We now live in an always-connected world, forcing networks to evolve in ways not anticipated even just a few short years ago. We asked Bishop & Associates’ Lisa Huff: What’s next in networking?   Programmability seems to be the latest network trend. Software-defined networks (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV), while hyped over the last fiveRead More

In the past, industrial connectors have evolved over time rather than at a revolutionary pace. Now, with the anticipation of the Internet of Things, Keith Kufahl of TTI discusses the revolution of the interconnected factory and how design engineers can stay on the cutting edge. The fact that the world of industrial connectors changes atRead More

OEMs are hopeful the connectors they specify for end-product designs will be reliable and trouble-free for the life of the product. Unfortunately, connector problems may arise. Ed Reynolds of APEX offers his checklist for recovery after a connector problem. All manufacturers of devices that use connectors are hopeful that the specified connectors will be reliable and trouble-free for theRead More

Press-fit technology is widely applied in multiple automotive applications because it meets the needs of smaller, lighter, more durable components in the latest vehicle designs. The basic principle of a press-fit connection is that a contact terminal is pressed into a printed circuit board (PCB). There are two types of press-fit pins – the solidRead More

We spoke with Joe Venturella, TTI vice president, transportation business unit, and asked how buyers in the transportation sector can best prepare for 2015. Here are five things to know about the transportation market in the new year. CS: Do you have a general outlook for 2015? JV: We see continued growth in the transportation market segmentRead More

In the next article in the “Connector Basics” series, Ed Bock of APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants looks at the attributes of silver and explains why it’s a superior finish for high-current applications. Connector designers have a wide selection of finishes to consider for high-current applications, both noble as well as non-noble metals. It is importantRead More

Power connectors have wide application in the growing electric vehicle market. Producing them via cold forming could deliver multiple benefits, including enhanced part quality and less metal waste. Tighter regulations on CO2 emissions mean that even Formula 1 cars must now be more fuel-efficient – proof, if it were needed, of the inexorable rise of sustainabilityRead More

Lightweight aluminum wiring can replace heavier copper wires in the wiring harness, but aluminum is a demanding material. TE suggests considerations that could help make aluminum the wiring material of the future. Aluminum is a good conductor of electricity. In the car industry, this lightweight material is in the process of replacing copper in power cables. ThereRead More

For clients who truly understand the process of cable assembly molding, which can include cost advantages over a fully mechanical approach, the selection of a vendor is the key to procuring a robust and reliable product. While a molded cable assembly can offer significant advantages over a similar product with a mechanical construction, the artRead More

The IWCS International Cable Connectivity Symposium is upon us, so we asked outgoing CEO and director John Barteld to share the top five things the IWCS has done in the past 10 years. The International Wire and Cable Symposium (IWCS) has had an interesting time over the past 10 years. At the close of 2004,Read More

This issue’s “Connector Basics” topic, explained by George Bedorf of APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants, is connector manufacturing process validation. Connectors are made from plastic and metal. The selection of these materials, including metal finishing, along with very precise and detailed mechanical parameters, are described on production drawings and related specifications. Connectors that meet all the specified designRead More

Connectors for the nuclear energy industry must be rugged and reliable as they are exposed to extreme chemical, temperature, and radiation conditions. Here are some tips on how to specify nuclear energy connectors. Nuclear energy demands long-term reliable solutions designed for the most severe environments. Connectors for this industry need to be rugged and reliable as they are exposedRead More