Looking for crimper for miniJST servo connectors

[village_idiot]

I put a post up in the micro indoor forum, but nothing, so I'll try down here. I want a hand crimp tool for the JST ZH series connectors (1.5mm), but I don't want to pay the $400.00 for the JST brand from Digikey. I've looked far and wide for the last week, but still not finding anything that will do the job. The closest that I've found is the Molex crimp tool that goes down to 32 gauge wire, but not really sure if it will work, and it is also $200.00 (Mouser).

It's looking like my last choice may be to buy some steel and grind my own dies to fit a crimp frame that I have here, but I want to leave this until the last choice. I'm hoping that someone will know of an easier solution that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. $100 (or less) and I would go for it.

Thanks.

[Probedude]

Let me know what you find. I'm interested too.

I had taken AMP's univeral crimp tool and milled the sides thinner hoping I could get it to work but it didn't :(

[JimDrew]

The Molex and JST 1.25mm connectors can use the same crimp tool. The 1.5mm Molex and JST tools are quite a bit different. I have all four tools here, plus a Molex press for mass production so I am familiar with these connectors. Don't the micro receivers use a 1.25mm pitch? I know Futaba's micro receiver does.

[village_idiot]

I've read that they are JST 1.5mm HZ connectors that all the servo manufacturers and a few receiver manufacturers use. I wish they had used the Molex just from a cost standpoint, I would probably end up with a $200 crimper in that case.

I guess I better check with Plantraco and make sure that what they are using is really 1.5mm. It would be nice if it turned out to be 1.25mm which seems to be far more common (JST/Molex/Amp etc.).

Jim do you know if/where I can buy replacement dies for the handheld JST crimper? making it fit in a frame would be easy.

And if I end up making a set of dies, I'll probably use a frame like the Kings KTH-1000 because it would be more simple to make the dies for that tool. Not exactly cost effective, but it does work well. I've been using the KTH-1000 since 1990 for video connectors (BNC and Triax) and it has really become one of the industry standards. Every TV truck on the road has a set of those crimpers in the tool box.

[village_idiot]

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4432984&postcount=22

Jim before you consolidate on those new receivers that you are going to make, please consider the connectors needed, and the tools to put them together.

If you can find something that takes a $50 to $75 (or less) crimper you will be doing your customers a service.

[village_idiot]

I think I may have to go ahead and start grinding my own, but one more try before I do that since we are in the work week again.

[JimDrew]

The Futaba R124F receivers DEFINITELY use a Molex 1.25mm connector. I made some extensions for testing. WHAT receivers are you talking about here?

[village_idiot]

Right now the Plantraco Micro9 4 channel (1.1 gram) receivers which are compatible with the mini JST connector on the Falcon servos (not the IDC on the servo itself) and the Blue Arrow 2.5 gram servos. The very rough measurement I just did with a ruler has it closer to 1.5mm than 1.25mm. I wish they had gone with 1.25mm since it is far more common, but Wes Tech went with the 1.5mm and everyone else is following, even if it is a more expensive connector, and the wiring scheme is non standard (power, ground, signal). Force the connector in backwards and people report seeing the magic smoke roll out.

[nebuchadnezzar]

How would you make a charging adaptor or fixture for the battery you rig to the mini jst that you're going to connect to this rx? (cause I have the rx) I would think you need the little socket. Where can you buy 'em or what can you salvage 'em out of?

[village_idiot]

If you want to buy pre-built wires, there are a few places that sell them. BSD micro, Plantraco, Wes Technic, Homefly, BP Hobbies, and probably a few other places.

[WingsWest328]

Anyone ever find a crimper tool for the ZH connectors? I was hoping to use my AMP crimper that I use for servo connectors but was not able. I found this crimper, looks simple enough and looks like it would do the job http://www.bmotorsports.com/shop/product_info.php/cPath/111_112/products_id/364?osCsid=nvlvomg8ou246juo3mjgtdg556
What do you think?

Cameron

[village_idiot]

Almost! I have a little work to do with my Dremel tool and then I think I'll have a $15 solution. I really don't want to say much more until it really works properly. I've been able to crimp a 26 gauge wire, but the crimp around the insulation is still too tight, so you get premature failure at that point. Again I'm getting really close.

You'll need the cheap crimpers, a drill, a metal file or two, and probably a rotary grinder with a little tiny engraving cutter to knaw away the last little bits.

it would almost be easier to take some sheet metal and a crimper frame and cut my own dies. And if this works OK, I might just do that so that I can crimp both the 26-28 gauge connectors and the 28-30 guage connectors. But crimpers that take different dies are a little more money, so I wanted to start cheap. Jameco KT-02 or something like that was the crimper. I've cut away a bunch of materila so that it closes smaller, nw I need to make it better.

That crimper might make a nice starting point. Bonus points is that it looks like a parallel jaw device. Had I seen that I might have risked the extra money for a starter tool.

[WingsWest328]

Good to hear from somebody else with an idea. I am going to shop around locally tomorrow and see if I can't find something, otherwise I think I might just order the one I linked above, and see what I can do with it.

