Wire/Cable Assemblies

Automotive Connector & Cable Special Topics Consumer Datacom/Telecom Industrial Materials Medical Military/Aerospace Sensors/Antennas Transportation Connectors Wire & Cable Assemblies

SpaceWire is the Network Protocol of Choice for Space Agencies

Standardized by ESA in 2003, SpaceWire has been embraced for numerous missions by NASA, JAXA, Roscosmos, and others. SpaceWire has become one of the leading data-handling networks for use on spacecraft. Standardized by the European Space Agency (ESA), it is widely adopted by space agencies, major aerospace companies,…

RF Interconnects and Subsystems in Harsh-Environment Operations

What is SPE Cable?

High Power Connectors Product Roundup

May 2026 Connector Industry News

Listing of Market Articles
SpaceWire is the Network Protocol of Choice for Space Agencies Standardized by ESA in 2003, SpaceWire has been embraced for numerous missions by NASA, JAXA, Roscosmos, and others. SpaceWire has become one of the leading data-handling networks for use on spacecraft. Standardized by the European Space Agency (ESA), it is widely adopted by space agencies, major aerospace companies,…
RF Interconnects and Subsystems in Harsh-Environment Operations Radar, communications, electronic warfare, sensing systems, and other critical and high reliability applications depend on RF subsystems and precision interconnects to ensure mission success. Article Contributed by Times Microwave Systems Military and aerospace platforms operate in extreme environments. Aircraft can transition from scorching desert tarmacs to frigid high-altitude…
What is SPE Cable? SPE cable, or single-pair Ethernet cable, is an industrial grade cabling that uses just one twisted pair of wires to carry full IEEE 802.3 Ethernet signals instead of the traditional two or four pairs found in standard Ethernet cables like Cat5e or Cat6. It is a fast (10 Mb/s to 1 Gb/s),…
High Power Connectors Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights high power connectors from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. High power connectors SV Microwave’s BMB interface is where large form factor and high power meet. It provides a push-on, more robust, and higher-power-handling option than other SMPx interfaces. Due to its larger form…
May 2026 Connector Industry News Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. May 2026 Connector Industry News May 2026 Connector Industry News > Community News Bulgin sponsors engineering education through the STEM On Track program at King’s Ely school…
Branch Wiring Simplifies Cabling in Crowded Applications When there is too much wire and not enough space, branch wiring provides an elegant solution that benefits engineers, designers, manufacturers, and customers. Branch wiring offers engineers and designers a valuable solution for industrial and other applications that require managing lots of wire and cable. Connector Supplier spoke…
Flexibility and More: Top Nine Benefits of Flat Cable Assemblies As electronics shrink and applications grow more demanding, flat cables are emerging as a compelling alternative to traditional round wire bundles, offering superior flexibility, space efficiency, and reliability across industries. Article Contributed By Doug Allen and Brian Wang, JPC Connectivity When designing application-specific cable assemblies, most engineers default…
What are CopprLink Cables Meet the Connector: CopprLink Cables CopprLink is a PCIe cable specification introduced in 2024 by PCI-SIG to standardize high-speed cabled interconnects for modern computing architectures. It defines both internal and external copper cable assemblies for PCIe systems, covering signaling rates from 2.5 GT/s through 64.0 GT/s (PCIe 5.0…
Cable Assemblies Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights cable assemblies from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Cable assemblies Lumberg’s Varicon 7000-Unica is a fully automatic harnessing machine for termination of RAST connectors in insulation displacement technology (IDT). Used for diverse harness configurations, Varicon 7000-Unica provides efficient RAST 2.5 harnessing (3,600 contacts…
March 2026 Connector Industry News Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. March 2026 Connector Industry News March 2026 Connector Industry News > Partnership and Distribution News Würth Elektronik launched its new partner program with a kick-off…
Ethernet Alliance 2026 Roadmap is here! It’s all about high speeds but some customers will take a little longer to get there. The world is increasingly looking to AI solutions, creating a growing demand for speed and scale. To keep pace with this new era in technology, the Ethernet Alliance released its 2026 Ethernet…
