Cable assemblies are an essential piece of kit but finding the right one can sometimes be difficult. Particularly if you really need a bespoke design you might struggle to work with the options that are on offer. With such common usage in such a wide variety of situations, cable assemblies are worth the investment – if you’re opting for a custom assembly then which type might you need?
RF/EMI Cable Assemblies
RF/EMI refers to radio frequency and electromagnetic interference. From ignition systems to solar flares and mobile phone networks there are many different potential sources of this type of interference. A custom assembly provides the opportunity to tailor the design specifically to the type of interference and whether you want to leverage signals or not.
Military Grade Cable Assemblies
These cable assemblies do the heavy duty work, from aerospace to tactical applications. The cable assembly will need to meet a specific set of requirements to be military grade and the connectors on the cables and wires that are used in the assembly will have to be up to scratch too. This type of cable assembly is most commonly used in marine applications, remote weapons control, ground equipment etc.
Flat Ribbon Cable Assemblies
This type of cable assembly is very much what it says on the tin as it has the appearance of a flat ribbon, as opposed to the usual bundle. Ribbon cables tend to be large and were commonly used in computers but don’t appear so frequently these days. In a flat ribbon cable the wires can be colour coded. The purpose of this type of cable is often so that each one can engage with IDC connectors in which the ribbon cable is forced onto a row of sharp forked contacts.
Moulded Cable Assemblies
This type of cable assembly is something that most consumers will be familiar with – for example, an HDMI cable is a type of moulded cable assembly. Usually, this type of cable assembly is contained beneath a moulded shell that is made of metal or plastic, shielded or unshielded. Most commonly they are the first choice where the final appearance of the cable assembly is important, both in terms of aesthetics and also when it comes to durability. If you’re looking for something with this type of smooth, professional finish then the moulded custom cable assembly is the one.
Assembled Coaxial Round
Coaxial cables are another type that most of us will already be familiar with – commonly, these are the cables that we use for household equipment, such as the TV. The Coaxial cable is designed to have an inner conductor surrounded by a tubular insulating layer. Around this is a tubular conducting shield and most cables of this type will also have some sort of insulating outer layer. As well as a cable for plugging in the TV the Coaxial is also often used for the internet, as well as in aircraft, vehicles and radios.
