Tribology is the study of the science and engineering of interacting surfaces that are in relative motion, and includes the associated principles of friction, lubrication, and wear. So how does tribology relate to connector interfaces?   Although connector contact surfaces are usually not intended to be in continual relative motion, often the surfaces do experienceRead More

In today’s competitive market, value-added service providers help manufacturers reduce costs and lead times, while increasing throughput.   The term “value-added services” can encompass a wide range of services, depending on the individual company or industry. However, in every industry, companies that offer value-added services aim to decrease time-to-market, lower costs, and ultimately improve responsiveness,Read More

The model for providing value-add services grew out of the constant changes in product designs and life cycles that are so prevalent in this industry. Whether customers are in the aerospace, transportation, or factory automation markets, their requirements for reliable, high-quality connectors and cable assemblies evolve quickly, and yesterday’s demand can’t always forecast future needs.Read More

Use of VME connectors expands via smaller mezzanine cards, fiber optics, and coax.   Worldwide Standardization Drives Acceptance Changing requirements for faster processing and reduced size/weight, scalability, and power (SWaP) are resulting in newer form factors that include increased use of mezzanine connectors (cards), BGAs, and both larger and higher-density backplane/daughtercard connectors, plus fiber optics andRead More

Rugged connectors are required for applications in a wide variety of settings, from sterile medical facilities to downhole oil and gas rigs. Key considerations for specification include the environment, the function, and the performance requirements.   Rugged Connector Checklist Rugged connectors must be able to function in environments and under circumstances that would challenge typicalRead More

Learn more about the technical guidelines that drive connector development for corrosive environments to ensure a long-lasting and reliable solution in harsh conditions.   Corrosion Considerations in Connector Development Corrosion is a process known to everyone who owns a car. In essence, rust is the corroded product of iron: Iron atoms slowly detach from theRead More

From specifying the correct stranding configuration to creating specialty extreme material blends to ensure optimal jacket performance, selecting the right combination of variables plays a critical role in the success of products.   In all environments, especially extreme conditions, high reliability and zero downtime are imperative; even the smallest factor can be the difference betweenRead More

It may be necessary to replace copper wiring with aluminum in automotive applications to reduce vehicle weight and achieve the aggressive future fuel-economy standards, but design engineers must be mindful of the significant differences between aluminum and copper wire terminations.   Aluminum wiring has been used for many years in several different industries. Utility companies have successfullyRead More

The way the RJ45 connector is wired to Cat 5, 5e, and 6 cables differs depending upon the type of cable required. To understand why, it’s necessary to understand how computers communicate with the network.   RJ45 modular connectors, also known as 8P8C connectors, are used to connect computers to local area networks. The wayRead More

FCI took the next step in the development of high-speed backplanes when it developed a cost-efficient way to deliver higher speed and density. While Teradyne and its partner Molex were increasing speed with successive generations of large, expensive, heavily shielded waferized connectors, FCI was listening to its large base of telecom, storage, and low-end computingRead More

Teradyne Connector Systems’ innovative VHDM connectors combined ground-plane and lead-frame wafers. You may remember that AMP’s patent associated with the Z-pack 2mm HM (hard metric) with ground planes between wafers was not tooled for the 2mm HM connector, primarily because it was difficult to justify the additional cost and complexity with just two pairs per chicklet.Read More

Backplane connectors with large molded housings existed in the late 1980s but were expensive and very difficult to make. True position for all of the pins had to be accurate or the connector could not be placed easily on the boards and mated. Teradyne Connector Systems found a solution. Teradyne Connector Systems (TCS) was a divisionRead More