Flex cable vs wire

[David Ouellette]

Posted to CCD-world:
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Flex has several advantages over individual wires as already stated, plus the intangible (but oh so important) really
hi-tech look to it.  Performance of flex seems to vary widely, and one should also be sure to speak with the vendor
regarding adhesive vs adhesiveless types and so on.  We've had good luck with it on the CCD-end, but don't use
it in the cryostat.  Our cryostats go through changes on relatively short timescales (~1 yr.) and point to point wiring is very
convenient for rapidly changing systems.  The biggest disadvantage to flex has been the price: even a short prototype
run has fairly high set-up charges, and one can argue the economics of a spool of wire and technician time versus
customized flex for quite a while.

A possible solution might be from a company called Advanced Circuit Technology (ACT).  They manufacture
a standard line of products to solve common problems, and also do custom work.  For example, they stock 
sculpted flex cables to go from toggle switch backs to 0.100" in line terminations.  I have seen their ads showing
circular connector to in-line and so on.  Unfortunately, aside from a nice supply of samples, I have no real experience
with this particular vendor, but they might have a solution on the shelf.  I'd like to hear if anyone has used their products
in a cryostat also.

Contact: 
Advanced Circuit Technology, Inc.  (ACT)
118 Northeastern Boulevard
PO Box 547X
Nashua, NH  03061

Tel  (603) 880-6000
Fax  (603) 880-1785


Dave

David Ouellette
Steward Observatory
CCD Laboratory
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ  85721-0065

douellette at as.arizona.edu
Phone  (520) 621-5228      Fax 626-4330

Web Page http://sauron.as.arizona.edu/ccdlab/

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