Tools for crimping an electrical contact onto a conductor

Crimping tooling is disclosed for providing a precision crimped termination (182, 186). The tooling includes a crimping die (92) and mating crimping anvil (136) that will operate in a hand operated tool (50), a power assist hand tool, an applicator in a press, or other machine. The crimping die (92) and crimping anvil (136) each have two spaced barrel engaging portions (116, 118, 164, 166) that form four radially arranged precision indents in the barrel of a plated contact terminal (66) for terminating the contact terminal to an electrical conductor (68). Each of the four barrel engaging portions (116, 118, 164, 166) has an arcuate convex shape without any flat surfaces or sharp corners or edges that could interfere with smooth deformation of the barrel without over stressing the plating during crimping. The end (156) of the anvil terminates at each side wall (158, 160) in somewhat sharp edges (168, 170), respectively, that curve outwardly to help prevent the formation of a burr on the crimped connection. The side walls (120, 122) of the opening (110) in the crimping die (92) are tapered at an angle to the axis (102) of the die that is less than three degrees to further protect against the formation of a burr.