Thanks,
Cameron

[village_idiot]

I've kind of given up on the cheap crimpers, just doesn't look like they will do the job. Did anyone ever try the above crimpers to see if they worked?

Ideal has a crimp dies and frame set that might work, but it comes out to about $80 after all is said and done and may not do the job.

[WingsWest328]

I never did buy the above. I thought about it and then it never happened...lol

Cameron

[Mr.RC-CAM]

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead, but I'll add my recent experience to the mix. For the last couple years I've wanted the ability to make custom cables using the JST SH (1mm pitch) and Molex Picoblade (1.25mm pitch) terminals. Needle nose pliers and prayers did not work very well. So, after hunting around for an affordable hand crimp tool, a couple weeks ago I paid the piper and bought the Molex 63811-200 tool ($250).

The good news is that with extra care, the Molex tool will also crimp the JST pins. The bad news is that the size of the pins makes crimping a cruel task for us mortals. Crimping servo connector sized pins is one thing, but these are much smaller and are essentially the work of the devil. Honestly, I'd rather solder 0402 sized SMD parts.

I guess what I am saying is that even with the correct tool, the task is still difficult. Of course the results look great and beat the quality of the needle nose hack method. If any of you are using the Molex 638110200 crimp tool and can share some tips on how to efficiently crimp with them, then please share. :)

BTW, I don't have any experience with the JST 1.5mm HZ connectors. But since they are larger, I would expect them to be easier to crimp with the proper tool.

[PeteB]

I was just considering buying the Molex PicoBlade crimper as well. I'm disappointed to see that even with the correct tool it's still a bit of a work effort.

I was considering just buying a bunch of these, but at over $5 each they are a complete ripoff.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXGVD6&P=0

[Mr.RC-CAM]

Well, you can buy a bunch of those in place of the expensive crimp tool. :)

I spoke to Molex and asked for some advice on how to best use the tool. They recommended finding someone with tiny hands (mine aren't big, but I can see how little fingers would do very well with the tool). They also recommended their production hand crimpers (easier to use), but they are $800.

[PeteB]

Well, you can buy a bunch of those in place of the expensive crimp tool. :)

I spoke to Molex and asked for some advice on how to best use the tool. They recommended finding someone with tiny hands (mine aren't big, but I can see how little fingers would do very well with the tool). They also recommended their production hand crimpers (easier to use), but they are $800.

Yes you can, but then you need to splice/solder them into every servo connection, if you use them to replace full size servo connections which is what I was planning on doing. That $5.49 a piece starts to add up quickly.

[PeteB]

I assume you've seen this thread?

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9647283

[Mr.RC-CAM]

Thanks for the link. I didn't learn anything new, other than the whole world hates these little connectors on R/C receivers. :) My use is for video gear (micro JST and Molex picoblade are often used on such things).

[PeteB]

Are the micro JST any better than the Molex PicoBlade in terms of being easier to crimp?

Reading the PicoBlade spec sheets it looks like there are two Molex PicoBlade crimpers, one for 26-28AWG and one for 28-32AWG.

[village_idiot]

Thanks, I'll have to look into it. I'm actually contemplating buying a crimper frame and machining my own dies.

[Mr.RC-CAM]

The micro JST contacts are quite similar to the Molex Picoblades. I don't have the JST tool, but I suspect it is not much different in operation than the one from Molex. Keep in mind that my lack of joy of doing these tiny crimps may be another man's life long passion. :)

The Molex Crimp tool I have is for 28-32 AWG. There is another tool for 26-28 AWG. Both are designed for very light duty repair work or prototyping. For production work, there is yet another hand tool that is about $800. It looks similar to the lower cost tools, but it can hold the pins while they are still in the factory strips.

[village_idiot]

Keep in mind that my lack of joy of doing these tiny crimps may be another man's life long passion. :)


That would have to be one twisted person :confused:

[Mr.RC-CAM]

I've arranged to return the Molex hand tool for credit. So, I am back to square one.

If the crimper was under $50, or was more convenient for me to use, then I'd definitely keep it. But it is too expensive for me to justify what I paid. So, if anyone comes up with an affordable alternate tool please share the details!

[PeteB]

I have heard of people using special equipment to solder under a microscope or heavy magnification. Any chance of doing that with the PicoBlades?

Sorry to hear the crimper didn't work out. My Powerpole crimpers work great, but the contacts are much larger. I got the genuine Anderson crimpers before the WMR crimper came out and they were $$$$ not to mention that I had to buy two of them because they have one for the 15A/30A contacts and one for the 45A contacts.

[FANMAN]

Well I bought a cheap set of crimpers years ago from radio shack and they work just fine for the JST connectors.. If you insert the pin (or socket) such that the tool grabs the prongs, then insert the wire, it does great. Its hard to explain the method without a drawing or photo.

The only catch is that the tool likes to pinch the completed connection, such that you need to wiggle it out.

[village_idiot]

Sounds like those are the regular JST servo connectors, we are talking the micro sized stuff here.