The engineer’s guide to RF cable assembly selection and use
Instead, more durable materials are required. For example, the flexible microwave assemblies mentioned earlier use Temp-Flex fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) material for the jacket, which is a tough material similar to Teflon. Vibration and shock can compromise a design, particularly in applications like aviation. To ensure reliable operation, the RF cable assemblies used must have extraordinarily secure connections. A good example is Molex’s 0732306110 cable assembly, which utilizes I-PEX’s patented MHF® LK connector locking mechanism (Figure 5).
Maintenance must be considered as part of the design process. It is important to look at the mean time between failure (MTBF) for cable assemblies and consider how to arrange a design for ease of maintenance and repair with reasonable access to those subassemblies and connections that might need the most care. Designers should also consider creating inspection schedules for normal maintenance, and user checklists for signs that a cable assembly might need repair or replacement to proactively manage complications.
Common maintenance steps include checking assemblies for wear, as well as cleaning cables and connectors to remove contaminants that could penetrate connections and degrade performance. Finally, it’s important to evaluate the cable assembly manufacturer. Criteria include appropriate certifications, experience in producing the relevant assemblies, sufficient product options to support design flexibility, and quality assurance processes to avoid performance issues. For example, Molex has been a leading developer of cable and connector technologies with innovation supported by more than 8,100 patents and a strong reputation for quality and technical support, including a custom cable creator tool.
Figure 5: The MHF LK connector system from I-PEX uses a patented locking mechanism to ensure a secure connection. (Image source: Molex)
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