Using the Wrong Hand Crimping Tool Can Damage Your Cable Assembly

Published: June 12, 2019

, Last updated: September 10, 2025

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If the wrong crimp tool or die set is used, the crimp will most likely be too hard or too light. A heavy-handed crimp can crush the connector. If this structure is damaged, the glass optical fiber could also be damaged. If the crimp is too light, the aramid yarns can pull away, which can decrease the maximum pull force. As a side note, you can use the connector manufacturer’s recommended manual crimp tool or an automated crimp tool, which offers repeatability and yields better process control with decreased operator fatigue.

READ THE FULL BLOG ARTICLE HERE: Proper crimping techniques are critical when terminating fiber optic connectors

Additional resources from the FOC team include:

Category Resource FOC Crimp Page
View the Glossary, Acronyms, Military Specifications for Connectors
Q&A Resource: email technical questions to AskFOC@focenter.com

Have questions about this FOC Tip?

Contact FOC with questions at (800) 473-4237 / 508-992-6464 or email: FiberOpticCenter@focenter.com and we will respond ASAP.

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FOC Tips Fiber Optic Center has a team of technical experts and marketing strategists with decades of years in the field. This team contributes to the fiber, cable and specialty industries coverage through news, alerts, reports and general media information.

About Fiber Optic Center, Inc.

Fiber Optic Center, Inc., (FOC), is an international leader in distributing fiber optic components, equipment and supplies and has been helping customers make the best cable assemblies in the world for over two decades. Several areas of specialization and expertise, in which they are the industry leader, make them the preferred choice for many of the world’s fiber professionals. In these key technology areas, FOC is "at least as technical as the manufacturer" about the products they sell. Striving to "make the business part easy," they offer outstanding and personal customer service, low or no minimum purchase order values, and from-stock delivery on industry-leading products and technology. FOC is the industry connection to the most innovative optical products, technologies and technical experts who integrate their manufacturing knowledge and vast experience into customers' worldwide operations. @FiberOpticCntr

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