Approaching the physical limits of traditional silicon chip technology, many predicted we would soon witness the death of Moore’s law. Multi-chip advanced packaging and the rise of silicon photonics offer a path to resuscitation. Not long ago, the consensus among many engineers was that the practical limits of shrinking semiconductor chip features had been reached,Read More

Adding EMI shielding to connectors prevents electromagnetic noise from becoming a problem. Signal speeds in all types of electronic devices have been getting faster and faster as devices from smartphones to medical equipment to automobiles process greater volumes of data. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a type of unwanted noise in an electrical net generated byRead More

New processes and products are leading the way as the connector industry looks for solutions to the problem of electronics waste. Electronic waste (e-waste) is the world’s fastest growing solid waste stream and its harms include the introduction of as many as 1,000 different chemical substances into the environment, including microplastics, neurotoxins, and airborne particulateRead More

What are heat sinks? Meet the Connector: Heat sinks Heat sinks provide thermal management in electronic or mechanical devices for components that can’t sufficiently dissipate heat to moderate temperature. For example, they are used to cool central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) in computers, with power transistors and other high-power semiconductor devices,Read More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights materials for connectors from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Materials for connectors RF connectors are available in a variety of materials to suit the usage requirements and the application’s operating environment. Brass is the most common base material but those made with stronger base materials, such as stainless steel, generallyRead More

When failure is especially costly, operations demand high reliability. Designers, engineers, and suppliers are always on the search for materials that perform well under extreme conditions. Many applications subject connectors to very high pressures and high temperatures while requiring them to maintain functionality and performance for extended periods of time. When failure is especially costly,Read More

The search for lead alternatives has brought great innovation to metal work for use in electronics. Learn about advanced machining processes that produce high-quality, precision connector components. By Massimiliano Domeniconi, Vice President of Machine Sales, Mikron Corp. A few years ago, when the first stages of the European environmental law RoHS (Restriction of Certain HazardousRead More

What doesn’t break metals makes them stronger. Learn how the strategic application of stress increases strain hardening and strength in metals. Strain hardening is a common method for improving the strength of an alloy. This process, also called cold work and work hardening, uses deformation to increase the strength of the metal. By subjecting theRead More

Resin materials are widely used in high power connectors to support conductors and provide insulation functions. It is crucial to choose the appropriate resin material to achieve the optimal performance for specific application environments and functional requirements. By Qixing Xu, Deputy Manager, BizConn International Corp. (A BizLink Group Company) The continuous growth of data trafficRead More

The pandemic, geopolitical turmoil, factory slowdowns, and other disruptive factors have impacted the cost of the materials used to make connectors. A conversation with Ron Bishop explains this complicated era. By Connector Supplier and Samtec Inc. Material costs have fluctuated wildly in the past three to four years as COVID-19’s disruptions, tariffs, wars, natural disasters,Read More

The shift from tin lead to lead-free solder has created an unintended consequence that has experts exploring multiple avenues for solutions. Soldering is the process used to secure connections on a printed circuit board using metal alloys and heat. The two most common types of soldering are reflow and wave. Traditionally, solder was made fromRead More

The RoHS and REACH directives, along with rising material costs, have led to innovative new processes and materials for contact plating. In the world of electronics design, great challenges lead to great innovation. Take the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Reach directives, for example. These European environmental directives disrupted decades of common processes andRead More