What are Fencing parts called in the rest of the world?

[Pepster]

Okay,

So to US there are Tip screws, hex nuts, spagetti tubing, sockets, plugs, ect...

As someone who works in manufacturing... what are they REALLY called?

I believe:
Epee tip screws are M2 x 2mm (at least mine are, French I think)
Hex nuts are M6x1 or 12-24 thread
Spagetti = Teflon overtubing/Slip-on insulation
Inside Hex tool = 6mm Allen wrench
Outside Hex = hollow shaft 10mm nut driver

So my question:
The body-cord sockets/plugs are NOT banana plugs, not matter how much I want them to be. My best guess is they're some sort of european longer and thinner version. Anyone know what they're called in the rest of the electonic/connector world? (or where to get them)

Followup:
Anyone care to expand/correct my list of aformentioned Fencing to Real world definitions?

-Pepster
- Who loves his Newark InOne Catalog, despite it's shortcomings.

[Mergs]

I think you pretty well nailed it, except for the banana plug bit. All plugs EXCEPT the thin one for foil/saber body cords are the same size as commercially available banana plugs. Have been building test boxes and floor cords/epee cords using them for years.

[Pepster]

perhaps mine are just strange, I'll check when I get home. When I tried a standard plug jack it was a bit short and wide for my 3-prong plugs. also, when I tried a plug in my epee socket it was a bit short and wide.... This requires further investigation.

[Lee Yue Yang]

What are banana plugs?

[DangerMouse]

Originally Posted by Pepster

perhaps mine are just strange, I'll check when I get home. When I tried a standard plug jack it was a bit short and wide for my 3-prong plugs. also, when I tried a plug in my epee socket it was a bit short and wide.... This requires further investigation.

The pin thickness on body cord ends varies with the make of body cord. An easy solution if you are making a socket is to offset the middle jack by a couple mm to lock the body cord in.

[Pepster]

Originally Posted by Lee Yue Yang

What are banana plugs?

Banana plugs are the technical name for the individual pieces of metal on your body cord ends. They are used elsewhere in industry and testing labs for easy hookup of equipment and sensors.

They are also sold bulk Here and Here.

My body cord was just a bit wierd, sho it threw me off into thinking the plugs were non-standard.

-Pepster
- who now has a hankering for a banana....

[333]

The easier way to solve your problem is bring the socket to your electronics store. Let the electronics guy to get the right stuff for you.

[Pepster]

Originally Posted by 333

The easier way to solve your problem is bring the socket to your electronics store. Let the electronics guy to get the right stuff for you.

333 - I was going to ask where on earth the electronic store attendants actually knew electronics, then I looked at your location... Here in the states, the Techs tend to be rather cluless about the electronics parts they sell from the incresingly smaller section of the store. They're MUCH more literate with the TV's and Cell phones on display.

Fortunately, I work as an engineer, so I can run to the stockroom with my socket or cord and try a banana plug on it. Turns out my Uhlmann cord fits a banana jack just fine, and the standard plugs fit my sockets fine. I was confused because my Leon Paul cord uses slightly thinner plugs, and didn't fit well. (also my banana jack was shorter than average)

-Pepster
- Who's got an unhealthy obsession with the size of his banana plug...

[SJCFU#2]

As you observed, Leon Paul uses a different, smaller plug than the standard 3mm and 4mm banana plugs.

This is because Leon Paul uses solid pins that are held slighly out of plane with one another by the plastic mounting. The plastic flexes enough to allow the pins to fit into the socket but keeps enough torque on the pins to hold them in contact with the sides of the socket. Obviously the pins must be smaller in order to fit into the socket, and you need at least two pins in order to ensure a tight fit (i.e. individual pins should not be used for grouning cords). Just about everyone else uses a pin with some form of spring piece ont the outside that collapses enough to allow the pin to fit into the socket.

Barry Paul has previoulsy defended his arrangement as being more reliable. My own experience is that it reasonably works well until the plastic piece breaks. Once that happens the whole thing has to be replaced.