What is Crimp in Wire Harnesses and Cable Assemblies
What is a wire or cable crimp? Crimping involves using a crimping tool to install a connector on the end of a cable. The process begins by placing the connector into the crimping tool. Next, the bare wire is placed into the connector at the end of the cable. The final step requires the installer to squeeze the handle of the crimping tool to attach the connector to the cable. Why is it important to have a good quality crimp? High-quality crimps form airtight joints, which are created by compressing specially designed splice strips or crimp terminals with electrical components such as cables and wires. The resulting terminals cause the strands in the wire to be reshaped to form a solderless electrical connection with low resistance. The joints must be gas-tight to protect the metal from corrosion by moisture and oxygen. They must also be strong, with individual joints that are not broken or segmented. The crimping process also creates microconnections in the wire that...