A Faster Future with Linear Pluggable Optics As data center infrastructures upgrade to transition to higher bandwidths, LPOs are emerging as a promising solution to enable faster, more energy-efficient, and cost-effective optical connectivity. A few days before the OFC 2025 optical networking conference, the LPO MSA (Linear Pluggable Optics Multi-Source Agreement) Group announced the completion of the…
Cable Protection Starts at the Harness: Braided Sleeving Modern wire and cable systems are under more pressure than ever, both physically and functionally. Braided sleeving is one value-added solution that can help protect harnesses from common challenges like abrasion, vibration, heat, chemical exposure, and service access. This type of cable protection is especially important in evolving…
Technology Brings Sustainability to Distribution Manufacturers and distributors can have a positive impact on their customers’ carbon footprint through supply chain management and innovative shipping solutions. Technology is improving efficiency, eliminating waste, and saving energy. Natalie Emerson, distribution manager at Amphenol PCD, explained that one of the most significant ways to address sustainability…
A Changing Landscape in the Connector Industry A Bishop & Associates analysis of the top 100 connector manufacturers in 2024 sales reveals the impact of multiple acquisitions. At Bishop & Associates, as we prepare our analysis and ranking of the top 100 of 2024, we realize that many of the companies represented in past…
What are Coaxial Cables? Meet the Cable: Coaxial Cables Their design was first used in 1858 and patented by mathematician Oliver Heaviside in 1880, yet these reliable and cost-effective cables are still widely used to transmit data, video, and voice communication. Today, they are even used for power in certain applications. [caption…
Overmolded Cable and Cable Assemblies Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights overmolded cable assemblies from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Overmolded Cable Assemblies binder’s yellow overmolded M12 cordsets are engineered for high visibility and efficient control line identification in industrial environments. Their bright color supports quick differentiation from power and data cables, enhances safety…
Cable Backplanes Come of Age Cable backplanes have been a longtime feature of high-performance computing, undergoing several evolutions to keep up with speed and bandwidth requirements. However, as next-generation AI computing systems take hold, the practical limits of copper have been reached, pushing connector suppliers to create products that include optical solutions. Traditional…
The Current and Future Role of Phase Matched Cable Assemblies Simply put, these assemblies ensure the timing of signals so they function together, not against each other. This synchronization is essential in all applications where signal integrity and accuracy are critical. What are phase-matched cable assemblies? Phase-matched cable assemblies are a set of precisely manufactured and tested RF…
Harwin Report: Insights from Connector Buyers & Specifiers Harwin shares key findings from its exclusive 2025 survey of connector specifiers and buyers from across the United States. The work is an important first step in understanding who is buying connectors and how manufacturers can better serve them. Harwin’s Vice President of Marketing Peter Schneid joined the…
What are Ribbon (Flat) Cables? Meet the Cable: Ribbon or Flat Cable Ribbon cables, also known as flat or planar cables, feature a row of conductive wires running in parallel within a wide, flat, ribbon-shaped cable substrate. Ribbon cable can be folded and bent, providing great design flexibility. [caption id="attachment_48771" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Adafruit…
Wire and Cable Assemblies Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights wire and cable assemblies from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Wire and Cable Assemblies Times Microwave Systems' MaxGain Space Assemblies, supplied by PEI-Genesis, epitomize cutting-edge satellite communication technology. Engineered for space exploration, these high-performance, ultra-low loss microwave coaxial cables combine precision with advanced…
High-Density Multiport Connectors for Military & Avionics Systems Smaller, lighter, and more efficient systems enable advanced military and avionics applications, ensuring mission-critical performance in high-frequency, high-vibration environments. High-density multiport connectors are transforming RF (radio frequency) interconnect technology, built on a legacy of innovation that stretches as far back as WWII. Significant advances in electronic warfare, communications, and radar were…
