Before you begin, you should prepare the parts you need to make your cable. You'll need the ribbon cable itself, plus 2 crimp connectors (one to go on each end).
Next you should cut a strip of your ribbon cable to the length you need. Be sure to make your cuts at nice right-angles. You can cut the cable most easily with scissors. Wire-cutters don't usually have the reach to cut neatly through the entire cable. Ribbon cable is not as flexible as individual wires, so don't make your cable too long as it will be hard to manage. Of course, don't make it too short either.
Make sure your crimp connectors are un-snapped as shown with the crimping teeth exposed.
Locate the embossed Pin1 arrow indicator on the connector.
Insert the ribbon cable in the space between the crimp teeth and the plastic housing. Be sure that the RED Pin1 wire is matched up on the same side as the embossed Pin1 arrow indicator on the connector.
Align the end of the ribbon cable so that it's flush with the plastic housing (the wires don't need to protrude).
The connector should be at a right-angle with the ribbon cable. Use your fingers to squeeze the connector so that it begins to crimp the wire. This will help it hold it's position for the next steps
For small crimp connectors (10-16pins), you can make the crimp simply by compressing the connector carefully between a hard tabletop and a hard flat object.
For large crimp connectors (greater than 16pins), it's recommended to use a vice to apply even pressure and avoid breaking the connector. If your vice has a gripping pattern on the jaws, place a piece of flat sheet metal around the plastic connector before compressing it. Knurled vice jaws will damage the connector plastic.
To crimp, gently apply pressure until the connector fully crimps the wire and the locking tabs on the side of the connector housing have snapped into place.
If crimping by hand, be sure to apply pressure evenly and come straight down on the connector. (If you apply pressure at an angle, the connector may break or slip out from under your compression block)
If using a vice, make sure the connector is aligned in the center or the jaws. Apply pressure slowly until crimped.
Your cable-end should look like this when done.
Note that when one connector end has been crimped, the other end can be attached two different ways that still obey the Pin1/red wire matching rule. It is customary to attach the second connector so that the connector pin holes are on the same side of the cable, but either way will be electrically correct. See the photo from Step 1.
