Is there a special tool for ffc insertion/extraction? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: g00se
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2022, 01:32:58 am
content: I have a project that uses a few fine pitch 50pin FPC / FFC interconnects for an LCD. I am always worried about damaging the flat cable when inserting it, using my fingers is a bit clumsy, but using (metal) right angle tweezers to slide the cable, it seems easy to damage the cable, but it gives the force needed to insert it completely into the connector.I searched for, but didn’t find any special tools/tweezers specifically for the job, but maybe one exists and has a special name?Any ideas?thanks

author: g00se
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2022, 11:24:37 am
content: OK, I am going to try making my own tool using some offset spade tweezers dipped in PVC (Plasti-Dip).Something like this with rubber on the tips:This should safely grip the flat cable (I hope!)

author: mon2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2022, 11:46:08 am
content: Hi. It is common to use a plastic spudger tool that are very common to the phone / laptop repair business.Check out Aliexpress or Amazon. Do not recommend metal tools as they can pierce the delicate FPC cable. We do laptop / phone repairs and current designing a product that will use 0.5mm pitch FPC cables used with HD camera modules.Remain with only soft plastic tools.

author: g00se
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2022, 02:17:28 pm
content: I'm not sure how the spudger is going to grip the cable though? I do have some spudgers, but never used them for this purpose.For reference, this is the cable and connector I am working with:I will be dipping tweezers in PVC to protect the ribbon from metal, so they will end up similar to this:

author: dkonigs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2022, 03:50:54 am
content: Glad to see someone bringing up this topic.I have an FFC cable on one project of mine, where I'm still looking for a better way of handling insertion. In my case, it goes around a bend (display on one side of the PCB, connector on the other).I found that using a combination of my fingers and a plastic spudger-like tool definitely helped with inserting the cable into the connector.However, I still wish I had some sort of tool that helped with actually closing the connector. The problem is that I kinda want special pliers that can squeeze both sides of it at once, without touching the middle.Do special purpose tools for dealing with all these FFC assembly issues even exist? I haven't seen them mentioned anywhere, and you really don't need them for a one-off project, but there has to besomethingused by people who assemble products with these cables all day long.

author: g00se
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2022, 09:31:16 pm
content: I received my tweezer order and the angled tip with PVC coating (rather than the offset spade tip) seem to work best.It safely grips the ribbon and gives a good parallel insertion force with fine control.For closing the connector, I also use tweezers, wide open and only touching the plastic actuators and then slide both sides simultaneously. If I try one side at a time, it usually pops the other side out when pushing the other in.