Four Ways to Prevent Wiring Harness Failure Wiring harnesses save installation time, optimize space, and help protect circuits from shock, vibration, debris, and other hazardous conditions. Good decisions at the design stage can protect the harness and the application. Wiring harnesses save installation time, optimize space, and help secure and protect electrical circuits from shock,…
What is Semi-Rigid Coax Cable? Meet the Connector: Semi-Rigid Coax Cable This semi-rigid transmission line can be formed as needed and will hold its shape to fit the needs of various applications. Semi-rigid coax cable is a coaxial transmission line that can be formed to fit the needs and dimensions of a specific…
Twinax Cable Assemblies Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights Twinax cables from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Twinax cables Avnet supplies 3M Twin Axial PCIe extender assemblies for PCIe 4.0 applications. This family of cable assemblies includes X8 and X16 connectors utilizing 3M Low Loss Twin Axial Cable 85 ohm, 31 AWG,…
March 2025 Connector Industry News Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. March 2025 Connector Industry News March 2025 Connector Industry News > Personnel & Acquisitions News TE Connectivity entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Richards…
Connector Suppliers Talk Cable Routing Innovations As components get smaller and performance demands increase, customers look to suppliers for innovative solutions to meet their needs. When it comes to cable routing, sometimes the best solutions aren’t flashy — just simple and effective. Connectors rely on secure cable connections. Cable routing solutions, therefore, are more…
IP Communications in the Field Level: Is Cable Reuse an Option? The reuse of serial communication cable for IP applications depends on various factors. In a series of comprehensive evaluations, Phoenix Contact set out to test various cables to determine the maximum length through which they could enable IP communications when used as an SPE physical layer and create…
Interconnects and Energy Unite in Our Latest eBook Download your copy here! Energized! Where Interconnects and Energy Meet, Connector Supplier’s final eBook of 2024, plugs into the topic of energy. Experts from leading connector companies explore the pivotal role interconnects play in maximizing energy efficiency in specific markets and applications, assisting with sustainability efforts, serving the energy…
What are MIL-STD-1553-Compliant Connectors and Assemblies? Meet the Connector: MIL-STD-1553-compliant Connectors and Assemblies MIL-STD-1553 is a military standard that defines the mechanical, electrical, and functional characteristics of a serial data bus, with the goal of reliably moving data. Also known as Milbus, this standard has been incorporated in nearly every type of U.S. military…
Databus and Video Interconnects Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights databus and video interconnects from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Databus and Video The Amphenol USB LTW connector from PEI-Genesis is rated to IP68 for water resistance. This Amphenol USB connector series comes in USB Type A/B, which covers USB Type A 3.0,…
November 2024 Connector Industry News Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. November 2024 Connector Industry News November 2024 Connector Industry News > Award News [caption id="attachment_47094" align="alignleft" width="200"] Mohammed Ahmed, Kelly Brandord, and Steven Douglas[/caption] Smiths…
New Microwave and RF Advances Impress at IMS2024 The technical advances showcased at this year’s event were outstanding. More than ever, IMS is much more than an exhibition. The IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, held June 16-21, 2024, in Washington, D.C., combined the RFIC, IMS2024, and ARFTG conferences. The event brought together the foremost entities in…
High-Resistance Optical Cable Takes Flight in Mach2 Optical cable is known for its speed and capacity to handle large volumes of information. However, its use in extreme conditions poses a particular challenge. Optical cables have the speed and capacity to handle large volumes of information, making fiber optics the media of choice for high-speed data…
What is Multimode Cable? Meet the Cable: Multimode Cable Multimode cable is a type of fiber optic cable designed to carry multiple light modes or paths simultaneously, enabling high-bandwidth data transmission over relatively short distances, commonly used in data centers and local area networks. Optical fibers were first developed in the 1950s…
