New-Tech Europe Digital Magazine | May 2016

Connector selection crucial for high performance industrial applications

Harwin

he industrial connector space has in the past sometimes been defined more by what it isn’t – communications, computing, consumer, aero/space/defence, transportation etc - rather than what it is. However, this is changing, for a couple of reasons: firstly certain areas such as robotics and industrial automation with the advent of the Smart Factory (sometimes called Industry 4.0) are becoming ‘bigger news’; and second because in some segments, - oil and gas, industrial vehicles, even medical which is sometimes included under ‘industrial’ - the increasing use of electronics systems has been a driver in connector development. Industrial applications are often also termed ‘hi-rel’ - that is, any activity where the connector cannot fail - and usually involves applications in environments that are subject to harsh operating conditions, usually resulting from shock, vibration and temperature variation. Industrial sectors which require very high T

performance connectors include: Robotics Industrial & Factory Automation (Smart Factory/Industry 4.0) Industrial vehicles (off-road) Oil & Gas

market share many similar drivers with other markets – size, weight, cost are always important – but industrial applications also tend to put more stress on all types electronic components that are used, and this is especially true of connectors. This is because as well as having an electrical function (carrying the power or signal) they also often make a physical connection. Often, too, they must be capable of being mated and unmated many times. This is why, for so long, some industrial users refused to specify surface mount connectors. Even today, hi-rel connector maker Harwin offers through hole and surface mount variations of its Datamate, Gecko and M300 Hi-Rel connector families, and also includes different locking mechanisms for extra security. Size; Weight; Signal Density Looking more closely at the evolving connector requirement we can identify three common factors: size, weight

Marine & Undersea Scientific Equipment Test & Measurement Metering

There is significant growth in all the above sub-sectors. This is due to a number of factors including the increased use of electronic systems that are being used for monitoring and control, and also the emergence of sophisticated robotics and metering systems. Quite simple, electronic systems are all-pervasive and almost every piece of equipment used today relies on them. This in turn means that the components used must be rugged and reliable. Influencing factors Connectors used in the industrial

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