Feature Interconnection
The weakest link: Have you considered the cabling?
Stephen Webster at Molex presents a hard-waring cabling solution designed for the harshest of environments that won’t crack under pressure
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dentifying failure, and then preven- tion, is critical for systems in aero- space and defence applications, particularly where extreme shock and vibration are prevalent, as well as heat, dust, moisture or chemicals. It is often said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and, for that very reason, engineers tend to focus their reliability testing on the interconnects.
Connector manufacturers are con- tinually developing products that meet these demands, but perhaps another key element to consider, which can be overlooked, is the choice of cable terminated onto the connector. High reliability and consistency of these cables throughout the operational life of these systems are crucial. Temp- Flex solutions by Molex are designed
Stephen Webster is Key Account Manager, Aero- space & Defence at Molex
to specifically meet these needs. The most common problems experienced by designers when using copper cable are its location and the fastening method used to the routing medium. Tight space constraints can cause inter- ference from adjacent cabling and close proximity to electronic components can cause RFI and EMI disruption. Fibre, on the other hand, is immune to RFI and EMI, and has the added advantages of transmitting larger amounts of data over longer distances with less loss, as well as a smaller diameter and weighing less than its copper counterpart.
There are drawbacks to using fibre however; apart from considering E/O conversion, choosing the incorrect bend radius and over-tightening restraints can result in macro stress on the cable-to-contact termination during operation and micro stress on the fibre itself. Not following best practice in terms of cleaning and inspection during installation and maintenance can also lead to failures. The aerospace and defence industry as a whole is well aware of these issues and the particular nuances each spe- cific design and working environment brings. Accordingly, a need exists for an alternative solution. To address the industry demands, Molex manufactures its Temp-Flex
QUALITY CONNECTION SOLUTIONS IN TEST AND MEASUREMENT
The modular design of the LEMO precision self-latching electrical and fibre optic connector range provides over 55,000 combinations of connectors to suit the most demanding NDT, instrumentation, and test and measurement applications.
Whether it is high vibration on Formula1 cars, excellent environmental properties required for the North Sea or consistent electrical properties within a research environment, LEMO delivers the quality connector solution in test and measurement and instrumentation.
WHY NOT REQUEST A QUOTATION FOR LEMO UK'S CABLE ASSEMBLY AND NEW OVERMOULDING SERVICE
www.lemo.co.uk/test
LEMO UK Ltd. Tel: 01903 234543
Email:
uksales@lemo.com Enter 18 24 Enter 19 OCTOBER 2013 Electronics
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