Cable technology has evolved significantly. Cable manufacturers conduct extensive research to upgrade cable materials and enhance fabrication processes to keep up with application trends. The semi-rigid coax cable, an advanced coax cable, is one example of such cable development. This cable allows room for extra design potential and is crucial in system applications.
Read on to learn more about semi-rigid cable assembly.
What Is a Semi-Rigid Coax Cable?
Semi-rigid cables are coaxial transmission lines that use solid metal outer conductors to cover the center conductor. Furthermore, a dielectric supports the conductor and ensures the wire is centered in the tubing along the same angle as the outer conductor.
Semi-rigid coax cable
Five Knowledge Points About Semi-Rigid Coax Cables
Below are the key points you should know about semi-rigid coaxial cables.
1. Independent Microwave Points
It’s important to remember that semi-rigid cable assembly is an important microwave component. Its specifications are as important as those of the hybrid, amplifier, or coupler. A good cable connects components in a system with a stable and known effect.
2. Broadband Coverage
Such cables normally have RF signal transmission of up to 65 GHz. Although not often, transmissions of up to 110 GHz are capable with a cable termination of 1.00m connectors. Semi-rigid coaxial cables are available in a range of sizes from 0.250 inches to 0.020 inches.
3. Shaping and Maintaining Shape
Forming semi-rigid coax requires precision to fit systems. As the name implies, it holds shape when formed but can bend by hand. Specialized tools shape it safely without damaging the outer tubing. Reforming is challenging and often results in damaging the outer conductor, creating ripples affecting performance.
4. Phase Stability
Semi-rigid coaxial cables are electrically stable because they use high-quality materials. The properties of the dielectric materials and metals according to the temperature. It’s common to use phase-matched systems that need controlled phase lengths.
Modern mobile communication systems optimize coverage under different conditions to reduce the antennas needed to optimize system performance.
5. Low Passive Intermodulation (PIM)
Normally, manufacturers use nonferrous materials to build semi-rigid cable assemblies. When put together with ideal connectors, these assemblies have excellent PIM performance, making them ideal for use in Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS)-related equipment.
The Application of a Semi-Rigid Coax Cable
A semi-rigid coaxial cable can be used for systems operating over 500 MHz when impeccable shielding and excellent performance are required.
You can use semi-rigid coaxial cables for the following applications:
- Measurement and test instrumentation
- Defense electronics
- Telecommunications
- Aerospace and military
All the above applications use semi-rigid coaxial cables for the following benefits.
- Semi-rigid cables are superior in rigidity, including attenuation, return loss performance, and shielding.
- Semi-rigid connectors are easily available.
- There is no crosstalk between the lines.
- Semi-rigid cable assemblies can be made with exact cable routing and precise dimensions.
- Such cables have a construction of a seamless single piece of metal tubing.
Semi-rigid connector
Custom Semi-Rigid Coax Cable Assemblies at Cloom
Cloom’s advanced technology is capable of building semi-rigid cable assemblies for exact configurations and precise dimensions. We use an advanced CNC bender so that manufacturers can expect accurate bent configurations with tolerances on linear dimensions.
Below are some of the features:
- Built out of SPC, SPCW, and bare copper,
- MIL DTL-17 compliant
- Non-magnetic and standard versions
- Power levels 70W via 20 GHz and 450W via 1 GHz
- Low insertion loss
- Perfect propagation of velocity
- Cable diameters ranging between 0.034 and 0.250
- Bend radii as low as 0.032
- Tight phased assemblies (1 GHz)
- Position accuracy
- Delayed match sets (1 ps)
- Customer-supplied CAD files imported to cable bender
- Custom packaging solutions to ensure cable damage does not occur when shipping and handling
- Both standard and custom lengths are available
| Connector Options | BNC, GPO, GPPO, mCX, MMBX, MMCX, N, OSP, OSSP, QMA, SMA, SMB, SMC, SSMA, SSMB, SSMC, and TNC |
| Performance Ranges | Frequency: DC-6 GHzInsertion loss: 0 to 3 dBPhase matching: 1 psec Phase stabilities: 1/500 lbPower conductor capabilities: 8 amp max Velocity of propagation: 92% max |
| Cable Configurations | Coax, Twinax, Triax, and Twisted pair |
Conclusion
The semi-rigid coax cable has several applications, including measurement and test instrumentation, defense electronics, telecommunications, and aerospace. Such versatility is possible because of the cable’s rigidity, with no crosstalk issues between lines.
If you have questions or need help, our skilled professionals will ensure you get a semi-rigid coax assembly that best serves your needs. Feel free to contact Cloom Tech for all your cable assembly needs.
