Which is the better option – copper of fiber – in commercial aircraft? Earle Olson of TE Connectivity discusses the benefits of fiber in today’s increasingly sophisticated commercial airplanes.   Commercial aircraft run on information. As aircraft designers embrace the concept of MEA (more electric aircraft) to replace mechanical control systems, embedded computers are evolving to handle increasedRead More

Choosing the right material combinations for a specific application can mean the difference between success and failure. Richard Orstad of Fralock presents a primer on how to specify electrical insulating material.   There are hundreds of decisions required when designing mission-critical electromechanical components. In each of these decisions, choosing the right material combinations for a specificRead More

Products made from plastic are thought of as cheap alternatives, but when it comes to connectors, they are sometimes the smarter option. Trevor Lee of LEMO answers the question: When is a plastic connector the right connector?   Oftentimes, products made from plastic are thought of as cheap alternatives to metal products. This sentiment canRead More

The material used in a connector design significantly impacts its overall performance. Bob Stanton of Omnetics takes a look at how insulator materials affect connectors at work.   The choice of the material of which a connector is made can greatly affect reliability and performance, and often depends on the environment and application in which the connector isRead More

Everywhere you turn, you can find LEDs in almost any lighting form factor, and connections are more challenging than a screw-in light bulb. Andrew Bogaczyk of Phoenix Contact explains how to connect LEDs and why the connection counts.   LEDs continue to dominate the lighting marketplace; everywhere you turn, you can now find LEDs in almost any formRead More

In our continuing series on connector basics, Bill Garver of APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants examines the final step of the connector development process: How to successfully launch a new connector product.   In a previous “Connector Basics” article, we discussed how manufacturers must optimize the talents of their employees so that critical needs are addressed to ensure a successfulRead More

Technological developments in today’s industrial environments require modular systems. HARTING’s Jakob Dück examines suitable interfaces for modular machine design.   After cloud computing comes cloud production. This development has significantly impacted machine construction; there is a need for highly flexible, quickly implementable production machines and lines that are fail-safe and can be cost-effectively mass-produced. The goal is to manufacture theRead More

There are simple ways to customize a connector’s performance to better withstand harsh environments. Remke examines the five connector specs that combat environmental issues.   When establishing electrical connections in harsh environments, standard cable connectors and assemblies often don’t cut it. There are simple ways, however, to customize any connector’s performance. Common environmental issues for connectorsRead More

We’re introducing a new feature in this issue. “Connectors at Work” highlights a specific application and explains which connectors are most beneficial for system performance. First up, Bob Stanton of Omnetics looks at industrial robots.   Industrial robotics are helping to revive automated manufacturing significantly. The development of new end-of-arm (EOA) instruments enables systems that can handleRead More

Idaho-based Melni Connectors was started by an inventor who designed a connector based on a children’s toy. Last week he found himself on the television hit Shark Tank, pitching the idea to potential investors.   Inventor Mark Melni didn’t know a children’s toy would leave him swimming with the sharks. Although the connector industry is dominated byRead More

M-style connectors come in various forms and sizes. Binder explains how to specify M-style connectors and the benefits of using an industry-standard connector.   M-style connectors are a standard connecting solution for sensors and actuators in industrial network applications. They are designed to withstand harsh environments while providing reliable data and power transmission to automated machinery.Read More

Top-of-rack switching has become the norm in data centers. What does that mean for data center connectivity solutions?   With the advent of top-of-rack (ToR) switching and SFP+ direct-attach copper cables, more data centers are able to quickly implement cost-effective 10G-and-beyond connections. ToR designs originally popped up because data center managers ran out of roomRead More