Epec's Blog | Electronics Manufacturing Solutions

Front panels, bezels, and other types of human to machine interface equipment use several circuit technologies to operate. These circuit types usually involve some form of printed or etched traces using conductive materials like copper and conductive ink. These custom layouts are routed across insulating sheets and films, eventually becoming circuit boards and flex circuits. Dome switches, LEDs, and touchscreens can be added to these everyday circuit boards, bringing them to life as a high-technology HMI solution.

Custom medical cable assemblies are critical for today’s healthcare system. Many lifesaving pieces of equipment can function because of the high reliability custom cables that are designed to operate in this demanding environment. Medical cable assemblies may be required to withstand exposure to harsh electromagnetic fields and sterilization procedures while also carrying a biocompatibility rating.

The use of capacitive touch switch technology is widespread and becoming more frequent each day. Capacitive touch switches are common on thousands of everyday devices including gas station pumps, smartphones, lamps, automobile dashboards, and even the smart speaker in your home.

The use of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) in user interface assemblies is widespread across nearly all industries, locations, and operating environments. Over the last 20 years, the cost of LCD displays has significantly dropped, allowing for this technology to be incorporated into many of the everyday devices we rely on.

One of the first steps in designing a custom cable assembly is selecting the wire. There are lots of options to choose before the design can be frozen. Selecting a UL spec wire can be challenging if you are unfamiliar with the standards but knowing just a few options allows for a simplified design.

At the conclusion of our webinar, Managing the Development of Your Overmolded Cable, we had several questions submitted to our presenter, User Interface & Cable Assembly Product Manager Steven J. Goodman. We compiled these into a readable format on our blog.

Custom cable assemblies are used everywhere in a variety of applications, supporting a diverse customer base. These custom cable assemblies may transmit power, data, or other high-fidelity signals during their operation, and in some applications may be used for life-saving or mission critical equipment. These cables must be reliable enough to continuously transmit signals without failure, and be strong enough to withstand certain mechanical stresses, and durable enough to withstand the environment they will operate within.

There are several considerations a purchasing manager must review before selecting a cable assembly supplier. As corporations move toward a matrix organization structure, buyers can be unfamiliar with the various programmatic details required to make critical sourcing decisions fast.

Cable assembly conductors may seem like a complicated topic, but many of the properties that govern these cables are quite straightforward. Making sense of the differences between stranded conductors and solid conductors, and even the various conductor plating specifications that are at play, is easy. You just need to keep a few key things in mind. Even a general understanding of the wire flexibility requirements, current draw, and the operating environment will help guide you toward the best bulk cable design options that exist.

There are countless details that must be explored before moving into high-volume production for custom cable assemblies. And, if manufacturing is expected to occur offshore, there are even more considerations aside from the 12-hour time change, geographical distance, and language barrier.