GENERAL DESIGN CRITERIA: COST AND QUALITY CONSIDERATIONS
GENERAL DESIGN CRITERIA: COST AND QUALITY CONSIDERATIONS
Often times, minor details can substantially increase the cost of a cable assembly, and may not be necessary. Here are some ways to keep quality high and hold costs down:
- Supply full-scale drawings, particularly where there are compound bends in two or more places.
- Give precise dimensions with loose tolerances. Keep tight tolerances to a minimum. Measure dimensional requirements to three decimal places with a tolerance of +/- .030 inches.
- Avoid female terminations since the connector may require special orientation.
- Specify all dimensions from the connector reference plane.
- Avoid direct marking; use shrink tube markers of self-laminating labels.
- Specify center and outer conductor material if there are any special requirements.
- Design bend radii as large as possible and identical if possible. Incorporate a “service loop” on short cable length.
- Specify the cable or connector, but state “or equivalent” if possible. Different manufacturers often make identical parts but with wide variance in cost.
- Avoid right angle connectors if possible.
- As connector insertion loss becomes more critical (higher frequency, shorter assemblies), match connector and cable impedances.
- Specify electrical properties only across desired frequency ranges, as over-testing can be expensive.
Cable Assembly Guide Introduction
Cable Types and Specifications
Connector Types and Specifications
GENERAL DESIGN CRITERIA:
- Attenuation (Insertion Loss)
- Average Power Handling
- Capacitance
- Characteristic Impedance
- Cost and Quality Considerations
- Cut-Off Frequency
- Delay Time
- Dielectrics
- Electrical Length (Phase Stability)
- Intermodulation Distortion
- Maximum Operating Voltage (Peak Power)
- Mechanical & Environmental
- Operating Frequency
- Phase Matching
- Phase Tracking
- Temperature Limitations
- Velocity of Propagation
- VSWR/Return Loss