A Practical Electronics gadget

[Skywave]

Whilst rummaging around in the attic, I found a box of assorted stuff that I had long since forgotten about. I distinctly remember this item as being a free gift with an issue of Practical Electronics, circa mid to late 1960s. It has all the appearances of being a tool to assist with fitting components to Veroboard.

So, two questions, please.
1. Is my above reasoning correct?
2. And if so, how to I use it?

Cheers,
Al. / Jan. 9th.

[Terry_VK5TM]

Exactly what it is. a component lead bending gauge.

Lay the component across the side with the indentations and bend the leads down.

[buggies]

And cunningly they have marked it for both 0.1" and o.15" pitch veroboard.
DIY version shown here:-
https://www.instructables.com/Electr...-Bending-Tool/

[Skywave]

Thanks for al those replies, but I am still at a total loss as to how, exactly, you are meant use it.

This tool has two scales: 0.1" and 0.15". I think that I understand the reason for those two scales: different pitch of the holes in the two types of Veroboard.

There is a slot in this tool's centre. On one side of this tool and on one side of that slot there are numbers 4 to 10 (0.1" scale) and on the other side of that slot, numbers 3 to 7 (0.15" scale).

On the other side of this tool, on one side of that slot, there are numbers 6 to 24 (even numbers only), 0.1" scale, and on the other side of that slot, numbers 5 to 15 (odd numbers only), 0.15" scale.

What are the meanings of those numbers? How and why are they there and how are they used?

Al. / Jan. 9th.

[markfff]

I believe the numbers indicate the distance, in number of holes, between the leads when bent at that position. I have no idea why it has the the slot.

[SiriusHardware]

You put a 90 degree bend in the lead at one end of the component and put it through the slot, slide it up and down in the slot until the component body is lying over the guidelines for the length you want and then bend the other lead over the outside edge (surely?)

[bigfathairyvika]

See post #2.
The distance across the triangle is the width.
The component leads sit in the notches.
Try it out with a few resistors and a bit of veroboard.
You can either place the component centrally or slide it anywhere across to either side of the triangle to offset the bends.
Used to use one until I lost it. Then I just made one with a bit of veroboard cut into a triangle.

[SiriusHardware]

Just realised my theory about the use of the slot does not add up because the slot doesn't go all the way from the bottom to the top. So what's the slot actually for?

[Refugee]

It looks like it is slot to edge for the lower numbers and across the full width for the higher numbers.

[Terry_VK5TM]

Practical Electronic October 1976 - instructions bottom of attached page.

[Terry_VK5TM]

And a better set of instructions Everyday Electronics May 1976.

[joebog1]

I did have one. Lost many many years ago. Didnt replace my long nose pliers however.

Joe

[markfff]

Unfortunately they don't tell how to remove the component from the slot after you bend the lead. For a vertically mounted component I just bend the upper lead around the jaw of a needle nose plier

Unfortunately they don't tell how to remove the component from the slot after you bend the lead.

Go to the end, rotate 90 and tilt.

[Skywave]

Originally Posted by Terry_VK5TM;1439413

And a better set of instructions: Everyday Electronics May 1976.

Thank you: that helped, but although I now understand how to use this tool for horizontally-mounted components, despite a determined effort, I could not make sense out of the instructions for vertically-mounted components.
However, overall, I now have an adequate understanding of how to use this item, especially since > 99% of my Veroboard projects will have thier components horizontally-mounted.

Al. / Jan. 10th.

[markfff]

Since the subject came up, a while ago I couldn't find my trusty lead bender, which I've had forever. One of my newest toys at that time was a 3d printer, so I thought I'd design and print a new one. Realizing I wouldn't be satisfied with just horizontally mounted resistors, feature creep began to set in, so here's what I came up with. This one can handle larger diameter components, as well as muti-lead devices and multiple bends. For example you can bend the outer leads of a TO-92 device horizontally using the slots on the short edge, then put the center lead through a hole near the pointed end and bend the outer leads back down with .1 or .2 in spacing. Anyway, I've attached a zip of the STL file if anyone wants to make one.

[Craig Sawyers]

I have one of these https://uk.farnell.com/duratool/tp-1...p12/dp/2022740 alas no longer made. You set the two prongs to the lead spacing needed for the circuit board, then fit the component between little jaws and squeeze the handle.

Wish in hindsight I'd bought two, jut in case the one I have breaks.

Craig

[Refugee]

There used to be one on sale where you put the end of a roll of components in and cranked the handle. It was well overkill for home use though.

[Terry_VK5TM]

Originally Posted by Refugee

There used to be one on sale where you put the end of a roll of components in and cranked the handle. It was well overkill for home use though.

I was given one of those years ago, unfortunately, there was a bit missing which made it useless and I never bothered trying to find out if spare parts were available.

It's probably still in the shed somewhere.