EuroWire November 2019

Focus on the UK

Pull testers for crimped wire terminals

Over or under crimping often results in expensive product failure, recall or re-work. Crimp joint testing ensures the integrity of the final product, but more importantly it ensures the effectiveness of the crimping tool itself, as it can be calibrated according to test results. The only way of really knowing the strength of a crimped terminal is to pull it. This can reveal production problems, where strand nicks, incorrect crimp height or effects from changes in terminal supply may not be apparent. Assembling tensile test data in statistical process control (SPC) systems will also alert for tooling tolerance drift. In design phases, it can also be valuable to see not just at what force a crimped joint fails, but the way it fails. Strands can begin to break, a connector itself may deform and break, or the whole conductor may break, or slip or pull out of the crimped barrel. Any elongation in the wire tail must not be construed as slippage in the joint. Factors such as these can be identified on a full force-time trace using Mecmesin’s programmable tensile testers, as part of the development of jointing specifications. Mecmesin offers a range of equipment for performing tensile testing on crimped wire terminals. Machine selection is dependent on the force capacity required, the location and the amount of testing being done. For quality control, motorised pull testers are key to improving the accuracy of tensile test data by eliminating operator

variants, as well as reducing operator strain and injury. They apply force at a constant pull rate so there is no jerking or sudden application of force that would reduce the repeatability of test results. The WTST product range of vertical test systems can measure the ‘hold at load’. With software-controlled options available, operators can easily launch different pre-programmed test routines. With rapid and accurate data capture of break loads and live graphing, the software automatically calculates results to clearly indicate the pass/fail status of samples being tested. With capacities ranging from 2.5 kN to 50 kN, Mecmesin’s vertical wire terminal strength testers offer a suitable test platform for a wide range of cables. Test reports can be generated as a PDF or exported to Excel. The robust pull testers are simple to use and highly accurate, from the entry-level WTST-dV to the high-capacity, twin-column WTST rated up to 50 kN. Versatility of fixturing means they are suitable for alternative use in different applications. Manufactured under strict ISO 9001 quality standards, Mecmesin’s wire terminal strength test equipment (also known as pull testers) are accurate and reliable. Mecmesin provides a comprehensive service to make sure customers get the right solution for their testing and budget. Mecmesin pull testers enable the user to prove conformance to test standards;

The MultiTest 25-xt fromMecmesin

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guarantee to customers; identify tool calibration drift as early as possible; identify problems in production processes (eg cut strands in stripping process, incorrect crimp height); and increase production efficiency by minimising manufacture of out-of- specification parts. Mecmesin’s headquarters are in West Sussex, UK, but the company has a global presence with regional offices in the USA, China, Thailand, Germany and France. In addition, customers are supported by a global network of distributors in more than 50 countries who provide local technical expertise and after-sales support. Mecmesin Ltd – UK Website : www.mecmesin.com quality assurance

BAR Products and Services is a worldwide supplier of tungsten carbide drawing dies, tooling and associated products for the wire, rope, cable and tube industries. FromYorkshire to the worldwide market

triangle strand formers, indenting rollers, extrusion dies and tips, rope diameter gauges and tooling. BAR Products and Services offers an extensive range of services that complement its products. The company supplies goods and services all over the world, and offers an experienced team of engineers and support staff to meet every customer requirement. Steven Rika, managing director, said: “I have personally worked in the wire industry for nearly 50 years, and together with my extremely professional team we are proud to provide a complete service for all our customers.” From a small workshop in Yorkshire in 1992 to the world market in 2020 – BAR Products and Services epitomises the future of the industry – expansion, acquisition of increasingly sophisticated machinery and a network of industry experts. BAR Products and Services Ltd – UK Website : www.barproductsandservices.com

▲ Some of the range from BAR Products and Services

The range of products supplied to wire, rope and cable manufacturers includes round and shaped drawing dies, guide rollers, stranding dies, roller strand compaction machines (from 2mm to 40mm), strand compaction rollers, preform heads,

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November 2019