Abstract: A system for mounting an electrical terminal applicator to a cassette containing a plurality of terminals is provided. The system includes a support plate for fixedly attaching to the applicator, and a yoke releasably attached to the support plate. The yoke and support plate define an attachment therebetween providing at least one degree of freedom of motion of the support plate relative to the yoke in an attached state. The yoke is further configured to be movably mounted to the cassette with at least one additional degree of freedom of motion.

Abstract: A cable preparation machine includes a frame forming a cable cutting zone, the frame having a cable opening along a cable axis at the cable cutting zone receiving an end of a cable. The cable preparation machine includes a pulley assembly rotatably coupled to the frame about the cable axis and a drive assembly operably coupled to the pulley assembly to rotate the pulley assembly about the cable axis. The cable preparation machine includes a blade assembly operably coupled to the pulley assembly and rotated with the pulley assembly about the cable axis. The blade assembly includes a blade having an arcuate cutting edge configured for cutting an insulator from the end of the cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to verify that proper tooling has been installed in a cable preparation apparatus and/or to calibrate the tooling prior to running the cable preparation apparatus with a cable inserted therein. The method includes: inserting a reference device between blades of the cable preparation device; moving the blades inward toward the reference device until the blades engage the reference device; collecting data to determine when the blades engage the reference device; and comparing the collected data of the blades to an expected range of data of the reference device, wherein if the collected data of the blades does not conform to the expected range of data of the reference device the tooling is not validated, and the apparatus alerts the user.

Abstract: A method of removing a foil shield from a cable includes positioning the cable proximate a heating source, monitoring a characteristic of the cable or the heating source with at least one sensor, heating the foil shield in a designated area to weaken the foil shield, and removing an outer insulation of the cable and the foil shield.

Abstract: A method of removing a foil shield from a cable. The method includes: positioning the cable proximate a heating source; heating the foil shield in a designated area to weaken the foil shield; and removing an outer insulation of the cable and the foil shield after the foil shield has been heated.

Abstract: A cable end sensing apparatus and a method of sensing a cable end of a cable in a cable preparation device. The cable end sensing apparatus includes cable clamps for clamping and moving the cable and a movable sensing device. The movable sensing device has a first position in which the movable sensing device is positioned in line with an axis of insertion of the cable to engage the end of the cable and to prevent the cable from moving beyond the movable sensing device. The movable sensing device has a second position in which the movable sensing device is moved away from the axis of insertion of the cable when the cable end is properly positioned to allow the cable to move beyond the sensing device.

Abstract: A cable preparation machine includes a frame forming a cable cutting zone, the frame having a cable opening along a cable axis at the cable cutting zone receiving an end of a cable. The cable preparation machine includes a pulley assembly rotatably coupled to the frame about the cable axis and a drive assembly operably coupled to the pulley assembly to rotate the pulley assembly about the cable axis. The cable preparation machine includes a blade assembly operably coupled to the pulley assembly and rotated with the pulley assembly about the cable axis. The blade assembly includes a blade having an arcuate cutting edge configured for cutting an insulator from the end of the cable.

Abstract: A cable preparation machine includes a frame forming a cable cutting zone and having a cable opening along a cable axis at the cable cutting zone receiving an end of a cable. The cable preparation machine includes a pulley assembly rotatably coupled to the frame about the cable axis, a drive assembly operably coupled to the pulley assembly to rotate the pulley assembly about the cable axis, and a blade assembly operably coupled to the pulley assembly and rotated with the pulley assembly about the cable axis. The blade assembly is configured for cutting an insulator from the end of the cable in a first cutting configuration when the cable is positioned in the cable opening and the blade assembly is configured for cutting a cable braid from the end of the cable in a second cutting configuration when the cable is positioned in the cable opening.

Abstract: A cable preparation machine includes a blade assembly having arms and braid blades mounted thereto and disposed about a cable opening receiving a cable end along a cable axis. The arms are movable between retracted positions and advanced positions to move the braid blades. The braid blades have edges configured to engage a cable braid of the cable to cut the cable braid. The cable preparation machine includes a mandrel coupled to the end of the cable between the cable braid and an inner insulator of the cable. The braid blades are rotated around the cable axis pressing the cable braid between the edges of the braid blades and the mandrel to cut the braid blade.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to verify that proper tooling has been installed in a cable preparation apparatus and/or to calibrate the tooling prior to running the cable preparation apparatus with a cable inserted therein. The method includes: inserting a reference device between blades of the cable preparation device; moving the blades inward toward the reference device until the blades engage the reference device; collecting data to determine when the blades engage the reference device; and comparing the collected data of the blades to an expected range of data of the reference device, wherein if the collected data of the blades does not conform to the expected range of data of the reference device the tooling is not validated, and the apparatus alerts the user.

