Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
How to cut headers without looking like a hack job? — Parallax Forums

How to cut headers without looking like a hack job?

RavenkallenRavenkallen Posts: 1,057
edited 2010-10-07 11:29 in General Discussion
Every time i cut a header it always ends up losing a pin and it looks terrible. Is there a way to cut a header without destroying the appeal factor? I usually use these ones from sparkfun...Any ideas?

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9279

Comments

  • sam_sam_samsam_sam_sam Posts: 2,286
    edited 2010-09-18 19:54
    When I have cut one with a Dermal tool with a cutting wheel I lose at least one pin but look pretty good

    http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAndAccessories/Pages/AttachmentsDetail.aspx?pid=426


    http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAndAccessories/Pages/AttachmentsDetail.aspx?pid=402

    This what I use for alot of project that I do I hope this helps
    Cutting wheel.jpg
    188 x 143 - 51K
    402 Mandrel.jpg
    188 x 143 - 25K
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-09-18 20:47
    Unlike with male pin headers, I always count on losing a pin when cutting a female header connector. In fact, I remove the sacrificial pin first and clip the housing apart with side cutters. Then it's off to the vertical disk sander to square everything up and make it look nice.

    -Phil
  • FranklinFranklin Posts: 4,747
    edited 2010-09-18 20:48
    You can use an xacto knife to score both sides and then snap them or use fine wire cutters to start a shallow cut and then break them apart. The trick is to take it slow.
  • TimmooreTimmoore Posts: 1,031
    edited 2010-09-18 21:26
    I use side cutters to cut the header then xacto knife to tidy the ends
  • Beau SchwabeBeau Schwabe Posts: 6,568
    edited 2010-09-18 21:40
    I do something similar to what Phil does, as far as just accepting the fact that you will have a sacrificial pin. ... but instead of a sander it's fairly easy to clean up with a box-knife razor blade.

    Edit:
    I guess it's similar to what Timmoore does also :-)
  • sylvie369sylvie369 Posts: 1,622
    edited 2010-09-19 04:17
    Gee, I thought I was particularly bad at this. I'm glad to hear that others lose a pin every time as well.

    I've done diagonal cutters and cleanup with an emory board.
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2010-09-19 08:53
    sylvie369 wrote: »
    I've done diagonal cutters and cleanup with an emory board.

    Me too (@aol.com)
  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2010-09-19 11:01
    I'm like most people, I guess. Sacrifice one pin and clean it up with a knife (no sander here). The initial split is with the knife or diagonal cutters (if I'm cleaning it up anyway, it doesn't really matter how bad it looks initially).

    The shorter SIP headers that take IC pins instead of header pins can usually be split without losing a pin - but they are not comparable to these and can't be used with the same male headers.

    The other way I handle it is by buying lots of 8-pin female headers since those are the ones I use the most. Unfortunately, they don't usually stack end-to-end cleanly unless I remove a little material.
  • RavenkallenRavenkallen Posts: 1,057
    edited 2010-09-20 08:21
    All right, sacrifice THE PINS!!!! *Prepares the trash can for the new arrivals* haha....so i guess i can expect to lose a pin every time, MHH. I'll have to find an exacto- knife somewhere. Me and my dad used to use them for building balsa wood airplanes, so i should have some hanging around..
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-09-20 08:29
    Actually, the documentation for these style headers says that you will loose a pin.

    As others have said, I always pull a pin out first, then use diagonals to cut and trim it.

    Bill
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2010-09-20 11:35
    Actually you can cut them without losing any pins and the result if often neater than cutting them with side cutters. I use an x-acto Small Mitre Box Set like the one below. They also had a version with a plastic Mitre box that is less expensive. Most local hobby shops should have this in stock.

    http://www.xacto.com/Product/X75320

    Robert
  • mparkmpark Posts: 1,305
    edited 2010-09-20 19:03
    Gadget Gangster sells headers with notches between the pins. I haven't tried, but it looks like one might be able to snip them without losing a pin.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-09-20 19:16
    Michael,

    Yeah, they do have notches, but here's the caveat from the GG product page:

    "NOTE: If you trim them to size, you'll likely lose one socket with each cut."

    The problem with female connectors is the thin wall between sections. In order not to lose a pin, you'd have to slice that wall precisely in half, which is nearly impossible to do.

    -Phil
  • mparkmpark Posts: 1,305
    edited 2010-09-20 21:27
    Good thing I said might. :)
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2010-09-20 22:43
    I've used the X-acto saw to cut both the male and female .100" headers to length and haven't had any issues. The blade is thin and does a good job preserving all the pins. It is worth trying if you need to cut quite a few of them.

    Robert
  • VonSzarvasVonSzarvas Posts: 3,484
    edited 2010-09-21 23:20
    ...umm, throwing away pins??

    Suppose it depends on the pitch, but you might be able to solder the sacrificial female onto the end of some scrap wire and create your own test leads ? Might be good for plugging in/out of a development board (or even some other female headers)......
  • Nick McClickNick McClick Posts: 1,003
    edited 2010-10-07 10:44
    A while ago I was at Halted and I found a bin of trim-able female headers (photo attached, they're on top). The plastic is fairly soft and the pin sockets are designed so they don't get broken so you can trim without losing a socket. I bought the whole bin, but I've since used almost all of them and I can't find any more or figure out who made them.

    I've used many other brands of sockets - the 3m sockets (photo attached, on bottom) look like they might be trim-able, but the plastic is too hard - it shatters on trimming and you lose a socket (those are the ones I sell). I think your best bet is to lose a socket and file down the edge.
    headers.jpg
    874 x 1116 - 176K
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2010-10-07 10:54
    Hello Nick,

    I've cut down the ones one the bottom of your picture without and issues and without losing any pins. Just pickup one of the X-acto razor saw w/fixture and you'll see. The saw blade fits perfectly in the small notch and cuts them cleanly. If it didn't work well I wouldn't be recommending it to others on this list.

    Robert
  • Erik FriesenErik Friesen Posts: 1,071
    edited 2010-10-07 11:29
    I hate cutting so bad I buy these -

    http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=S7036-ND

    or search for LFBN-RC and select single row
Sign In or Register to comment.