System and method for multi-stage crimping and stripping

A system for multi-stage crimping of a contact to a wire, the system comprising:

• a first crimping die having a first portion of a selected shape defined therein;
• a second crimping die having a complementary second portion of the selected shape defined therein;
• the first and second crimping dies operable to be displaced during a compression stroke in a first motion to compress the contact into a preliminary shape and on to the wire;
• the first and second crimping dies operable to be displaced during a closing stroke in a second motion subsequent to the compression stroke, the first motion being different than the second motion;
• and
• the first and second crimping dies cooperating to crimp the contact from its preliminary shape into the selected shape upon completion of the closing stroke.

The system of claim 18, further comprising:

• a handle having the first and second crimping dies mounted thereon;
• and
• first and second guideways on the handle for slidingly receiving the respective first and second crimping dies during the closing stroke;
• wherein the first and second crimping dies are operable to be displaced together in a same direction along the second axis into the respective first and second guideways during the closing stroke.

A method for multi-stage crimping of a contact to a wire using a first crimping die having a first portion of a selected shape defined therein and a second crimping die having a complementary second portion of the selected shape defined therein, the method comprising:

• displacing the first and second crimping dies towards each other and along a first axis during a compression stroke;
• displacing the first and second crimping dies along a second axis during a closing stroke subsequent to the compression stroke, the second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis;
• and
• completing the closing stroke to crimp the contact into the selected shape to the wire.