Jinx wrote:
>> I've got to clip the leads on many, many LEDs, and wondering if there
>> any such thing as a lead clipper?  Regular cutters/nippers are taking a
>> long time, but something as simple as a cutter with a built-in provision
>> or stop to position the cutter-blade at the correct distance would be
>> really helpful.  Any thoughts?
>>     
>
> I had to do this for some LED displays and tried several methods. All
> worked to get length, but pre-clipping as (1) and (2) were experiments
> only
>
> 1) as Mike Hord suggested, using a piece of drilled mdf
>
> 2) glue a piece of mdf to one of the jaws of the cutters. You can cut
> with the right hand as you position the bottom of the LED body agin
> the mdf. Excess lead is between the jaws
>
> 3) insert LEDs with unclipped leads, then flip the board and suspend it
> so that LEDs drop to the right length lead. Solder, clip
>
>   
Yes, there are commercial lead clippers. They are a very high-speed 
cutter, sometimes diamond-tipped,
spinning at very high speeds. The PCB is installed into a very rigid jig 
which prevents the PCB from being
bent. The back of the PCB is shaved in about 2 seconds.

--Bob


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