Cable Tester
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The LAN ProNavigator is a network data and coaxial cable tester. It is a portable, two-piece unit that tests UTP and STP data cable for opens, shorts, crossed wires and split pairs for EIA/TIA-568A, -568B, Token Ring, 10Base-T and USOC.
It also tests BNC-connected 50 and 75 Ω coaxial cable for continuity. The tester is said to contain a one-button operation for pass/fail or fault check. The pass/fail test reportedly provides results in 1 second. Jensen Tools Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.
Thermally Conductive Tapes
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Thermally Conductive Tapes 9882, 9885 and 9890 are said to combine a high-performance acrylic adhesive with highly conductive ceramic particles. They are suitable for bonding heat-generating and heat-sinking electronic and general-industrial components. Available in 2, 5 and 10 mil thickness, the tapes reportedly bond with light pressure and have immediate tack. They are UL-listed for high-temperature adhesion and dielectric strength. 3M Bonding Systems Div., St. Paul, Minn.
Dispensing Robot
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The J2200 Benchtop Dispensing Robot allows liquids or pastes to be dispensed automatically in any sequence of dots, circles, arcs and lines, as well as over 3-D objects. It comes with ready-to-use dispensing software, teach pendant, RS232C lead and memory card for program storage.
The product weighs 18 kg and has a working area of 200 X 200 mm. Hardware is available that allows for mounting of dispensing barrels, valves or cartridges to the robot's Z-axis. I&J Fisnar Inc., Fair Lawn, N.J.
Wire Stripper/Twister
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The Model C300 Wire Stripper and Twister incorporates three independently adjustable stripping heads to strip coaxial cables and stranded and solid wires. Each stripping head incorporates a pair of rotating carbide stripping blades to strip insulation from wires between 0.028 and 0.265". The adjustable strip length stop for each head is said to help achieve consistent strip lengths and can be adjusted while the unit is running. The Eraser Co. Inc., Syracuse, N.Y.
Fiber Enclosures
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Network Wiring Fiber Enclosures are designed for protecting computer network systems. The rack-mount enclosures can be used as a closet termination point in standard racks, and can configure with snap-in standard or high-density adapter panels for either SC or ST cable. When using high-density duplex adapters, the enclosures are said to support up to 72 terminations. Pass & Seymour/Legrand, Syracuse, N.Y.
Cable Repair Kit
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The Fit MGKIT1 Repair Kit for cable applications reportedly contains all of the materials needed to handle nearly all repair applications, from strain relief, splicing and connecting to identification and environmental protection. A compact heat gun that is said to deliver precise, controllable heat up to 1,000°F, and a pack of general-purpose irradiated polyolefin heat-shrinkable tubing in 6" cut pieces in various sizes and colors are included. Alpha Wire Co., Elizabeth, N.J.
Installation and Tool Kits
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DSV Installation Kits and Fiber Optic Tool Kits are available. They are said to provide contractors with a combination of the essential tools and testers necessary for installing and maintaining CATV systems, LANs, voice and Category 5 data, coaxial Ethernet, telecommunications and fiber optic networks. Greenlee Textron, Rockford, Ill.
Hot Bar Bonders
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Model 4200 Series Hot Bar Bonders are for LCD module assembly. The dual-head bonders provide the control necessary for joining TAB, flex or heat-seal connectors to PCBs using ACF or solder reflow. Each dual head has its own power control circuit, and is available with rotary tables or dual shuttle systems. The rotary table designs may be equipped with four fixed or adjustable material fixtures. Dual cameras may be added to assist operator registration of connector leads to substrate pads. MicroJoin Inc., a subsidiary of Palomar Technologies Inc., Poway, Calif.
Rack-mount Enclosures
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HRME CoolSlot Enclosures have a "cage within a cage" construction that provides EMI/RFI protection, as well as protection from shock and vibration. They are fully compatible with IEEE 1101.10/11 packaging standards. Features include provisions for 80 mm rear plug-in modules and transition modules, front and rear ground clips, cooling for front cards and rear transition cards, AC/DC power input, wiring for hot-swap fan tray, and optional 6U peripheral shuttles. Hybricon Corp., Ayer, Mass.
Soldering Station
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The Antex Model 690SD Soldering Station features a 24 V, 50 W static-dissipative iron with positive tip temperature feedback and ±2 percent accuracy that can be set to operate at 65° to 450°C. Conforming to MIL-STD-2000A requirements, the station has two push-button memory settings and includes a bench stand with a dross collection sponge and extra tip holders. Available with a variety of different style tips, the station has a digital readout that can be set for Celsius or Fahrenheit. M.M. Newman Corp., Marblehead, Mass.
