Using a connector set that hasn’t been tested for mechanical shock and vibration is like getting a tattoo on your face while jumping on a trampoline; probably isn’t a good choice. Ok, maybe you are thinking, “I’m an engineer, and everyone knows engineers don’t get tattoos.” Well if you can’t relate with that, then maybe […]
Current Carrying Capacity
It was hot, really hot. In fact, things were getting so bad the walls around us were starting to melt, and just like that it was over; we failed current carrying capacity. That is Current Carrying Capacity (CCC) in a nutshell, well it would be if the parts were failing. Samtec performs this in-house during […]
Insulation Resistance and Dielectric Withstanding Voltage Testing
That’s shocking! Insulation Resistance and Dielectric Withstanding Voltage are two of the qualification tests that Samtec performs in-house during part qualification testing. These tests will ensure that when a connector is used in environmental conditions at the rated working voltage (de-rated from the test voltage) the product will not fail, and there will not be […]
Increasing Broadband Interconnect Characterization
Samtec’s Gustavo Blando recently presented “Increasing Broadband Interconnect Characterization” at EDI CON 2018 in Santa Clara, California. A video of the workshop is above, and below is Gus’s summary of his presentation. VNA measurements are the backbone of any SI analysis, both for correlation and basic interconnect understanding. As bit rate increases and specs tighten, […]
Samtec, COTS, and Mil/Aero
When it comes to the Military / Aerospace industries, you probably think of products that are rugged and meant to take abuse. The products used in these industries are required to operate and last in extreme environments, and product testing is as important as the product itself. Because of the extensive testing requirements, the cost […]
Wishing for “Normal” Force
What is normal? Anyone with teenagers has probably been asked to be normal. Perhaps that is due to your “normal” protein intake being when you “snap into a Slim Jim,” or how you consider unpackaged circus peanuts a “normal” handout for Halloween. In either case, one might get your house pranked, and neither are applicable […]
The Effects of Thermal Aging
We all know it when we see it. Perhaps it is the avid sunbather that has spent too many years working on that summer tan, or the hotdog that has made one too many rotations on the gas station warmer. Either way, the result is the same, and aging is clearly visible. Heat and humidity can […]
Understanding Low Level Contact Resistance (LLCR)
Samtec performs several tests in-house as part of our qualification testing on a product series; including Low Level Contact Resistance (LLCR). It measures the amount of resistance in a position on a part. LLCR is used in combination with several other tests to track the overall perform of a part under specific conditions, and is […]