2022/03/04
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Input/Output (IO) Connectors
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Board to Cable Connectors
Connectors Satisfy Stringent Requirements of Industrial Robots
Background
The manufacturer discussed in this article was in the process of upgrading the PCs used to control, configure, and maintain their industrial machines to the USB Type-C® interface. The first device to receive upgraded USB ports was a new robot controller that the company was developing.
The manufacturer’s design team had to find connectors that conformed to specification in time to start work on the prototype but predicted a challenging selection process due to the large number of requirements.
Challenges
The Struggle to Find the Right Connectors and Suppliers
Industrial robots operate for many hours every day and for months on end without a break. These conditions mean that the robots require regular maintenance and servicing. It is also vitally important that all connectors used are reliable, as when a robot stops working it results in costly downtime. The long design cycle of industrial equipment means that the supplier’s ability to provide ongoing support is equally important. Suppliers must be able to speedily identify the cause of, and rectify, any anomaly that should arise. In other words, choosing the right supplier is even more important than choosing the right connectors.
An employee from the design team who was assigned to the project recalls:
“Unlike manufacturers of consumer electronics, which operate on a short update cycle, manufacturers of industrial machines must be able to offer ongoing support. To guarantee safety and reliability, suppliers must be able to offer maintenance services for at least 5 to 10 years. Operators also need to be able to be ascertain that there is no possibility of their suppliers going insolvent or shutting down. On our project, stringent quality control and assured supply were non-negotiable, and we had to satisfy a lot of other requirements as well. We were worried that we would be unable to find an optimum solution.”
While the manufacturer’s other connector suppliers offered USB Type-C connectors, the options were limited and did not include anything that would have satisfied their requirements. The design team member assigned to this project therefore decided to look for a new supplier. However, not many USB Type-C connector manufacturers had experience with connectors for industrial machinery, and he could not find a connector that met his company’s requirements. He was on a tight development schedule and did not know what to do.
Solutions
Reliability and a Proven Track Record
In the course of gathering information, the design engineer learned that JAE connectors were used in Japanese rail carriages, and this piqued his interest.
“Rail carriages have a long design life, and any problems must be attended to immediately. The connectors used must therefore be highly reliable. The connector requirements of rail carriages are similar to those of industrial machinery,” explains design engineer.
He immediately set about making enquiries and was informed that JAE was involved in defining standards for USB Type-C connectors, whose development and manufacture is a focus for JAE. He was also able to verify that JAE has extensive business experience in the industrial machinery sector, as one would expect from a manufacturer whose connectors are used in rail carriages. JAE also offers a high level of quality control and support, making JAE a manufacturer that can be depended on in the long run.
Because JAE does everything from manufacturing connector components to assembling finished connectors at its own factories, the he knew he could count on them to be reliable. The fact that JAE also offered an extensive range of connector options made him feel there was a good chance that JAE would offer connectors that met his requirements. He decided to start off by using JAE connectors in the prototype.
The prototype performed well, and JAE possessing knowledge and experience unique to those involved in the standard specification process, was able to advise the manufacturer on cautions for use. This gave the design engineer confidence that he could trust JAE.
Management was happy with the high quality of the finished prototype. Deciding that JAE was a partner they could confidently work with in the long run, the manufacturer is currently in discussions to begin mass production.
USB Type-C® Solutions
JAE’s Proven USB Type-C® Solutions
Wide selection of off-the-shelf USB Type-C connectors and cables
Subject to change without notice. Errors and omission excepted.
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