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Interconnects designed for high performance & durability

Teledyne Storm Microwave has been producing high performance semi-rigid interconnects for over 20 years for a variety of markets, including: defense, telecom, wireless and test & measurement.​

​Experienced in:

  • Cable sizes from 0.034" to 0.500"
  • Solid PTFE dielectric and high performance tape wrapped products
  • Wide variety of standard connector styles: MCX, SMA, SMB, SMC, TNC, N, 7/16, SC, and HN
  • Years of experience on blindmate connector styles: OSP GPO, GPPO, and GMS 

Specialized experience in:​

  • Applications where phase stability is critical
  • Low intermod interconnects
  • High power designs​

Manufacturing equipment:

  • Automated bending equipment and optical comparators
  • Programmable thermal chambers for pre-conditioning formed cables
  • Specialized assembly and soldering equipment for high volume applications
  • Automated network analyzers through 50Ghz

Due to the custom nature of formed semi-rigid cable assemblies, additional information is required before providing a quotation for your requirement. Please read the design guidelines below which will aid you in this process.


Semi-Rigid Design Assistance

If your application requires properties not available in standard, off-the-shelf product, contact Teledyne Storm Microwave​; you'll benefit from our design team's technical know how which has been garnered though years of experience designing solutions for our customers.​​​​​​

If you are interested in obtaining a quotation on a semi-rigid cable assembly, the following information is required at a minimum:

  • Frequency of use
  • Maximum electrical limits - insertion loss, VSWR, phase match tolerance in degrees
  • Connector style(s) required
  • Cable type
  • Details of the bend configuration - this can be provided by a sketch, drawing with orthogonal views, xyz table, or 3D model
  • Details of any required marking

The cost of your semi-rigid assembly will be affected by the complexity of the finished part. By using the guidelines below, you can keep this cost minimized.

  • Use of one bend radius throughout the part
  • No bend angles in excess of 180 degrees
  • Avoid having bends in close proximity to one another
  • Allow as much straight length behind connectors as possible
  • Keep mechanical tolerances as liberal as possible (Storm standard is +/- 0.030")

To achieve the best electrical performance from your semi-rigid cable assembly

  • Use the least number of bends possible
  • Use the largest bend radius possible

Many cable assembly configurations require a layer of heat shrinkable tubing over some portion of the of its formed length. When this insulating layer covers most of the developed length, our operators shrink the tubing over the entire length of the unbent cable stock. The cable is then bent and the layer of tubing is trimmed to the appropriate dimension with a special hand trim tool.

If tubing is necessary over the majority of the cable length, consider the following guidelines:

  • Don't position the tubing ends near a bend - it makes trimming more difficult
  • Extend the tubing into the final straight lengths on both ends of the cable assembly
  • Provide sufficient clearance between the tubing and the connectors
  • Allow as liberal a tolerance on the tubing end position as possible

Comparison of Solid PTFE and Microporous PTFE Semi-Rigid Cables


​Phase vs. Temperature Graph

Performance shown is based on a 25 foot section of .141 diameter microporous cable with an approximate velocity of 81.5%. Actual results will be highly dependant on cable velocity and test procedure used. The factory should be consulted for specific phase temperature performance of a given cable type.
​

Comparison of Solid PTFE and Microporous PTFE Semi-Rigid Cables

Calculate Phase Shift Versus Temperature

To determine a rough estimate of the phase shift (due to temperature) that is contributed to your system by any particular semi-rigid cable assembly or assemblies;


FIRST find the difference in PPM between the two temperatures in question from the above plot. (Other sizes of solid and microporous Teflon cables have plots that are similar to the ones above.)


THEN calculate the phase shift (0) using

= .00036 x PPM x L x T x F where:

= Predicted phase shift in degrees


PPM = Difference in PPM between the two temperatures in question (from the above plot)

L = Total length of cable that is exposed to the temperature change (expressed in feet)

T = Time delay (ns/ft). This is approximately 1.25 for our microporous PTFE cables and 1.44 for solid PTFE cables

F = Frequency in GHz​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​