Wire Wrapping Tools Information
Wire wrapping tools are used to install and remove wire wrap connections. Wire wrapping attaches a connecting wire to a terminal by tightly coiling the wire around the terminal’s corners.
Wire wrapping tools can be hand operated or battery operated. A variety of electric and battery powered wire wrap tools are also available. Electric and battery powered wire wrapping guns are ergonomically designed to prevent repetitive stresses. This wire wrapping tool consists of lightweight, well-balanced construction, a dual-finger short-throw trigger, and a long handle to mitigate pressure on the palm. A wire wrapping bit and sleeves is another wire wrap tool that provides rotations for wire wrapping. The bit has a large central hole for slipping the tool over the terminal. The front of the bit is shaped to apply the proper tension to the wire during the wrap. During use, the bit is housed in a metal tube called a sleeve. The sleeve keeps the wire in the slot during the wrapping process and protects workers from the rotating bit.
A stretch wrapping machine has the ability to pack trays with film of variable thickness. Wire wrapping tools such as wire strippers and cutters can also be used for cutting, stripping, and wrapping wires. When using wire wrapping tools the wire gauge, hold diameter, and, hole depth should be considered.
Various hand operated wrapping guns are available that can provide up to 10 revolutions per squeeze of the trigger, and accommodate wire sizes from 22 to 32 AWG. Generally copper wire is used for wire wrapping purposes. An insulated metal gun can provide 1000 volt dielectric strength protection. The minimum elongation of 15% is required for 24 through 32 AWG. Wire wrapping tools cause tremendous tension and compression forces to wires, of around 100,000 PSI at a terminal's edge.
Each wrapping bit must go through a series of "qualification tests", which consist of wrapping groups of wire onto various types of test terminals. The strip test is performed on wrapped wires to determine adequate tightness. The wrapping action causes the oxide layer on the wire and terminal to be crushed or sheared, which results in a clean, oxide-free, metal-to-metal contact. Wire wrapping tools can be designed and manufactured to meet most industry specifications.
Wire wrapping tools are used in various electronic goods including television, computer, telecommunications, and numerical control equipment. A wire wrapping tool can provide high density interconnections between electronic equipment worldwide. Wire wrapping tools can also be used in corded electric, battery powered, air powered, manual wrapping and unwrapping tools, and bits and sleeves for limitless applications.