Cable Cutters
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These Cable Cutters are designed for smooth, clean, consistent cuts, and have been through-hardened for long-lasting cutting surfaces. They feature beveled jaw tips, which are reported to help protect the leading jaw-cutting surfaces and provide proper mating and shearing action. To provide smooth shearing action, the company hot-rivets the joint, which reportedly eliminates handle wobble. Klein Tools Inc., Chicago, Ill.
Fiber Optic Swab
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The Coventry 2.5 mm Fiber Optic Swab is for cleaning 2.5 mm fiber optic connectors. The swab's design is said to use wrapped foam material with a "flat-head" profile that conforms to various connector shapes. This reportedly allows the swab to clean corners inside the bulkhead pocket. Designed to fit snugly into the connector ferrule, the swab cleans the ferrule, the connector core and the corner sections of the connector pocket. ITW Chemtronics, Kennesaw, Ga.
Protective Sleeving
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Firefast Protective Sleeving insulates cordsets and sensors from high-temperature materials. Constructed of heat-treated, acryl-coated braided fiberglass, the sleeving is said to provide protection from flames and molten materials in welding and other applications. It also offers protection in extreme condition industries, including resins, coatings and metal fabricating. It withstands Class C temperatures of -70° to 240°C. Turck Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.
SMD Probe
The Quick Probe is designed for fast and easy connection of test instruments to SMT-type components. It consists of a weighted, nonskid base that holds a flexible shaft and a precision connection point for attaching a test instrument. It is said to be suitable on most types of SMT packages, and multiple types of test points may be contacted with only a single tool. The need for soldering test leads is reportedly eliminated and no special tooling is said to be required. AG Devices of Colorado Inc., Cedaredge, Colo.
Solder Paste
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This Lead-free Solder Paste is said to reflow at a lower temperature than standard tin/silver alloys. This tin/silver/copper alloy was developed to meet the needs of printed circuit assemblers who require an alternative lead-free alloy with print, tack and reflow characteristics. The paste has a liquidus temperature of 217°C, provides 24-hour print life and is available in no-clean, low-residue, water-soluble and RMA flux formulations. EFD Inc., Lincoln, R.I.
Fiber Optic Epoxy
Tra-Bond 526M02 is a two-part, low-viscosity epoxy system that was developed for fiber optic applications. The material is suitable for bonding fiber optic bundles, potting glass fibers and terminating fiber optic connectors. It is said to form mechanically stable bonds to substrates common to the fiber optics industry, including most metals, plastics, glass and ceramic. Tra-Con Inc., a National Starch & Chemical Co., Bedford, Mass.
Cable Routing
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FiberRunner is a 6 X 4 routing system for fiber optic cable that provides routing, segregation and protection of fiber optic cabling between and around distribution frames, terminal devices and splice enclosures. It has a substantial structural length, which reportedly allows a 6' fiber runner span to support itself even when loaded beyond the maximum fill capacity. The system also incorporates connection components that are said to allow each component to be connected in less than 5 seconds. Panduit Corp., Tinley Park, Ill.
Visual Fault Finder
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The 263MT Visual Fault Finder is designed for quickly identifying breaks and bending losses in fiber optic cables terminated with MT-RJ small form factor duplex connectors. A 0 dBm, 635 nm red laser launched into both fibers makes breaks, bending losses and other defects easily visible for up to 1 km. The product features continuous wave output and a 1 second pulsed output mode that increases viewing contrast in difficult lighting conditions. Rifocs Corp., Camarillo, Calif.
Cable Carrier
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At 66 dB, the E4/101 Energy Chain System is designed for automated applications where noise is not acceptable, such as the automotive industry, entertainment applications and high-speed, precision instrumentation. The outside of the chain is equipped with a dampening element that is said to reduce noise even further. Beveled edges on the glide surface also dampen travel noise, and the smooth side plate design is said to ensure the carrier's resistance to contaminants. igus Inc., East Providence, R.I.
Potting/Molding Compound
Metrethane 4755 is a fast-setting, two-component, urethane potting, casting and molding compound that is said to gel in 10 minutes in potting applications with masses as low as 20 g. Features include a Shore A hardness 60 and low, flowable mixed viscosity at 1,400 to 1,600 cp. It is available in 50, 200 and 400 cc 4:1 dual syringes, and Sudan black and unpigmented versions. Mereco Technologies Group Co. Inc., West Warwick, R.I.
