Component Lead Bending Jigs - Users' Experience? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

pmmunro · 30th May 2016, 7:51 pm

Does anyone have useful experience of using simple component bending jigs please?

I have a project which will need several hundred resistor and other small component leads bent to fit PCBs and I am considering a quicker method than just using pliers and fingers.

This type http://zbtools.co.uk/download/554.pdf looks quite attractive but is quite expensive though prices vary by a factor of 2 to 3 times between different suppliers. There are also cheap plastic wedge shaped jigs sometimes described as "Christmas Trees". There also used to be a type of jig which was made up of a pair of tapered slotted metal wedges which seemed to be common in the early days of PCBs.

PMM

Alistair D · 30th May 2016, 8:13 pm

I have two of those, one which crops the legs and one that doesn't. The only problem I have noticed is that after using the points in the component holes to set the pitch you might have to adjust the pitch a little for best fit.

Al

Sean Williams · 30th May 2016, 9:34 pm

Yes, have one of those.

Probably one of the best tools I had when building my Elecraft K2 Transceiver kit some years back. Thousands of components all formed in simple repeatable seconds.

As commented above, the accuracy of the jig set up is a little out, but easy to rectify.

A must have for repetitive leg forming.

Alistair D · 30th May 2016, 10:05 pm

I forgot to add that mine were almost certainly supplied by RS Compnents so not shoddily made items.

Al

jez_145 · 31st May 2016, 2:48 pm

Peter,

Yes, I have one of those bending tools from ZBTools (actually purchased via Rapid Electronics) and wouldn't be without it. They do seem a tad expensive but well worth it, in my opinion, for the time saved. Do bear in mind the minimum and maximum bend widths which, in my case (smaller version- TP8), range from about 0.4" to about 1.2".

If you have a lot of components to fit with the same pitch they really are a godsend !

Have a look at this

http://www.rapidonline.com/abeco-tp8...g-tool-86-4230

Regards

Jerry

dseymo1 · 31st May 2016, 5:29 pm

I have occasionally used short lengths of wooden batten of appropriate width to bend the leads over. For 'standard' spacings, e.g. 0.1" matrix, it's free, quick and simple.

GMB · 31st May 2016, 5:56 pm

I also have one of these, which are essential if you are doing anything on a large scale.

Apart from what was said above, I would only add that I find the minimum cut-off is just a bit too long, so I often end up trimming everything after assembly is finished.

30th May 2016, 7:51 pm	#1
pmmunro Octode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dundee, UK. Posts: 1,813	Component Lead Bending Jigs - Users' Experience? Does anyone have useful experience of using simple component bending jigs please? I have a project which will need several hundred resistor and other small component leads bent to fit PCBs and I am considering a quicker method than just using pliers and fingers. This type http://zbtools.co.uk/download/554.pdf looks quite attractive but is quite expensive though prices vary by a factor of 2 to 3 times between different suppliers. There are also cheap plastic wedge shaped jigs sometimes described as "Christmas Trees". There also used to be a type of jig which was made up of a pair of tapered slotted metal wedges which seemed to be common in the early days of PCBs. PMM

30th May 2016, 8:13 pm	#2
Alistair D Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 2,008	Re: Component Lead Bending Jigs - Users' Experience? I have two of those, one which crops the legs and one that doesn't. The only problem I have noticed is that after using the points in the component holes to set the pitch you might have to adjust the pitch a little for best fit. Al __________________ I won't tell you how I discovered that.

30th May 2016, 9:34 pm	#3
Sean Williams Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW Posts: 3,517	Re: Component Lead Bending Jigs - Users' Experience? Yes, have one of those. Probably one of the best tools I had when building my Elecraft K2 Transceiver kit some years back. Thousands of components all formed in simple repeatable seconds. As commented above, the accuracy of the jig set up is a little out, but easy to rectify. A must have for repetitive leg forming. __________________ Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished

30th May 2016, 10:05 pm	#4
Alistair D Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 2,008	Re: Component Lead Bending Jigs - Users' Experience? I forgot to add that mine were almost certainly supplied by RS Compnents so not shoddily made items. Al __________________ I won't tell you how I discovered that. Last edited by Alistair D; 30th May 2016 at 10:05 pm. Reason: missed word

31st May 2016, 2:48 pm	#5
jez_145 Pentode Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 119	Re: Component Lead Bending Jigs - Users' Experience? Peter, Yes, I have one of those bending tools from ZBTools (actually purchased via Rapid Electronics) and wouldn't be without it. They do seem a tad expensive but well worth it, in my opinion, for the time saved. Do bear in mind the minimum and maximum bend widths which, in my case (smaller version- TP8), range from about 0.4" to about 1.2". If you have a lot of components to fit with the same pitch they really are a godsend ! Have a look at this http://www.rapidonline.com/abeco-tp8...g-tool-86-4230 Regards Jerry

31st May 2016, 5:29 pm	#6
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: Component Lead Bending Jigs - Users' Experience? I have occasionally used short lengths of wooden batten of appropriate width to bend the leads over. For 'standard' spacings, e.g. 0.1" matrix, it's free, quick and simple.

31st May 2016, 5:56 pm	#7
GMB Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: near Reading (and sometimes Torquay) Posts: 3,094	Re: Component Lead Bending Jigs - Users' Experience? I also have one of these, which are essential if you are doing anything on a large scale. Apart from what was said above, I would only add that I find the minimum cut-off is just a bit too long, so I often end up trimming everything after assembly is finished.