Decisions, Decisions ... I may be in the market for a new car in the near future. Unless you’ve got a strong preference (and most car buyers DO have a strong preference, IMO), choosing a vehicle is a series of trade-offs. Fuel efficiency vs. horsepower. Functionality vs. appearance. Safety vs. fun. Cost vs. a heated steering wheel and seats. Choosing the right connector set for many EOEM applications is also full of trade-offs, including pitch, termination type, plating, and contact … [Read more...]
Connector Thermal Cycle Qualification For Military and Avionic Environments
Collins Aerospace recently published a white paper entitled “Qualification Of High Density Connector Solutions For Military and Avionic Environments.” It discusses their qualification process of high density connectors for rugged military and avionics applications. This paper focuses on the thermal testing of solder joints because “printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies are made up of many different materials that have different coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) … [Read more...]
How Wet is Too Wet?
If you have been a user of Facebook for longer than five years then chances are likely you have seen the "My phone got wet and doesn't work. Don't ask how!" post. Many companies / industries started to take notice, and in came IP67 and IP68 ratings on consumer goods. At Samtec, we typically don't have to worry about moisture or dust on our connectors (since most are passive devices), but the systems our connectors go into certainly do. This is why Samtec also conducts IP67 and IP68 … [Read more...]
A Deep Dive into Severe Environment Testing (Part II)
In the first part of this series on Severe Environment Testing (SET) we covered Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) and Dielectric Withstanding Voltage (DWV) at an altitude of 70,000 ft. Continuing on the path of "how" we tested, we will be looking at the other tests that were introduced for SET; Mating / Unmating / Durability (100% Relative Humidity, 250 cycles), Temperature Cycling (500 cycles), and Mechanical Shock for LLCR and Event Detection. If you haven't read the first two blogs … [Read more...]
A Deep Dive into Severe Environment Testing
In the last blog on Severe Environment Testing (SET), we covered "why" and "what" Samtec was testing on its connectors. In this one, we are going to look a little bit further into the "how." Electrostatic Discharge and Dielectric Withstanding Voltage at an altitude of 70,000 ft will be discussed as part of two new tests being performed under Severe Environment Testing. What is new? Electrostatic Discharge ESD Test Setup Typically, with connectors Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) … [Read more...]
Severe Environment Testing for Connectors
With the advent of the Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) part being used in Mil / Aero, Space, Industrial, Transportation, and Automotive applications; manufacturers find themselves still looking for information on how those products will perform in severe environments. Here at Samtec, we have recognized the need for more information about our COTS products, and that is why we have introduced Severe Environment Testing (SET). What is Severe Environment Testing? Severe Environment … [Read more...]
Samtec Expands VITA 57.4 with FMC+ Extender Card
Developing with FPGAs requires patience. Why? They are so flexible and configurable. System designers are only limited by their imagination. Prototyping with FPGAs also poses many challenges. It seems like there are new FMC / FMC+ solutions appearing daily. Sometimes the FPGA carrier card or development board can get crowded. How can that be fixed? VITA 57.4 FMC+ Extender Card Engineers prototyping with industry-standard FPGA evaluation and development kits often leverage the FMC+ … [Read more...]
Testing the Effects of Humidity on Connectors
Many electronics experience a wide range of climates while in operation and storage. Because of this fact, connector humidity testing is used to determine the ability of a product to withstand elevated humidity and cycling temperatures. Humidity testing is conducted in combination with other qualification tests; mating / un-mating, Low Level Circuit Resistance (LLCR), and Insulation Resistance / Dielectric Working Voltage (IR / DWV). What is Connector Humidity Testing? Since … [Read more...]
Are You In a Harsh Environment for an Electronic Device?
Modern electronic devices are getting smaller with every new generation, and as a result, they are becoming more portable. At the same time, the performance of these devices is growing as the demands of consumers become greater. We expect to be able to connect to the internet wherever we go, and so we carry our cell phones, smartwatches and portable devices everywhere. Equipment manufacturers are keen to tell us that our new device will work in harsh conditions, but what does that … [Read more...]
Extended Life Testing for Connectors
They say, "a diamond is forever," but did they really test that or is it just a marketing statement? No need to search for that answer because we all know they didn't. However, in our industry it is important to know what to expect out of a connector, and that is why Extended Life Testing exists. Extended Life Testing tells a system designer what they need to know about a connector set that will be heavily used. This test throws everything but the kitchen sink at it, and who knows, maybe … [Read more...]