Common Mode Filters
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The CMF2 Series Common Mode Filters are designed for power supplies, power regulators and DC-to-DC converters, particularly for test and measurement, medical diagnostic and industrial process control equipment. An industry-standard footprint with fixed, coplanar, J-style terminals is used. The horizontal surface-mount filters are used to reduce AC interference. The opposing magnetic fluxes in the core serve to cancel in-phase noise signals. Gowanda Electronics, Gowanda, N.Y.
Metal Spot Welder
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The SonoWeld Series Metal Welder is said to perform spot welds in a single pulse with repeatable accuracy, and, with additional tooling, also provides wire-to-terminal welding. The microprocessor-controlled welder can reportedly join up to 10 stranded wires from a flat flexible circuit to multiconnection terminals in a single pulse. Originally developed for automotive parts assembly, the product has applications in other industries, including electronic and communications equipment. Sonobond Ultrasonics, West Chester, Pa.
Liquid Dispenser
The MicroMax Dispenser is said to be suitable for nonheated applications in SMT and semiconductor packaging. It has a footprint of 36.5 X 47.0 X 59.5", a work area of 12.0 X 12.0", and a dispense rate of up to 36,000 dots per hour at a speed of 30.0" per second. It is also suitable for micro-volume applications, reportedly dispensing dots as small as 10 mil. It can be operated as a conveyorized system for PCBs or boats/carriers. GPD, a division of Lift Industries Inc., Grand Junction, Colo.
Thermometer
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The Cyclops 330S Thermometer is des-igned for high-accuracy spot measurements of electronic components as small as 0.08" (2 mm) from -50° to 1,112°F. It is said to provide closeup temperature measurements for electronic assembly quality-monitoring applications, as well as spot measurements of infrared or vapor-phase solder reflow systems. The unit uses a pyroelectric detector and microprocessor-based electronics to achieve accurate readings. Land Instruments, Newtown, Pa.
Pull Tapes
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Bull-Line Pull Tapes are designed to expedite cable installation. Offering high-strength and low-stretch properties, the products are said to have burn-through or conduit cutting resistance and excellent blowability into conduit. Polyester or aramid fiber constructions are available in multiple reel sizes or factory preinstalled into conduit. They are printed with sequential footage or metric markings and are prelubricated. Arnco Corp., Elyria, Ohio
Packaging System
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The S27 Convertible System Packaging for rack-mount and benchtop applications features a large I/O capacity, optional disc storage bays and low-profile 8U height. Each system enclosure is said to have space for up to 12 front-loading VME boards and 12 rear-loading transition cards. Flush front and rear card cages reportedly provide unrestricted cable access, and units can be stacked in a 19" rack or on a benchtop without affecting cooling performance. Tracewell Systems Inc., Westerville, Ohio
Fiber Optic Test Kit
The FOtest'R OSP Cable Test Kit tests singlemode fiber networks and cable plants in outside plant environments, including telecommunications, CATV and utilities. Designed specifically for singlemode fibers operating at 1,300 nm, the kit contains a fiber optic power meter and 1,300 laser source. The power meter and source are reportedly terminated in SC connectors, and can be adapted to fiber optic cable plants using any connectors, including small form factor designs. Fotec, Medford, Mass.
Test Clips
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Model 6405 Insulation-piercing Test Clips are said to be suitable for a variety of field applications including automotive test and diagnosis, telecommunications diagnosis and repair, and electronic and industrial test and measurement setups. A nonrotating banana jack is featured, and red and black color-coded barrels are said to offer fast circuit identification. A bright yellow body reportedly allows for location in low-light situations. Pomona Electronics, Pomona, Calif.
EMI Gaskets
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SNK 45 (silver/copper) and SNG 55 (silver/glass) are single-component, silicone-based EMI gaskets that have been added to the Altocad SN Series. The dispensed gaskets are said to provide more packaging space for board-level components and smaller package dimensions, as well as reduction of labor and assembly requirements for shielding and grounding metal and plastic housings, substrates and enclosure panels. Filled with proprietary conductive particles, they reportedly provide shielding effectiveness of >100 dB at 1 GHz. Instrument Specialties, Delaware Water Gap, Pa.
Tubing Shrinker
Focus-Lite is a heat-shrink tubing shrinker suitable for wire harnesses, crimps and splices. It reportedly shrinks in 2.2 seconds, which is less time than traditional heat guns. Standard lengths are 3, 8 and 16", and custom lengths are available. Shrink time is the same for all lengths. Features are reported to include less operator fatigue, long life, energy efficiency at 146 W and consistent shrinking throughout. The product uses standard 120 V. Judco Mfg. Inc., Harbor City, Calif.
