Connectors

Definition and type codes

Examples:
82_MMCX-S50-0-51/111_NH
82_MMCX-S50-0-51/111_NY

Legend

Plating code (XYZ)
0 – silver
1 – gold or SUCOPRO®
2 – nickel
3 – SUCOPLATE®
4 – chromium
5 – tin plated
9 – stainless steel

Additional code for plating [1]
N – gold plating, nickel underplated
U – gold plating, not nickel underplated
S – SMT (surface mount)
N – nickel underplating

H – packing (bulk, 100 pcs.)
Y – variable industrial packing (quantity depending on size of connector type)

Additional code for packaging [2]
E – single packaging
F – bulk with 50 pieces
G – tape and reel with 750 pieces
H – bulk with 100 pieces
L – tape and reel with 1500 pieces
M – tape and reel (quantity depending on size of connector)
Y – variable industrial packing

Extension for special attribute: ( )
L – left run thread
Q – quick-mate
R – reverse sex
S – surface mount (SMT)
T – reverse sex surface mount (SMT)
U – unusual types (deviation form standard interface)
Z – zinc die casting

Connector patterns

Plug

A plug is a connector featuring the active part of the coupling mechanism (for example coupling nut).

Read more about connector patterns here.

Jack

A jack is a connector featuring the coupling mechanism complementary to the plug.

How to select the suitable coaxial connector series

Technical elements

Frequency, cable type, impedance and coupling mechanism are key factors to consider in selecting a coaxial connector series. Depending on the application, other factors such as sealing, temperature, working voltage, IM performance, vibration etc. also have to be taken into account. Connectors must, at a minimum, provide the same level of performance as the cable or the application to which they are

attached. This means, before selecting a connector series the cable type or the application has to be known. Its structure, dimensions and frequency range restrain the connector series that can be used.

The table below shows the different cable structures and the suitable connector series.

Cut-off frequency as well as coupling mechanism of a connector series limit the frequency range that a connector can operate. The following table shows the frequency range of different connector series within this catalogue.

Coupling mechanisms

Coupling mechanisms make it possible to mate connector pairs and also determine whether or not the mated pair can meet the specified mechanical and electrical characteristics, such as operating frequency.

The following four types of mechanisms are commonly used for the series described in this catalogue.

Plating information

Plating required for different reasons:

• Add conductive material to supply sufficient current carrying capacity (good electrical and thermal conductivity)
• Diminish or eliminate surface oxidation/corrosion and provide protective coating over conductors
• Ensure good contact between conductors
• Achieve a good solder or weld attachment surface
• Obtain a better wear resistance (abrasion resistance and hardness)

Our main platings are

• Gold
• Silver
• SUCOPLATE®
• SUCOPRO®

Gold

Gold is a precious metal available either as soft fine gold or as hard version. It is a good heat and electricity conductor and unaffected by air and most reagents, which makes it a superb material for electrical signal transmission. Gold can be deposited on nickel or copper. It is quite expensive compared to other plating materials.

Application:
The primary use of gold in RF applications is for plating. Inner conductors are frequently gold-plated when e.g. good conductivity, excellent oxidation resistance and continuous mating (repeatibility) are required (e.g. in defence

applications). Even in highly pollluted atmospheres, a gold surface will be free of oxide. Gold plating is available according to MIL-DTL-45204 D or can be customer specific.

Gold offers the following main advantages:

• Excellent wettability/solderability
• Excellent protection against corrosion
• Low contact resistance
• Good wear resistance

Colour: gold

SUCOPRO® 

SUCOPRO is a thin gold plating developed by our supplier HUBER+SUHNER, featuring a nickel-phosphorus alloy (10.5 to 15 % ) underlayer.

Below 300 °C the NiP is amorphous and non-magnetic. The gold layer – which is not subject to oxidation itself – protects the nickel-phosphorus underlayer against oxidation, thus allowing good wetting while soldering. It provides stable, low contact resistance and improved protection against oxidation and corrosion. As it contains only a thin layer of gold, the solder joints will not become brittle.

The nickel-phosphorus layer provides very good corrosion resistance, highwear resistance and hardness, and a diffusion barrier against gold, copper, tin and zinc. Between 300 °C and 500 °C, it changes its structure to microcrystalline and its hardness increases, but no brittleness or weak adhesion occurs.

