A Guide to Mill Spec Crimping

It is a fact that the very best of the best in crimping is Mill Spec Crimping as this standard of crimping is recognised, as IPC-A-620 Class 3. As we all know, this is the highest possible standard for cable assembly.DMC 1

Firstly, let us start with why Mill Spec Crimping is such high quality and is considered the highest quality crimping. The answer is because the products associated with Mill Spec Cables are typically critical, no fail devices typically used on military devices but also used on medical and aerospace devices, where lives are at risk if the device fails

It does not take much to think of the possible consequences of product failure, and therefore the reputation of the companies associated, so it is important that the correct understanding of associated tooling is important.

Let’s start with the open barrel machined contacts and crimp tool.

The open barrel machined crimps are so called as they are manufactured by taking a solid block of metal and machining it to the shape of the contact. This produces the very best signal and power integrity for any crimp.

The coloured bands provide an easy way to identify that the crimp has been correctly positioned within the tool and crimped in the appropriate place.

The correct tool for Mill Spec crimping tool produces the 4 position crimp which crimps from 4 directions producing a concentric crimp paten. This provides the most secure and electrically robust termination.

Each Mill Spec Crimp Tool has the option of being used with a positioner which ensures the crimp is placed correctly within the tool in order to make sure it is correctly placed at the right height for optimum crimping.

DMC 2Other accessories required include the “Go no Go” tool which is used for making sure the tool is correctly calibrated.

Essentially the way the tool works is one end is thicker than the other and when the tool is fully cycled (closed) the “go” end will pass thru the teeth of the crimp and the “no go” thicker end will not, thus ensuring the tool is correctly calibrated.

That sums up most that you need to know about Mill Spec Crimping. As always, however, it is vital the correct training is given to any assembly operatives or better still using specialist cable assembly companies who have the expertise to make sure you get the very best crimping possible.

In the meantime here is a great video from DMC Tools that gives a simple guide to Mill Spec Tools:

 

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