Microwave RF Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights microwave RF cable assemblies from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Microwave RF Cable Assemblies Designed to simplify the connection process, the 6791-000 series of wire-to-board connectors for coaxial cables from KYOCERA AVX enables simple termination with one press. Expanding on IDC (insulation displacement…
July 2024 Connector Industry News Upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. July 2024 Connector Industry News July 2024 Connector Industry News > Award News During the recent Scaling for Growth Summit with TTI Inc., TTI Europe,…
Nicomatic Proves That Two Heads are Better Than One Brothers Olivier and Julien Nicollin share CEO responsibilities with great success. Their team approach is just one of the ways they stay ahead of the curve. When Paul Nicollin retired from Nicomatic, he left the business he founded in the capable hands of not one but two sons.…
Field Wiring: The Backbone of Complex Industrial Environments A consistent infrastructure, from the control cabinet to the field, can create significant added value in terms of efficiency, safety, and flexibility of production and automation processes. Networking automation and control technology is an important aspect of wiring in the field, also known as field wiring. At the…
Ethernet Won’t Get Out of the Fast Lane A raft of new 800 Gigabit Ethernet interconnects are helping our favorite networking cable reach ever higher speeds to support AI, machine learning, and the next frontier of high-speed computing. Ethernet has been the backbone of computing since the 1980s due to its exceptional versatility, reliability, backward compatibility,…
What are Twinax Cables? Meet the Connector: Twinax Cables Twinax cables are specifically designed for improved performance in high-speed data applications. Compared to coaxial cable, which has a single conductor, twinax cable improves signal integrity, speed, and bandwidth by incorporating two conductors in its design.[market_ad position="1"] “The main benefit of twinax over…
High-Speed Cable Solutions Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights high-speed cable solutions from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. High-Speed Cable Solutions 3M Twin Axial PCIe Extender Assemblies for PCIe 4.0 applications, available from Avnet, is a family of cable assemblies including X8 and X16 connectors utilizing 3M Low Loss Twin Axial Cable…
DesignCon 2024 in Review Connector suppliers shared new high-speed solutions for IoT, signal processing, electric vehicles, energy storage, machine learning and AI, photonics, 5G, and other technologies at DesignCon 2024. Cloudy skies and drenching rain failed to dampen attendance and enthusiasm at this year’s edition of DesignCon, held in Santa Clara, California,…
High-Speed Solutions: Are Co-Packaged Optics Moving Toward Reality? In high-speed data transmission, copper circuits introduce signal loss and distortion that increase with the length of the circuit. However, rapid advances in silicon photonics and a new generation of co-packaged optics are enabling designers to mount dissimilar chips directly on a common substrate, saving power and expanding…
Improving Signal Integrity Performance in Micro-Coax Cable Assemblies Can signal integrity (SI) performance be improved by using a connector with a paddle card? In a test case, a paddle card with high SI performance is combined with a low connector height to achieve an ideal solution. Infrastructure telecommunications equipment, such as servers and switches, has become increasingly…
Ethernet Still Going Strong at 50 A half century after its inception, this ground-breaking technology is still a major player in the evolving world of connectivity. [caption id="attachment_42897" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Image courtesy of Ethernet Alliance.[/caption] In May 1973, Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) researcher Bob Metcalfe sent out a memo that outlined a…
Is the Gold Rush Over for China Connector Sales? Bishop & Associates has been tracking the connector industry since 1980 by product type, by end-use market sector, and by major geographic region. When we initially starting reporting on the industry, China’s connector sales were so insignificant we included China’s numbers as part of the Asia Pacific region.…
What is MIL-Approved Wire/Cable? What is MIL-Approved Wire/Cable? MIL-approved wire, or MIL-spec wire, is any wiring solution that meets the strict standards developed for use in military applications. As with any military specifications, MIL-approved wire is designed for high performance and high reliability in harsh environments, which also makes it an attractive…
