In test environments, the interconnect is part of the measurement instrument. If the cable changes, your results change—even when the DUT didn’t. That’s why high-repeatability test assemblies matter: they reduce measurement drift caused by handling, temperature shifts, and high mating-cycle wear, so calibration holds longer and data stays trustworthy. When teams are running tight tolerance tests, automated sequences, or production screening, inconsistent test cables can become the hidden driver of false failures, rework, and wasted engineering time.
Accu-Test® 150 & 200 Series cable assemblies are built for demanding test and measurement applications where repeatability and stability are primary requirements. They’re intended to support consistent loss and phase behavior under real lab use—frequent connect/disconnect cycles, routine reconfiguration, and day-to-day handling—so your test setup behaves like a reliable measurement system instead of a variable you have to constantly manage.
High-repeatability assemblies for precision test paths
Accu-Test® assemblies are aimed at reducing the variability that creeps into test setups over time. In practice, that means controlling the interconnect’s contribution to level accuracy, phase stability, and overall signal integrity so measurements remain repeatable across runs, operators, and calibration intervals. When a test cable is stable, correlation improves, guard bands can be more meaningful, and teams spend less time arguing with the setup.
For multi-channel measurements, consistency matters even more. Stable assemblies support predictable channel behavior and reduce the need for frequent re-baselining, which can be a significant throughput advantage in automated or high-volume environments.
Best-fit selection: frequency, handling, and mating-cycle reality
The “best” test cable is the one that matches how the lab actually operates. Best-fit selection considers frequency range, connector interfaces, total length, and the handling profile: how often the cable is flexed, coiled, routed through racks, or moved between stations. Mating-cycle expectations are especially important because connectors are often the limiting wear component in test setups; selecting the right interface and strain relief strategy helps preserve performance over time.
If your measurements are phase-sensitive or require channel alignment, define stability and matching tolerances along with the durability requirements. That ensures the assembly supports not only survivability, but also the specific measurement integrity your process depends on.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is Accu-Test® 150 & 200 Series designed for?
Accu-Test® 150 & 200 Series is designed for test and measurement applications that require high repeatability and stability. It helps keep cable-induced variation low so measurement results remain consistent under real lab use.
-
How do test cables create false failures or inconsistent results?
As cables wear, move, or experience temperature changes, loss and phase can shift slightly, which changes the measurement path. In tight-tolerance tests, that shift can look like a DUT problem and trigger false failures or rework.
-
Why does handling matter so much in test and measurement environments?
Test cables are constantly moved, coiled, re-routed, and reconnected. If an assembly is sensitive to motion or flex, its electrical behavior can change enough to affect repeatability and calibration validity.
-
Are Accu-Test® assemblies appropriate for automated test equipment (ATE)?
Yes. Stable, repeatable assemblies can improve ATE throughput by reducing re-baselining and minimizing cable-driven measurement variance. Define your routing and cycle expectations so the configuration matches the station’s realities.
-
Do I need phase stability in addition to low loss for test cables?
Often, yes—especially for phase-sensitive measurements or coherent multi-channel tests. Low loss protects margin, while stability protects repeatability, which is usually the bigger driver of measurement confidence over time.
-
How do mating cycles affect long-term test cable performance?
Repeated connect/disconnect cycles wear connector interfaces, which can increase variability and cause intermittent behavior. Choosing the right connector interface and handling practices helps preserve consistency.
-
What’s the difference between a general-purpose lab cable and a high-repeatability test assembly?
High-repeatability assemblies are selected and built to control variation under handling and environmental changes. The focus is on consistent electrical behavior over time rather than just meeting a basic spec on day one.
-
How should I specify an Accu-Test® assembly for my setup?
Provide frequency range, length, connector types, routing constraints, and how the cable will be handled. If your process has tight limits on loss, phase drift, or channel matching, include those tolerances and conditions.
-
Can Accu-Test® assemblies support multi-channel matching requirements?
Yes. Matching services can be requested for multi-channel setups that require aligned paths. Specify the tolerance, verification frequencies, and conditions so matching supports your measurement method.
-
Why do results change when I re-dress or reposition the cables?
Changing routing can change bend geometry and mechanical stress at connectors, which can shift electrical behavior. A stable test assembly reduces sensitivity, but best results also come from consistent routing and good strain relief practices.
-
What’s a common mistake when selecting test cables?
Optimizing only for low loss while ignoring stability and high-cycle durability. In many labs, the biggest cost is not a dB of loss—it’s the time lost to inconsistent results and repeated troubleshooting.
-
Can Teledyne Storm help recommend the best Accu-Test® configuration?
Yes. Share your instrument types, frequencies, connectors, length, handling profile, and repeatability goals. Storm can recommend a configuration that balances stability, durability, and RF performance for your environment.
Relevant PDF Documents
Reference marker: Storm SEO baseline — in test, the cable is part of the instrument.