Abstract: A cable end sensing apparatus and a method of sensing a cable end of a cable in a cable preparation device. The cable end sensing apparatus includes cable clamps for clamping and moving the cable and a movable sensing device. The movable sensing device has a first position in which the movable sensing device is positioned in line with an axis of insertion of the cable to engage the end of the cable and to prevent the cable from moving beyond the movable sensing device. The movable sensing device has a second position in which the movable sensing device is moved away from the axis of insertion of the cable when the cable end is properly positioned to allow the cable to move beyond the sensing device.

Abstract: A cable preparation machine includes a blade assembly having a plurality of arms and braid blades mounted to the corresponding arms. The arms and the braid blades are disposed about a cable opening configured to receive an end of a cable therein along a cable axis. The arms are movable relative to each other between retracted positions and advanced positions. The arms move the braid blades closer to each other within the cable opening as the arms are moved from the retracted positions to the advanced positions. The braid blades have edges configured to engage a cable braid of the cable. The braid blades are driven inward by the arms moving to the advanced positions to pinch the cable braid inward against an inner insulator of the cable and flare outward an end of the cable braid forward of the braid blades.

Abstract: A method of removing a foil shield from a cable. The method includes: positioning the cable proximate a heating source; heating the foil shield in a designated area to weaken the foil shield; and removing an outer insulation of the cable and the foil shield after the foil shield has been heated.

Abstract: A cable preparation machine includes a frame forming a cable cutting zone, the frame having a cable opening along a cable axis at the cable cutting zone receiving an end of a cable. The cable preparation machine includes a pulley assembly rotatably coupled to the frame about the cable axis and a drive assembly operably coupled to the pulley assembly to rotate the pulley assembly about the cable axis. The cable preparation machine includes a blade assembly operably coupled to the pulley assembly and rotated with the pulley assembly about the cable axis.

Abstract: A cable preparation machine includes a frame forming a cable cutting zone and having a cable opening along a cable axis at the cable cutting zone receiving an end of a cable. The cable preparation machine includes a pulley assembly rotatably coupled to the frame about the cable axis, a drive assembly operably coupled to the pulley assembly to rotate the pulley assembly about the cable axis, and a blade assembly operably coupled to the pulley assembly and rotated with the pulley assembly about the cable axis. The blade assembly is configured for cutting an insulator from the end of the cable in a first cutting configuration when the cable is positioned in the cable opening and the blade assembly is configured for cutting a cable braid from the end of the cable in a second cutting configuration when the cable is positioned in the cable opening.

Abstract: A cable preparation machine includes a blade assembly having arms and braid blades mounted thereto and disposed about a cable opening receiving a cable end along a cable axis. The arms are movable between retracted positions and advanced positions to move the braid blades. The braid blades have edges configured to engage a cable braid of the cable to cut the cable braid. The cable preparation machine includes a mandrel coupled to the end of the cable between the cable braid and an inner insulator of the cable.

Abstract: Crimp tooling includes an anvil and a wire crimper. The anvil includes a base and a tip with a cradle at the tip for supporting a terminal. The anvil has first and second anvil guide surfaces located relative to the cradle. The wire crimper has first and second legs on opposite sides of a crimp slot that receives the cradle and the terminal supported by the cradle. The wire crimper defines a crimp profile in the crimp slot configured to form the terminal during crimping. The first and second legs have first and second wire crimper guide surfaces, respectively. The first and second wire crimper guide surfaces are configured to engage the first and second anvil guide surfaces, respectively, to guide a position of the wire crimper relative to the anvil.

Abstract: A cable preparation machine includes a blade assembly having a plurality of arms and braid blades mounted to the corresponding arms. The arms and the braid blades are disposed about a cable opening configured to receive an end of a cable therein along a cable axis. The arms are movable relative to each other between retracted positions and advanced positions. The arms move the braid blades closer to each other within the cable opening as the arms are moved from the retracted positions to the advanced positions. The braid blades have edges configured to engage a cable braid of the cable. The braid blades are driven inward by the arms moving to the advanced positions to pinch the cable braid inward against an inner insulator of the cable and flare outward an end of the cable braid forward of the braid blades.

Abstract: A method and system of monitoring crimp quality of a crimp terminal in a hydraulic crimping apparatus. The method includes: determining a pressure of a hydraulic fluid supplied to a hydraulic crimping head of the hydraulic crimping apparatus; determining a flow of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the hydraulic crimping head of the hydraulic crimping apparatus; and analyzing the pressure and the flow of the hydraulic fluid to determine if a crimp is defective or not defective.

Abstract: A rotary stripping device for a wire includes a support panel having a wire opening configured to receive an end of the wire and a wire stripper mounted to the support panel. The wire stripper includes an actuating wheel and a blade wheel independently movable relative to the actuating wheel. The wheels have wire openings aligned with the wire opening of the support panel to receive the wire. The wire stripper has a stripper blade held by the blade wheel having a cutting edge configured to engage the wire. The wire stripper has an actuator associated with the actuating wheel operably coupled to the stripper blade to move the stripper blade. The actuator causes the stripper blade to move as the actuating wheel is moved relative to the blade wheel to move the cutting edge of the stripper blade relative to the wire opening in the blade wheel.