Wire Harnesses Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights wire harnesses from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Wire Harnesses Omnetics Connector Corporation is well suited to meet customers’ cable harness needs, with IPC-610 and IPC-620 trained workers on-site. Its experienced staff of sales, engineering, and manufacturing professionals make cable harness projects a…
Armor Up! Ruggedized, Shielded, and Armored Cables are Ready for Duty Copper and fiber cabling runs through the grittiest environments and powers the most rugged electronic applications with the help of protective armor. Behold the armored cable! When rugged conditions are at hand, armoring is ready to protect the wires or fibers inside of a cable —and ultimately protect…
Fiber Optics: The Most Efficient Way to Transport Data, Even in Harsh Environments Many favorable attributes of fiber optic cables are readily acknowledged. However, a bias against using fiber optics in harsh environments remains. Fiber Optic Cables Fiber optic cables carry many times more data than is feasible over copper-based connectivity. This increased bandwidth is necessary for the highest definition video…
Show Report: 2023 Del Mar Manufacturing Show As digital technologies transform the manufacturing industry, the Del Mar show has become the U.S. equivalent of Hannover Fair. The future of manufacturing is fully connected, as evidenced by the exhibits at the 2023 Del Mar Manufacturing Show. Manufacturers, suppliers, and industry experts came together April 25-27 to…
What are Active Optical Cable Assemblies? Meet the Connector: AOC Assemblies Active optical cable (AOC) assemblies were developed to combine the benefits of copper and fiber optic cable assemblies. Copper cable assemblies are known for their ruggedness and reliability, particularly at the connector interface. Copper connectors have multiple points of contact which helps them…
Cable Accessories Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights cable accessories from leading suppliers. Cable Accessories NPG Quick Connect from ABB Thomas & Betts, supplied by RS, allows fast and effective fitting of cable glands without access to the inside of an enclosure, greatly speeding up installation. Features include single piece (no…
Top Questions to Ask When Selecting Cable for Harsh Environment Applications Failure-proof cable selection is especially important in dangerous or harsh environments where water, sunlight, temperature extremes, chemicals, dust, or other hazards are present. Failure-proof cable selection starts with an evaluation of how the cable will be used and the environmental conditions that surround the application. This is especially…
What are SC Connectors? Meet the Connector: SC Connector SC fiber-optic cable connectors are widely used in optical network applications, such as internet and cable TV. The name comes from the shape (square connector), although it is actually a rectangular connector. The name may also refer to standard connector, subscriber connector, or…
SC/LC Fiber Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights SC/LC Fiber from leading suppliers. SC/LC Fiber Phoenix Contact offers a portfolio of fiber optic connectors and patch cords. SC connectors feature easy mounting, push-pull technology with an option for a duplex connector for LAN, energy, and industry applications. LC connectors feature high…
Twinax Cable is Replacing PCBs Inside Server and Switch Applications To reduce heat and improve speeds, twinax cable assemblies are replacing PCBs in next-generation datacom equipment. The links inside a switch that connect the quad small form factor pluggables (QSFPs) at the faceplate to application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) at the heart of the box have become signal superhighways.…
Robotic Soldering Process Optimization: Spattering and Solder Spread Growing interest in robotic soldering within the PCB assembly industry is leading to increased demand for robotic soldering equipment and applications. Learn how this soldering technique can bring production, performance, and cost benefits. Robotic soldering is emerging as a powerful PCB assembly tool. Not only is this method…
Ethernet Solutions for Automation Environments High-speed, compact, and powerful new connectivity solutions for Industrial Ethernet-based networks make it easy to upgrade existing cabling. The concept behind Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) touches all industries. From process control and automotive assembly to robotics and the food and beverage industry, data…
2022 World Cable Assembly Market on Track for Continued Growth A new market research report by Bishop & Associates examines this essential electronics market to understand its successes and challenges, plus a forecast for the cable assembly industry's future. The global cable assembly industry continues to expand at a rapid rate. For 2021, Bishop & Associates recorded incredible…
