A method of spicing together and joining ends of a first member and a second member includes the steps of: arranging the ends of the first member and the second member in side-by-side manner; placing a coupling sleeve over the ends of the first member and the second member; and using a portable, hot-swaged coupling device to heat and crimp the coupling sleeve about the ends of the first and second member, thereby joining the ends of the first and second members.

A method of spicing together and joining ends of a first member and a second member includes the steps of: arranging the ends of the first member and the second member in side-by-side manner; placing a coupling sleeve over the ends of the first member and the second member; and using a portable, hot-swaged coupling device to heat and crimp the coupling sleeve about the ends of the first and second member, thereby joining the ends of the first and second members.

Hydraulic crimp tools, working heads for hydraulic crimp tools and die sets for crimping wire connectors onto electrical conductor wires using such hydraulic crimp tools are provided. The die sets include identical dies that can be repositioned on the working head to mechanically securing wire connectors to an electrical conductor wire or a bundle of electrical conductor wires from different orientations.

A manufacturing method of press-molded article of the present invention comprises a step of placing a member to be pressed in a press molding apparatus and a step of pressing a flat plate portion of the member to be pressed by bringing a first press portion and a second press portion closer to each other. A first opposing surface and a second opposing surface, while facing to each other, keep in contact with the flat plate portion during pressing. In the press step, a thick part is formed on the flat plate portion by allowing a part of a material of the flat plate portion to flow, in a press direction, into a thickened portion-forming section formed on the first opposing surface. The second opposing surface is moved to the press direction as the flat plate portion is pressed by the first press portion and the second press portion.

A manufacturing method of press-molded article of the present invention comprises a step of placing a member to be pressed in a press molding apparatus and a step of pressing a flat plate portion of the member to be pressed by bringing a first press portion and a second press portion closer to each other. A first opposing surface and a second opposing surface, while facing to each other, keep in contact with the flat plate portion during pressing. In the press step, a thick part is formed on the flat plate portion by allowing a part of a material of the flat plate portion to flow, in a press direction, into a thickened portion-forming section formed on the first opposing surface. The second opposing surface is moved to the press direction as the flat plate portion is pressed by the first press portion and the second press portion.

A radial press is provided with a base structure, a pressing tool accommodated therein and a drive unit. The pressing tool comprises a number of base jaws which are arranged about a press axis and can be moved by the drive unit towards or away from the press axis in a synchronous manner and radially in relation to said press axis, and substantially wedge-shaped press-jaw heads can be exchangeably attached to the base jaws. A plurality of press-jaw head sets is stored in an associated magazine, the press-jaw head sets being for different press diameters. The press-jaw heads have two markings on at least one axial end side directly adjacent to both wedge surfaces. In addition, the two respective opposing markings of two neighboring press-jaw heads are aligned with one another. Markings that are different from one another are provided for different press-jaw head sets.

A radial press is provided with a base structure, a pressing tool accommodated therein and a drive unit. The pressing tool comprises a number of base jaws which are arranged about a press axis and can be moved by the drive unit towards or away from the press axis in a synchronous manner and radially in relation to said press axis, and substantially wedge-shaped press-jaw heads can be exchangeably attached to the base jaws. A plurality of press-jaw head sets is stored in an associated magazine, the press-jaw head sets being for different press diameters. The press-jaw heads have two markings on at least one axial end side directly adjacent to both wedge surfaces. In addition, the two respective opposing markings of two neighboring press-jaw heads are aligned with one another. Markings that are different from one another are provided for different press-jaw head sets.

A swaging system for attaching surgical needles to sutures and testing the attachment strength includes a frame, a bottom swaging die mounted on the frame, and a top swaging die mounted on the frame and being moveable up and down along a swaging axis that is aligned with the bottom swaging die. The bottom swaging die includes a hinge mechanism with a bottom plate mounted to the frame and a top plate overlying the bottom plate. The top and bottom plates are pivotally connected for enabling the top plate to pivot relative to the bottom plate. The bottom swaging die includes a swaging tool that extends toward the top swaging die along the swaging axis, and a load cell disposed between the top and bottom plates for monitoring load. The system includes a control system having one or more pull test programs stored therein for conducting pull tests on armed surgical needles to determine if the armed surgical needles are acceptable or unacceptable.

A swaging system for attaching surgical needles to sutures and testing the attachment strength includes a frame, a bottom swaging die mounted on the frame, and a top swaging die mounted on the frame and being moveable up and down along a swaging axis that is aligned with the bottom swaging die. The bottom swaging die includes a hinge mechanism with a bottom plate mounted to the frame and a top plate overlying the bottom plate. The top and bottom plates are pivotally connected for enabling the top plate to pivot relative to the bottom plate. The bottom swaging die includes a swaging tool that extends toward the top swaging die along the swaging axis, and a load cell disposed between the top and bottom plates for monitoring load. The system includes a control system having one or more pull test programs stored therein for conducting pull tests on armed surgical needles to determine if the armed surgical needles are acceptable or unacceptable.

A swaging system for attaching surgical needles to sutures and testing the attachment strength includes a frame, a bottom swaging die mounted on the frame, and a top swaging die mounted on the frame and being moveable up and down along a swaging axis that is aligned with the bottom swaging die. The bottom swaging die includes a hinge mechanism with a bottom plate mounted to the frame and a top plate overlying the bottom plate. The top and bottom plates are pivotally connected for enabling the top plate to pivot relative to the bottom plate. The bottom swaging die includes a swaging tool that extends toward the top swaging die along the swaging axis, and a load cell disposed between the top and bottom plates for monitoring load. The system includes a control system having one or more pull test programs stored therein for evaluating pull tests on armed surgical needles to determine if the armed surgical needles are acceptable or unacceptable.