Stripping & cable cutting

Wire preparation starts the connection

Strippers remove insulation from a conductor end; cutters prepare an end face for the next operation. Stripping must separate the outer layer while preserving the conductor, whereas cutting controls the section of the entire cable. Good preparation reduces difficult terminal insertion, displaced strands and inconsistent exposed lengths.

LIHENGRIX LH-S06 addresses insulation removal and LH-C32 addresses copper and aluminum cable cutting. Start with cable construction: single- or multicore, solid or stranded, insulation material, shielding and reinforcement all influence the appropriate method.

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Sized and adjustable stripping

Sized stripping openings limit blade penetration according to the conductor dimension. Adjustable or self-adjusting mechanisms combine gripping and pulling across a supported range. Self-adjusting does not mean every insulation hardness or thickness behaves identically. Soft insulation can stretch before separating, while harder jackets may need a different blade arrangement.

Inspect a few samples from a new wire batch before establishing the setup. Review the cut edge, exposed length and strand condition. If strands are severed, stop and check size, blade position and material. Twisting a damaged end together does not restore the original conductor.

Shear and ratchet cutting

Shear-style cutting suits repeated preparation of smaller supported wires. Ratchets divide a cut into incremental movements, improving control within the stated material and size limits. Edge condition, cable alignment and movement during cutting affect the result; handle length alone does not describe capability.

A copper/aluminum cable cutter is not the same as a wire-rope cutter. Its name does not imply suitability for steel wire, bolts or armored cable. Avoid crushing flexible stranded cable instead of shearing it: flattened sections, burrs and displaced strands complicate stripping and termination.

Preparation bench checklist

1. Identify material: retain conductor, size and insulation information; separate mixed batches.
2. Control length: distinguish overall cut length from termination strip length and follow the component requirement.
3. Protect prepared ends: remove clippings and insulation fragments before they enter terminals or connector housings.
4. Maintain the tool: clean edges and moving areas as directed. Address chipped blades, misalignment or binding before continuing.

Common defects and working boundaries

Variable exposed length can arise from a stop setting, slipping grip or stretched insulation. Nicks may indicate excessive penetration or misalignment. Flattened cut ends call for a check of material suitability and blade wear. Tracing a defect to preparation is usually more useful than repeatedly changing the crimp setting.

Plastic or two-color grips do not by appearance establish suitability for live electrical work. Prepare conductors under appropriate isolation and verified de-energized conditions. Where an electrical protection rating is required, use the explicit tool marking and applicable working procedure.