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Making a special tool

jcdammeyer

John
Premium Member
These LED light pipe clips are a pain in the rear. First they get tangled and are really hard at times to break apart. Even with pliers. And with fingers the edges are pointy enough to make fingers quite sore.
PCM_LightPipes-1.jpg

To put them onto the plastic pipes I use small duckbill pliers to squeeze and then slide it over the pipe which is inserted into the 3.5mm from the other side. The flange on the end keeps it from going all the way through.

The problem is trying to press it down against the lid so it's under tension so the pipes don't flex. After doing more than 100 boxes over the last few years I decided enough is enough. Once the clips are in position all I need to do is push them down so there is tension on the tabs but not so much that they bend and it stays loose.

That's the point of the tool. A 4.5mm hole to slide over the pipe and press against the clip.
PressToolLitePipeClip.jpg


My knurling needs work though. I think it was a tad low so more pressure from one wheel than the other. This was the old style knurling tool that presses against rather than pinches.

KnurlingIssues.jpg

In either case lots of grip and one has to be careful not to press too hard.

It didn't take that long to make and it's really nice to now have something to ease manufacturing.
 
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