Miniature connectors manufactured by Nanonics Corporation (http://www.nanonics.com/dualobe.html) are being used on ALMA mixers in development at NRAO’s Central Development Lab. These “Dualobe” connectors have been selected for a number of spacecraft programs, which affirms their reliability. Connector pin damage from misalignment during connection, which occurred on previous NRAO mixer bias connectors, is minimized because the plastic insulator must be engaged before the pins contact their receptacles.
This report provides reliability information obtained from Nanonics for their Dualobe connectors. A section summarizing a visit to Ball Aerospace, who is using hundreds of these Nanonics connectors, is also included.
View a pdf version of ALMA Memo 356.
View a html version of ALMA Memo 356.
Download a postscript version of ALMA Memo 356.
Last modified: March 20, 2001
alma-memos@nrao.edu