2023 NEC Includes Class 4 Certification From UL The new Class 4 UL classification standard was published in August 2022 in Article 726 of the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), specifically for Class 4 cables intended for use with fault-managed power systems. These requirements cover 60-250 °C (140-482 °F), single- and multiple-conductor, jacketed cables for use as fixed…
Wire & Cable Assemblies for High-Temp Applications Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights wire & cable assemblies for high-temp applications from leading suppliers. Wire & Cable Assemblies for High-Temp Applications Cicoil’s exclusive, patented extrusion process in combination with its patented Flexx-Sil jacketing is at the heart of manufacturing extreme environment flat cables that retain electrical properties…
Help Manage the Maze of Wires: Cable Clamps, Ties, Sleeves, Labels, and Other Cable Management Solutions Cable accessories and organization tools enhance system performance and design. Cable is an essential part of electronic systems. As sensors and antennas, battery management systems, and edge computing become integral parts of electronic design, cable content is increasing in products for every market. Adding cable, however, brings more…
Connector Trends and Challenges in the Automotive Wire Harness Industry Space and weight constraints, environmental regulations, and increasingly complex system requirements are inspiring new wire harness products and versatile interconnect alternatives. Automotive wire harnesses come in thousands of varieties. Some modern vehicles contain close to 40 different harnesses, with up to 700 connectors and more than 3,000 wires.…
Wire & Cable Assemblies Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights wire and cable assemblies from leading suppliers. Wire & Cable Assemblies The Trexon Engineered Products Division (EP) brands offer a variety of discrete cable and wire harness capabilities that include Cicoil extruded flat cable and cable assemblies, and standard and custom assemblies; EZ…
What are Overmolded Cable Assemblies? Meet the Connector: Overmolded Cable Assemblies Overmolded cable assemblies combine the connector and cable into one seamless piece. The process of overmolding involves using two or more materials to encapsulate and contain the wire and connector to create a single part. Overmolding guarantees mechanical integrity while protecting the…
OFC Live Returns The Optical Fiber Communication conference presented a hybrid virtual and in-person event packed with the next generation of optical networking technologies and the connectivity solutions needed to support them. The Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) conference and exposition celebrated over 45 years of innovation and progress with the 2022…
Innovative Interconnect Solutions to Common Signal Integrity Challenges in High-Frequency, Compact Systems Insertion loss, return loss, crosstalk, and noise floor challenge engineers in high- speed systems. New strategies help mitigate these factors and preserve signal integrity. In today’s high-speed electronic systems, achieving optimal system performance requires high levels of signal integrity. However, there are several limiting factors, including insertion loss,…
Over-the-Board Cable Solutions Raise the Speed Limits on Board Designs As bandwidth grows and speeds continue to accelerate, conventional PCB solutions are reaching their limits. Over-the-board cable solutions alleviate heat and signal integrity concerns while allowing systems to reach ever higher performance levels. By Jim David and Vishal Chandrasekar, Amphenol Communications Solutions In today’s data driven world, manufacturers…
RF & Coax Connectors Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights RF & coax connectors from leading suppliers. RF & Coax Connectors EZ Form Cable, a Trexon company, is an AS9100D certified manufacturer of coaxial cable, coaxial cable assemblies, RF connectors, and coaxial delay lines. EZ Form RF, microwave, and millimeter wave (mmWave) transmission…
Cable Trends 2022 From miniaturization to new cable standards to bold new materials, cables are evolving in tandem with connectors to enable fast, powerful, efficient design. Innovation in digital technologies is supported by parallel advancements in cable trends. From faster, smaller cables in the consumer space to heavy subsea cables that…
CAN bus Connector and Cable Considerations CAN bus interfaces and modules, with a range of corresponding cable types and connector combinations, serve as the backbone of the CAN communications system. When chosen properly, they deliver performance, cost savings, and reliability. Controller Area Network (CAN) technology first appeared in European luxury vehicles 30 years ago.…
