f%7Cenc%3AAQAJAAABYLC2%252Ba5TgOFYgIvLQSBIYkURSzHvc7cCccVTU14STgixqt2LHVH3DQgpuMCV11vSwIPgiyFOwqAlvyaCYV%252F3KC%252BV%252Bw2hITE7xTLMc%252FUAdPVM74mBrClyfys6h0qSntiKTtamp%252FwRG%252FuVgTYA%252FQ9W3Ox1vA0GraSb4JMRxeVcTuw%252FbvfsO7mDS6tzWet1HTCrTfJ0Cm0Oc5VZKCDoEcElv8HXBwGKgxmxCMJaRzDnQ%252F2fXVtpbopuH0OxU82yfNmxFq1AgDRF0RTquKA8t5G2BI9Jd8XKGc2bYq74thvloMDcI069LpjK%252BX7MIwrHPIetbLPwkdf0dLrtXE7bTpTbb0G9orSOl4tLKrvsCJB8B5kUFRZdbyw98TcF1LqFpxSyE8bWZzn38nWrdsjOFQSbgrteWAkHi0vnjN6tnoT589qCsER%252FWmChFbpdyMuF7SzLDEusqx0qtWS292ui21B35ec%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A4429486&itmmeta=01HZCNGJGTVXQGJM6RE36GYZP7

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2024, 02:55:53 pm
content: I got lead forming pliers for axial components to put the little bend in it, its lovely. I recommend buying the tool if you can afford it. I don't seem to use TO92 much so I don't own one, but its temping for repairs.It puts your projects on the next levelTake a look at your DIY-bent wire under a microscope. You will see why a jeweler makes money. Its hard to do it. I noticed most of the leads I bent look quite bad. Deformation, indentantions, bend radius problems, etc. I have been doing it for a long time so I got marginally good at it, but really.. its so easy to screw up. And you will notice how off your eyeball measurements are if you really compare the lengths and uniformityUnder a microscope you will get the feeling of how much weaker a manhandled component is.The plastic tools get worn. When you bend something, theoretically you should have lubricant BTW.I think its a really nice investment.I also got the expenisve dip chip straitener and the ESD caliper for bending parts. the caliper is awesome, the tips wear a bit if your not uber careful and its a little sloppy but if you take care using it, the results are great... no wrestling to fit parts into a PCB. If someone made a improved caliper with some bronze jaws and a spring, I would buy it. bronze on eSD plastic lolBending with a rule is hard too, the tools make it so much less demandingI think the ESD bending caliper is essential to your electronics lab starter. i wish i had it at the beginning.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2024, 03:37:24 pm
content: Piergiacomi of Italy makes a couple TO-92 bending pliers with either a 1.27mm or 2.54mm offset middle lead:

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2024, 04:17:53 pm
content: In the past, I just pushed the three leads into adjacent holes in 0.10 inch pitch perfboard.Do you need the TO-18/TO-5 triangular pattern?

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2024, 11:04:55 pm
content: A simple trick is to use side cutting pliers to cut them under and angle out of the paper tape. This results in different pin lengths, and this makes it easier to insert the pins one by one in the PCB.A simple tool like below may also work.https://www.printables.com/model/748903-to-92-lead-bender