Proper workplace and connector design reduces worker stress and boosts product reliability By David Erickson, field application engineer with the appliances business unit of TE Connectivity Connector assembly is a critical function in appliance manufacturing. Many connectors are used in power and controls circuits of washers, driers, refrigerators, ovens, and air-conditioning systems. In recent years, […]
Product spotlight video: Canfield Connector’s GatorMate industrial connectors
Earlier this year, I had a chance to sit down with Canfield Connector’s Pat Byce and take a look at several of the company’s newest products. In this video, Pat and I discuss Canfield’s GatorMate GT Series molded receptacle and plug mobile and industrial connectors, which were just introduced by the company last month. These are […]
Why do connectors fail?
Ideally, your connectors perform to their rated lifecycles. If you install a connector rated for 10,000 mating cycles, you expect it to go that distance. But if you’ve ever had a cell phone charger stop working correctly, you know that’s not always the case. And for industrial machinery, improper designs and other factors can cause […]
High voltage connectors meet the demands of mission critical satellite communications
The US Air Force and a major defense contractor tapped Caton Connector Corp. of Kingston, Mass., to supply high-voltage connectors and cable assemblies for an exceptionally demanding mission-critical application: the Milstar Satellite Communications System. The mission of Milstar, according to the Air Force, is to provide “the President, Secretary of Defense, and the U.S. armed forces with assured, survivable satellite […]
Fiber optic ideal for tough tasks
Digitization isn’t just for “quiet” environments like the home and office. It’s also making inroads in tunnel drilling projects, mining and other rugged settings. Given the harsh environments, the requirements for components are quite high. Large distances, together with the high bandwidths, make fiber-optic cable (FOC) the indispensable conductive medium for industrial Ethernet. HARTING has […]
Fischer Connectors launches military microsite
Fischer Connectors has launched a new microsite dedicated strictly to connectors used in military applications. It features new videos, application examples showing how the company’s connectors fit into the bigger picture, easy access to military-specific literature and more. The website has special tabs focused on specific applications—the Dismounted Solider, Ground, Aerospace, and Marine—with looks at […]
Phoenix Contact’s Cabinet Confidence marks tour’s halfway point
Last week, Phoenix Contact stopped by the Design World offices to give a quick tour of its Cabinet Confidence Infomobile, which has been traveling around the eastern half of the United States the past few months. Customers and Phoenix Contact component and system users still have time to grab a visit with the Infomobile, as […]
MicroQSFP, QSFPDD and OSFP interconnect systems chosen by IEEE 802.3cd committee
Just recently in Vancouver, the Ethernet IEEE-802.3cd Standards Committee voted yes simultaneously to include MicroQSFP, QSFP-DD and OSFP interconnect modules as MDI (media dependent interface) options. The remarkable singular vote, of 66 yes, 0 no, and 14 abstain, seemed to reflect the wide and deep need to support different types of new and established enterprise, […]
What does the coding mean on M12 connectors?
M12 connectors are circular connectors with a 12-mm locking thread used for sensors, actuators, Fieldbus and industrial Ethernet, primarily in factory automation applications. Often with ratings ofIP65, IP68 and IP69K, they are ideal for washdown and corrosive environments. They are available with 3, 4, 5, 8 and 12 pins. While higher pin counts are not planned, […]
OSFP interconnect: what is it?
OSFP, Octal Small Formfactor Pluggable, is a very new module and interconnect system in development that is targeted to support 400-G optical data links inside datacenters, campuses and external metro long reach. The private consortium OSFP MSA group was founded by Google and is led by Arista Networks. This consortium already has more than 50 […]
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