Bottlehead Forum
General Category => Tech Tools => Topic started by: mkane on May 05, 2015, 03:57:04 AM
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Is there a tool I can purchase for making nice smooth bends on resistor / capacitor leads? thx
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I use these, simple but effective.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-set-Axial-Diode-Resistor-Capacitor-PCB-Soldering-Mount-Leg-Bending-Bender-Tool-/271835647496?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f4aaace08 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-set-Axial-Diode-Resistor-Capacitor-PCB-Soldering-Mount-Leg-Bending-Bender-Tool-/271835647496?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f4aaace08)
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Same here, simple & useful.
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I use a pair of needle nose pliers. If you are bending diode leads that span a number of terminals this works perfectly.
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I confess I laughed out loud when the eBay page opened up. Based on how I think they might work, I'm not very sure, they might be useful if you have a batch of 50 boards you've got to populate.
+1 for needle nose pliers. Good for ALL of your bending, wire ends and components. Buy good quality! Needle, flat and pointed nose pliers and a couple pairs of cutters and you're good to go.
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They really come into there own populating PCB's, once you figure out the hole spacing you can bend each components leads to exactly the correct width time after time. Also ensures the resistor body is exactly in the middle, and part numbers all face the same way, very important for those of us afflicted with OCD :)
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The plastic ones on eBay are cool.
Then there is this.
http://www.techni-tool.com/612PA6016
https://www.paceworldwide.com/sites/default/files/5050-0055%20ConForm%20Tool%20Rev%20C.pdf
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Now that PACE Conform tool is brilliant!
I've used Seeger Ring Pliers for the Mainline.
Also gives a great result without denting the leads.
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I hate to burst bubbles, but sharp 90 degree bends aren't necessarily the best thing for leads. The leads tend to be somewhat crystalline in structure and thus sharp bends can create broken crystals that will increase resistivity in tiny amounts. I would have thought nothing of this before I heard long crystal copper wire vs more mundane copper wire many years ago. There are certainly some places where it can't be avoided, but I wouldn't go out of my way to make sharp bends where they don't need to be.
If you guys want to build for looks, it's really cool. I love to see our stuff built to obsessive proportions. Just remember that sometimes that less than sharp bend or less than orthogonal wire routing has been done for a reason.
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Good point.
Thats what I like with Seeger ring pliers.
The bend looks more like an angle in a pipe.
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go to a jewelry supply store. they make pliers specifically to bend wire into a perfect circle, or half circle. they are tapered to make any size circle you want. much better than needle nose as they avoid any right angle bends.
michael
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here is one
http://www.amazon.com/Beadsmith-Jewelry-Round-Pliers-PL513/dp/B000SNBC74
michael
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^^^^^^^just what I'm looking for. A tool for making swoopy bend's, thank's. MKane
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Or these. Certainly makes swoopy:)
http://www.herramientasmannesmann.com/en/categoria/toolkits/retaining-ring-pliers-set-seeger/
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I'd say, go with whatever you think will work for you. I'm sure Dan is right about straight bends but my system sounds stunning and it has all 90 degree bends.
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More cool tools to add to the box. 8)
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I was just about to post about round-nose pliers, also called "Snipe Nosed" sometimes. They are handy for making loops and bends. Not the sort of thing you'll use all the time, but handy when you want to make things just so.
Another tip, which probably doesn't need saying, but for small pliers, wire cutters, nippers and the like, I have found that getting the spring-loaded handle style (that want to spring open) reduces hand fatigue quite a bit. The spring loading is very common, but not universal, for small pliers and hand tools of this sort. I have somehow acquired one or two pair that lack that feature, and learned through experience why it's needed.
Another tip that likewise probably doesn't need saying is to spend more on these kinds of things. Saving a couple bucks on something you'll have in your hand for hours and hours will feel like false economy when your hand starts to ache.
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More cool tools to add to the box. 8)
A man can not have too many toys, tools!
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If your big toolbox is full of Snap-On, have a look at the Lindstrom range of small pliers and cutters. I had a superb pair of their cutters when I was working but I somehow lost them. 99% sure they were nicked off my bench. They are lovely tools. Now stuck with Bahco and CK plus a tough Xuro-Shear from Zuron CT. Xuron range look to still be sensibly priced and I've had mine 20+ years. The spring has dropped off but they cut as sweetly as ever.
Hopefully I'm not too far down the list for my Crack + SB.................. ;)