Application:
Initially, SUCOPRO was developed for piece parts which demand an excellent solderability and/or wear resistance,

that is PCB connectors and adaptors. But more and more customers select this plating also for cable connectors, adaptors, on bodies and centre contacts. Meanwhile, SUCOPRO is an excellent plating for almost all subminiature connectors.

SUCOPRO plating offers the following main advantages:

• Excellent wear resistance for more than 1000 mating cycles
• Non-magnetic
• Excellent corrosion resistance
• Excellent wettability/solderability
• Very high strength of soldered joints without embrittlement
• Low contact resistance
• Good passive intermodulation properties

Colour: gold

SUCOPLATE®

As one of the leading RF connector manufacturers, our supplier HUBER+SUHNER has delivered several hundred million coaxial connectors with SUCOPLATE plating to demanding customers worldwide. These components, featuring unique mechanical and electrical properties, are used in a wide range of applications such as off-shore, airframes, space, test+measurement, telecommunications and wireless.

SUCOPLATE is a copper alloy composed of three components: copper, tin and zinc. Being non-magnetic and nonallergic (nickel-free), SUCOPLATE is an attractive alternative to nickel plating. It has a good electrical performance and corrosion resistance. The non-magnetic property in the contact area is also important for obtaining negligible passive intermodulation products (PIM) in communication systems such as base transceiver stations.

SUCOPLATE offers the following important performance highlights:

• Superior electrical conductivity and low contact resistance 
• Non-magnetic
• Excellent passive intermodulation properties
• Uniform plating thickness
• High wear resistance
• Low surface friction
• Excellent adhesion and ductility 
• (no cracking when bending parts)
• Tarnish resistant
• High corrosion resistance
• Nonallergic

Colour: similar to stainless steel

Silver

Silver has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity which makes it very suitable for plating. It is cheaper than gold. Having the best conductivity of all metals this metal can carry a high current load with the least loss. Silver is particularly advantageous when a low passive intermodulation product is desired.

Other features of silver are that it is easily shaped, provides very good heat conductivity, good corrosion resistance in air and water and the lowest contact resistance. A disadvantage is that silver tarnishes (sulfide film on the surface) when exposed to ozone, hydrogen sulfide and sulphur. Tarnishing influences the appearance but does not have any impact on the electrical performance.

Application:
Silver is the standard plating for connector bodies and center contact of 7/16 connectors. Traditionally, silver plating is

wellknown as a very good plating for low passive intermodulation components. Thanks to its good solderability, silver is used for soldering ferrules and cable entries.

Silver offers the following main advantages:

• Excellent electrical conductivity
• Good corrosion resistance
• Low contact resistance
• Good solderability
• Excellent passive intermodulation properties

Colour: silver

Packaging information

We attach great importance to high quality, economic packaging. This section will give you an overview of the types and packaging materials used. All our packaging has to fulfil the following functions:

• Protection of the connectors against mechanical stress, humidity and dust during storage transport and usage

• Identification and information about the product
• Easy handling for production
• Economic and useful recycling after use

Single and bulk packaging

Our plastic bags are sealed by welding or provided with a mini-grip closure (bulk only) for reclosing after use. They are easy to handle and are marked for recycling with the material recycling symbol according to the recommended international DIN standard. For product identification and retraceability, they are labelled with the type version and the order, batch and assembly instruction numbers.

Material

• LDPE or PP, transparent

Attributes

• Electrostatically conductive,
• Air-tight
• Chemically resistant
• Chlorine free
• Halogen free

All packagings fulfill the specification according to ISO 14000. For further information please contact us.

Single (sealed by welding)

Bulk (mini-grip)

Tape and reel packaging

The main benefit of tape and reel packaging is the possibility of using an automtic PCB assembling process for the connector. This enables to reduce the cost of the whole manufacturing and protects the connectors during transportation and processing. Our tape and reel packaging meets the international standards EIA 481 and DIN IEC 286-3. The fully automated packaging machine provides perfect packaging quality.

Material

• Reel – polystyrene (PS) (anti-static)
• Carrier tape – polystyrene (PS) or polycarbonte (PC) (anti-static)
• Carrier tape – polystyrene (PS) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (anti-static)
• Box – cardboard