40 pin Berg cable connector recommendations for PDP-11 projects?

[systems_glitch]

Chuck is right on about having the right tools. I use a Paladin (now
Greenlee) PA1645 for most of my wire housing crimp terminal needs. I've got
an older Weidmuller Mini Stripax wire stripper that works excellent, bought
it after having used one in a job in college.

I don't use the "official" tool for IDC connector crimping, though -- I use
a small arbor press. Picked it up at the MIT Flea for under $20.

Thanks,
Jonathan

On Wed, Jan 3, 2018 at 7:11 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On 01/03/2018 03:03 PM, systems_glitch via cctalk wrote:
> > Most IDC connectors will fit just fine. I've use old 40-pin IDE cables
> > before. Beware that the keying boss may be too short for the old blue
> Berg
> > housings, allowing the cable to be inserted upside-down (don't depend on
> > the keying boss!).
> >
> > There are wire housing type connectors you can get, as well, which allow
> > individual pins to be crimped to wires and then inserted into the
> housing.
> > Mouser's parametric search will yield many options.
>
> Also, be aware that twisted-pair ribbon cable may be specified on some
> of this older stuff. Depending on the length of the run, "straight"
> ribbon cable may work, but it's something to pay attention to if you're
> in the 10-20 m lengths.
>
> I use the crimp pins and housings all the time.  Recently, I had a
> dual-row 8 pin module to plug into another board.  I used the female
> Berg housing and pins crimped onto lengths of AWG 18 solid wire, which
> in turn was soldered to the PCB.   It saved me from having to order a
> special female header.
>
> If you do go the crimp-pin route, get yourself a good crimper made for
> the job.--I use one made by/for Molex--it's a spring-loaded ratchet
> affair that repeatedly crimps the pins very neatly.
>
> The other thing is to get a good wire stripper that won't nick the
> conductors.   I use the "Micro Strip" tool that's often used for
> stripping fiber jackets--I originally got mine for stripping wire-wrap
> wire.
>
> You can sometimes find these tools on the used market.  New, they can be
> quite dear.
>
> --Chuck
>
>