SHOCK, VIBRATION, AND CORROSION: AVOIDING DAMAGING EFFECTS IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONNECTORS JAN HROUDA, INDUSTRY MANAGER, INDUSTRIAL ALEX WROTEN, HIGH SPEED BOARD TO BOARD AND RUGGED/POWER PRODUCT MANAGER MATT BROWN, PRINCIPAL ENGINEER SAMTEC
Industrial applications and emerging automotive designs demand long-life, rugged connectors whose performance tolerates the effects of shock, vibration, and corrosion. Some of these harsh environments also require connectors to withstand multiple mating cycles, which adds more complexities to the selection process. Designers must consider the materials selected in the connector design process to protect against shock, vibration, and corrosion, and weigh the tradeoffs in terms of product lifecycle and cost.
Industrial automation applications, such as flowmeters, controllers, or safety devices, are subject to shock and vibration issues, and they require long life cycles of 10-20 years. As a result, the connectors in these products need to be ruggedized, often including special plating or multi-finger contacts. Any non-sealed component used in a coastal or industrial environment is also subject to accelerated corrosion because of sulfur and other chemicals in the air. Special testing can determine if a connector design is acceptable for
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