Crimping pliers for tips: description, methods of crimping sleeves, advantages of hand tools

Professional tip crimping pliers are presented in the form of a mechanical tool that allows you to securely connect the two elements. Outwardly, their design most of all resembles ordinary pliers, but instead of even sponges, specific embossed matrices are used. Their functionality is designed for different shapes and diameters of crimps.

Short description

Long-term operation of electrical networks largely depends on how well all the connections between the conductors were made. That is why crimping products have become widespread, with the help of which it is possible to achieve the most reliable one-piece connections. During this procedure, the strands of the prepared wires are carefully compressed in special sleeves made of aluminum or copper. For the result to be of high quality, the master must apply a large compression force provided by the crimping pliers.

Such a tool is also often called a crimper, since many manufacturers complete the unit with interchangeable dies with profiles that are combined with both cores and insulation. On sale you can find quite large sets of such devices, where each master will find everything necessary for high-quality work.

Most often, modern professionals use a mechanically driven crimping tool. Such units are equally effective in both industrial and domestic industries. Of course, if necessary, you can purchase more powerful pressing tongs, where the main work is performed by a hydraulic drive. They can handle cables with large diameters and cross-sections from 120 mm².

Universal crimping pliers for crimping sleeves and ferrules consist of two basic parts:

1. A fixed element is a matrix, which is presented in the form of a curly brace, which provides the necessary deformation of the material.
2. The movable part is a specific punch, without which high-quality extrusion on the sleeve cannot occur.

Matrices are selected in strict accordance with the tip diameter. Depending on the model used, all adjustments occur through fine adjustment or replacement of the part itself. The standard household installation of such a tool is made in the form of non-removable curly sponges, which are designed for quick crimping of different-sized sleeves.

In removable models of pliers, it is the correct choice of the working area, which necessarily includes the matrix, as well as the punch, of great importance. If the master made any mistake, then the final connection will turn out to be extremely low, and the normal contact will simply be unavailable. In addition, the compressive force must also be measured. After all, excessive pressure will tear the liner, making it unsuitable for further use. But a weak crimp, on the contrary, will not be able to provide high-quality contact, the final contact will be extremely unreliable.

It should be noted that in recent years, craftsmen have been actively using the PK-16 manual press tongs, which are manufactured by KBT. The thing is that such devices have the simplest design, a high degree of endurance, and they are also very convenient to use. The tool completely lacks unnecessary auxiliary functions, due to which it is included in the list of the most demanded budget options.

Applications

Crimping pliers are actively used by both beginners and more experienced radio amateurs, as well as electricians and auto mechanics. Such units are simply irreplaceable in those situations when it is necessary to process contacts of standard cables and professional connectors with an unusual connector (this category includes a network cable for PC).

The lightweight and simple design of such crimpers gives each master the opportunity to complete the task as quickly and efficiently as possible. The device guarantees a reliable and tight crimping of the workpiece, due to which the highest degree of contact between the connecting element and the conductor is achieved. The price of the unit directly depends on the manufacturer, the type of design and quality.

It should be noted that press tongs do an excellent job of crimping insulated wires:

• NSHKI - pin round tips.
• GSI - connecting sleeves.
• NKI - ring-type tips.
• RPI-P, RSHI-P, RPI-M, RSHI-M - flat and plug connectors.
• ОВ - taps of the piercing type.

Crimping units are actively used for flexible conductors of wires in the process of connecting circuit breakers, chandeliers, sockets and lamps. Professional crimping of connection sleeves in the industrial sector is carried out using universal pliers of the hydraulic type. Such units are designed for cable conductors with a cross section from 16 to 240 sq. mm.

Design differences

Universal pressing tongs are designed to work with sleeves and tips, the cross-section of which can vary over a wide range. In the household and industrial sectors, the most common are parts with an indicator from 1.5 to 16 mm². The special design allows you to precisely press the metal of the tip (sleeve) into the conductive cores of the conductor. The final result depends on the required depth and application profile.

Some models are equipped with a ratchet mechanism so that the handle of the unit is compressed until the crimp is complete. At the final stage, the dog is triggered and the inverter mode is turned off. In such a situation, the master simply will not be able to squeeze the handle, since the tool jaws are not fully open. In addition, the unit can be equipped with a side swivel wheel that disengages the blocking if necessary.