16 Key Factors to Consider When Specifying a Cable Assembly Cable assemblies unite cables, connectors, and other connectivity components to deliver reliable signal and power connections between equipment units. To specify an interconnect solution, engineers need to consider application requirements, connector types, termination methods, sealing, and more. Cable assemblies streamline the design, procurement, production, testing, and installation process.…
Fiber Optic Cable: The Faster, Farther Future of High-Speed Data Links New optical cables, advanced modulation technology, and improved high-density multi-fiber connectors mean that we may be closer than ever to the Shannon Limit. Copper PCB traces and cables have ruled the world of high-speed data transmission by continuing to find ways to reduce signal attenuation, distortion, and sensitivity…
Selecting the Correct Crimp Tool Crimp tools are used to produce a reliable, long-lasting joint between the connector and cable, an essential termination process for optimum connector performance. Here’s how to choose the right one for your application. [caption id="attachment_34747" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Selecting the correct shape and size crimp tool is essential for…
Automating High Voltage Cable Connector Assembly The process of properly stripping a cable and loading the ferrules into a connector varies, depending on the different functions and constructions of the product at hand. A few basic steps apply to almost all efforts. Electric Vehicle (EV) cable harnesses is one of the hottest topics in…
Critical Design Considerations and Trends Impacting Wire and Cable Technology advancements and material selection play an important role in the evolution of today’s innovative power, signal, hybrid, copper, and fiber optical cable designs. The trends influencing cable design today begin with material options, extend to performance and capability, and continue to evolve as applications become more demanding.…
Rugged Active Optical Cables: A Viable Alternative to Copper and Fiber Optic Cable Assemblies Copper and fiber optic cable have long been the go-to options for a variety of applications, but they fall short in harsh environments. RAOCs combine the benefits of each for an optimal, real-world solution. Typically, in harsh environments such as industrial production facilities, refineries, process manufacturing plants, commercial…
PCB-Mount Automotive Connectors Product Roundup This week’s Product Roundup highlights PCB-mount automotive connectors from leading suppliers. PCB-Mount Automotive Connectors JAE’s MX60A Series offers an automotive-grade waterproof connector that is ideal for engine compartment applications. This connector is compatible with a high pin count of 177 positions. Its lever structure and downsized contacts reduce…
Top 12 Technology Trends: Ever-Evolving Ethernet: From 10 to 400+ Gigabits Bob Hult looks at how a commitment to backward compatibility, choice of copper and fiber optic media, and adoption of new signaling protocols have enabled Ethernet to keep pace with increasing bandwidth demands. This is the eighth installment in the Technology Trends series by Bob Hult, a collection of…
A New Generation of Ethernet Cables and Connectors Cat6 and Cat6A cables are serving today’s most demanding high-speed applications. But Cat8 is on the horizon. The early iconic yellow Ethernet cable has a much diminished presence in consumer and business settings, as wireless technologies have become dominant. More than ever, however, the infrastructure underpinning high-speed wireless…
Nine Considerations for Building a High-Reliability Cable Assembly High-reliability applications demand robust, reliable, and long-lasting cable assemblies. These nine key considerations will help guide engineers as they select and secure cables for these designs. Designing a robust cable assembly or wire harness that can support high-reliability connector performance, withstand the rigors of rugged operating environments, and…
Five Key Characteristics of Military-Grade Composite Cable Clamps Today’s high-performance composite materials make it easy to dispel the misconception that composite cable clamps are inferior to metal clamps in high-reliability, harsh environment applications. Consider these five factors to select the appropriate composite clamps for your most demanding applications. By Matthew Noce, Military & Aerospace Market Manager;…
Hybrid Cable Assemblies With Copper and Fiber Conductors This week’s Product Roundup highlights hybrid cable assemblies with copper and fiber conductors, as well as hybrid cable-mount connectors with both copper and fiber optic contacts. Hybrid Cable Assemblies With Copper and Fiber Conductors Neutrik’s opticalCON HYBRID MED Connectors are designed to deliver rugged, reliable, and user-friendly connectivity…
