Connectors that exhibit the rugged, high-reliability performance characteristics required to withstand hazards including shock, vibration, and high mating cycles in harsh industrial applications don’t happen by chance. Design features including contacts, plating materials, and insulators are critical to achieving and selecting rugged industrial interconnects.   Analyzing the Factors that Determine Industrial Ruggedness Levels Contacts, plating,Read More

Fiber optic connectors are used to mechanically couple and align the ends of optical fibers in wide bandwidth applications that require connect/disconnect capabilities.   Widely employed throughout the telecom, datacom, industrial networking, test and measurement, aerospace, and avionics industries, fiber optic connectors are available in a variety of connector styles with different dimensions and methodsRead More

An age-old connector technology is being “rediscovered” as a better solution for power connector density issues.      The quest to manufacture electronics in smaller and smaller packages continues as consumer demand for palm-sized computers and pen-sized communications equipment grows. The Holy Grail seems to be a computer on a pinhead and entertainment electronics oneRead More

The new Mill-Max wire termination pins and receptacles are precision-machined and feature solder cups for efficient soldering. Mill-Max expanded its line of wire termination products with six new pins and receptacles – three mated pairs – which facilitate the wire-attachment process. Each features a solder cup for easy and efficient soldering and is precision-machined to provide the consistentRead More

The Mill-Max .090″-stroke spring-loaded pins and connectors offer a mid-stroke distance that is almost double that of other available standard products. Mill-Max has added three new heights to the popular 0914 series of spring-loaded pins and corresponding single- and double-row connectors. The 0914 series has a mid-stroke distance of .045″ (1.14mm) [.090″ (2.29mm) full stroke]Read More

Component requirements for the automotive market are demanding, diverse, and forward-looking. ODU shares five things to know about precise contacts for the automotive industry. The reliable transfer of power, signals, data, and media are achieved with interconnects across a wide range of demanding applications and markets. The requirements for the automotive industry, for example, are both diverse andRead More

Ed Bock of APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants explains how to increase contact performance by pre-stressing to achieve greater strength and expanded dynamic range.   In examining the consequences of residual stress that develop in a contact beam subjected to stresses beyond the material’s elastic limit, we can see how residual stress may be beneficial, or if not properlyRead More

In the latest installment in our Connector Basics series, Ed Bock of APEX Electrical Interconnection Consultants looks at the ability of a contact system to operate in spite of external contamination and contact design considerations for long-term reliability.   For those critical electrical contact applications where the consequences of failure are severe and long-term reliability isRead More

The new Mill-Max crimp receptacles are COTS alternatives to the popular mil-spec M39029 female crimp terminals. Mill-Max announced the addition of new crimp receptacles to its selection of wire termination products. The new 07XX series are commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) alternatives to the popular mil-spec M39029 female crimp terminals. The receptacles are fitted with the high-reliability Mill-Max spring fingerRead More

To honor his former colleague Max Peel, who passed away in April, Dr. Bob discusses gold flash contact finishes and the warning that is Peel’s Law. This article will eventually be about gold flash contact finishes, but it begins with a few words about my colleague Max Peel. Max passed away on April 16 ofRead More

TE’s DEUTSCH 5015 High Power Contacts are precisely machined to maintain tight dimensional tolerances and meet MIL-DTL-5015 specification. TE Connectivity launched its new DEUTSCH 5015 High Power contacts that deliver improved performance and reliability, and fully comply with the MIL-DTL-5015 specification for military and aerospace markets. “After years of product design and development, TE isRead More

Connector contact lubricants can reduce mating forces and contact wear, and there are lubricants to do just that. But the real goal is to get more than just friction/wear reduction from a lubricant. For many of us the first thing that comes to mind when the word “lubricant” comes up is “slippery stuff,” motor oil,Read More