Each tool jaw is equipped with working areas with a wide variety of profiles. This technical solution allows craftsmen to crimp any kind of ferrules and sleeves with a standard section. For more comfortable work, each zone is marked with its own number or a special stamp, due to which errors associated with the wrong choice of size are prevented.

PK-16 products do not differ at all from their counterparts in any design features. But the presence of longer handles allows you to work comfortably for a long period of time without much effort.

If the foreman decides to use the production area with numbers 1.5 and 6.0, then he will need a slight onslaught of one hand for the result to be of the highest quality. But for zones 10 and 16, you need to use the power of two hands. It should be noted that if a specialist most often works with large tips and sleeves, then it is better for him to buy a more powerful and large unit.

Varieties of crimping units

Many modern manufacturers are manufacturing crimping tongs based on various standards. The buyer can always purchase an affordable tool with a narrow scope (pressing of a certain type of cables) or universal models. That is why even before buying it is necessary to decide what kind of work the unit will perform.

1. Sleeve processing. Such mites are usually distinguished by their nests and their shape. They can be equipped with durable plastic flanges or without them. But if they are still present, then the liner will be of the highest quality, the square configuration will provide strong contact of absolutely all the veins. The tool does an excellent job not only with installation, but also with centering for any type of cable cross-section. To achieve the ultimate contact retention, the pliers must be sized according to the color coding available.
2. Stripping of insulation from the wiring. Pliers allow you to remove a specific section of insulation without damaging the core itself. The required diameter can be set both manually and automatically. But, you need to be extremely careful, since making the settings yourself can be fraught with damage to the wire. It is better for beginners to use the automatic option. This type of tool is especially relevant in relation to branch and junction boxes. During operation, always pay attention to the sharpness of the cutting edge, as improper maintenance can lead to the machine chewing on the wire.
3. Crimping cable ends. This type of press pliers is actively used by craftsmen for processing non-insulated as well as brass wires. To create a press, the unit provides for the presence of a universal rod, which is placed on the dividing seam during operation. The unit can be strengthened with a special locator, which provides the highest quality positioning.
4. Work with twisted pair. Crimping pliers for such material are designed for 4 or 8 cores, where the wire is installed in a special connector. For example: twisted pair is actively used by professionals when connecting a cable that is designed for high-speed Internet.

Instrument rules

Despite the fact that many novice craftsmen consider crimping to be a fairly simple type of work, but even in this case, there are technical conditions on which the quality performed by this procedures. The correct choice of the unit is of great importance, since it must have the optimal compression force, which will be quite enough for the liner used.

Between those wires that are interconnected due to crimping, the highest quality and most reliable contact is created. In order for the result to meet all the requirements, you must adhere to certain rules:

1. Pre-prepared wires must be cleaned of insulation. The final size of the stripped area should match the length of the sleeve used as much as possible.
2. In the next step, the conductors are inserted into the sleeve to their full length. Its diameter must correspond to the sum of the wiring cross-sections. The choice of copper or aluminum sleeve depends solely on the type of cables used.
3. When everything is ready, the sleeve, together with the conductors, is placed in the appropriate working area and carefully crimped with pliers. It should be noted that all movements must be smooth, the wires must be held so that they do not slip out of their intended place until the end of the operation. In the event that the crimp is insufficient, the pliers will not open, as they will be blocked by the universal ratchet. At the final stage, unlocking occurs automatically. After the performed manipulations, the master receives a high-quality crimped connection, where the number of the working area is clearly printed.
4. The finished unit is insulated with adhesive tape or heat shrink tubing.

Larger sleeves with a cross section of 10 or 16 mm² can only be crimped at regular intervals. Otherwise, frequent exposure to excessive loads can deform the tool, making it unsuitable for further operation.

Main advantages

Many people believe that crimping pliers are not needed at all to connect terminals and wires of a small cross-section, because they can be replaced with ordinary pliers. Of course, such a way out of the situation is quite affordable, but it will no longer be possible to achieve such a high quality as with ticks. And this is because the matrices of the mites ensure that the tip adheres too tightly to the core, thereby preventing the penetration of water and air. Due to this, oxidation of the metal can be excluded, which is especially important when working with copper parts.

When using the pliers, gaps form where dust, moisture and any debris can easily get into. The quality of the contact will be reduced several times, and this is fraught with an increase in the resistance of the current. The veins receive too much compression, which violates their cross section. Over time, some of them will thin out or simply disappear, which will reduce the signal conductance.