Will Copper Conductors Hit a Wall? Optimistic technologists have been predicting fiber optics would replace many copper links since the late 1990s, but designers were able to find ways to extend the bandwidth and reach of copper. Now we may be reaching the point where fiber may finally become the most practical solution in…
High-Speed Connectors Usher in New Era of Communications Technologies Inventive humans have always sought better, faster methods of communications. Today’s high-speed communications are enabled by high-speed cabling and connectors that are rapidly evolving to give us connectivity on a level we couldn’t imagine only a few years ago — and that will inevitably be left in the…
Sensor Technologies Depend on Special Sensor Cables Although often taken for granted, cable is a critical enabling technology. As connected and smart devices multiply, so does the need for the specialized cables that connect the many types of sensors needed to enable smart and autonomous applications across a broad spectrum of industries. Cables that connect…
As Demand for Cable Grows, Cable Management Solutions are Expanding Growing volumes of cable and wire in electronic systems have created a need to create order through cable management accessories such as clips, clamps, tubing, braiding, trays, or more complex integrated connectivity solutions. Demand for cable is growing exponentially as electronic systems and devices expand across every market.…
Patch Cables Go the (Shorter) Distance Adding a patch cable, patch cord, or jumper solution gives designers greater flexibility in system design. Patch cables are relatively simple connectivity devices: They consist of a length of cable that connects two optical or electronic devices and transmits signals through a physical conduit. In applications including data…
40 Years of the IEEE 802 Ethernet Standard A unified standard for Ethernet networks developed four decades ago still serves as the foundation of today’s incredible connectivity. In 1973, engineer Bob Metcalfe proposed a simple but revolutionary method to connect computers in local area networks (LANs) using coaxial cable and a modular connector. Ethernet was born. But that was just the beginning. At first, systems designers were on their own and a…
OFC 2020 Resists the Coronavirus The 2020 Optical Fiber Communications Conference & Exhibition celebrated 50 years of optical connectivity with a combination of exhibits on the show floor and remote presentations. The 2020 Optical Fiber Communications Conference & Exhibition (OFC 2020), scheduled for March 8–12, had grand plans to celebrate 50 years of…
DesignCon 2020 Dazzles With New High-Speed Products The DesignCon conference and expo celebrated its 25th anniversary with an array of impressive high-speed developments. DesignCon 2020 celebrated its 25th anniversary with an impressive program of keynote speakers, tutorials, technical sessions, and product showcases. Over 100 presentations and panel discussions spanning 14 conference tracks focused on advances…
High-Speed Fiber Cable Assemblies for the 5G Era Active optical cables are key components in the high-speed systems needed to handle the exponential increase in data traffic that will come with 5G. Connector companies are helping data centers upgrade with these smart solutions. According to the figure being passed around at DesignCon 2020, only 15% of…
Strategic Acquisitions Continued in the Connector Industry in 2019 Connector-adjacent technologies were the key focus of many 2019 acquisitions as companies expanded to a whole-ecosystem approach. Once again, Amphenol led the industry in acquisitions, completing more acquisitions than any other company in the connector, cable, or cable assembly field in 2019. Amphenol has acquired more than 60…
Five Things to Consider When Specifying Custom Cord Grips Customized cord grips meet unique application challenges and provide additional benefits including easier installation, reduced maintenance, and higher reliability. Cord grips provide the means for passing cord or cable into an enclosure, through a bulkhead, or into a control device like a switch. These grips prevent cable pull-out…
Medical Devices and Instruments Put the Squeeze on Connectors Rapidly evolving medical technologies are increasing demand for small, lightweight, high-density connectors that can handle high signal speeds, endure frequent mating cycles and sterilization, and play well with sensors. Connectors for electronics in medical devices, equipment, and instruments cover a very broad range of uses. They, and their…