We are in an era in which connector manufacturing technology is developing very rapidly. Connectors are continuously innovated and developed. And, in terms of technology, they are improving their performance and manufacturing. That is why it is so important to have a company dedicated exclusively to the development of this type of technology.

ALFA’R is a company that is at the forefront of providing connectivity solutions. What makes us different? What makes us unique is more than 50 years of experience developing technology. Industrial connectors, antennas, cables and other passive components in Radio Frequency and Industrial Multicontacts.

In order to bring our products up to the required standard, we take care of the entire process. From the design, manufacture and distribution of all connectors.

What sectors do we work with?

Our range of industrial cables, tools and connectors are of high quality and reliability. Specially designed to help our customers maintain solid connections.

Our connectors are designed for a wide variety of applications. They ensure the best possible performance, even in the most unfavourable environments. Due to the quality of ALFA’R industrial connectors, they are used in a multitude of sectors.

In the communication sector, e.g. telecommunications, broadcasting, signal processing, etc. In the transport and industrial sectors: security, energy, automation, etc.

In order to adapt to the demands of our customers, many of our products have been developed according to the needs of each user. That’s why we get involved in every detail to provide adapted solutions.

ALFA’R has a professional team with extensive experience in the design and manufacture of industrial connectors. We are exclusively dedicated to the development of high quality and versatile connectors to meet the multiple demands of our users!

What sets us apart from our competitors?

At ALFA’R we carry out extensive testing to ensure the best performance, compared to any other standard connector there is no competition possible.

The design is developed by our most specialised engineers, and each connector is tested by state-of-the-art equipment. Our testing ensures that industrial connectors can perform in the most demanding environments. We validate in every test that each component exceeds the set parameters.

We have a wide range of connectors to suit all industrial sectors. You should definitely get to know our products, choose the connector that best suits your needs! If you need any kind of advice, all you have to do is contact us. And a sales representative will get in touch with you to answer any questions you may have.

What is ALFA’R’s philosophy?

ALFA’R is a company that was born in 1965 with the sale of audio connectors. Our technology has since evolved and spread to countries all over the world. We have become a leading company in the sector and are present throughout Europe, Latin America, India, Morocco and Asia.

But our values and philosophy have remained unchanged since our origins. Our mission is to become a benchmark in the manufacture of connectors worldwide, which is why the quality of our products extends internationally. Respecting other cultures and countries, we are united by our passion for a common goal.

We devote all our resources to keep up to date with technological changes and to improve our means of production. All this in order to achieve the quality standards expected by our customers. To this end, the customer is actively involved in the design and customisation of the connectors – no two connectors are the same and not all needs are the same!

The versatility and quality of our connectors make us unique.

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The post Discover the impressive technology of ALFA’R! first appeared on Conectores Industriales Sistemas de Conexionado | alfarsl.es.

A waterproof connector is often confused with a hermetic connector, but what exactly is a hermetic connector? The difference between the two lies in the degree of sealing of each of them. While the first ensures sealing to dust, water and moisture at different pressures depending on the IP rating, the second ensures a much tighter seal, creating a barrier even for light gases between the two sides of the connector.

On many occasions it is required that an equipment or installation is completely isolated from its environment, either because of the need to create two different atmospheres, or because of the possibility of damage to the equipment or the environment if gas leaks from one side to the other.

What is the role of hermetic connectors?

One of the most critical issues are the mechanical or electrical interfaces of the equipment with its outside. Here the connectors play a very important role in achieving hermetic sealing. The design of the connector as well as the materials used will be decisive in achieving this goal.

To achieve an hermetic system, it must be designed to prevent gas leakage from one environment to the other and in both directions. The effectiveness of an airtight barrier is measured in terms of leakage rates. Ideally this value should be zero, but in practice a connector or device is considered to be leak tight when values below 10-8 mbar.l/s are achieved with Helium gas. Helium is used because it is a gas of small molecular size, light, harmless and easy to measure due to its absence in the air.

     Leakage measurement of a coaxial connector panel f– f N type, with helium gas

Thus, if these values are achieved for helium, for air and other commonly used heavier gases with larger molecules, the leakage value will be considerably lower, in the order of one third in the case of the air.

Sealing stages

In a connector, different sources of leakage must be dealt with separately. This will define different sealing stages.

– Fixing the connector to the panel

– Connection block

– The male-female connection of two opposing connectors.

The sealing of the connector to the panel is located between the connector housing and the panel itself, viton or silicone gaskets are required, together with an excellent mating of the panel and connector surfaces. Uniform surfaces, free of burrs and a good dimensioning of the machining grooves where they are housed, are required.

Regarding the connection block, we must use dielectrics made by polymer materials such as epoxy or glass. These materials are perfectly soldered between the inner conductor-metal and the outer conductor-metal. The use of epoxy or glass is determined by weight specifications (epoxy is much lighter) and temperature resistance (glass reaches much more extreme temperatures).

Dielectric glass-to-metal bonding on inner and outer conductor. Seals for airtightness

Finally, the connection of the opposing connectors will normally be determined by international standards. Normally, in terms of watertightness, this is solved in the first two stages and in this case a simply waterproof connection with an IP68 degree of protection will be enough to ensure the watertightness of the assembly.

The 3 factors that cause leakage

Three factors can cause leakage in the hermetic barrier of a connector:

– Cracks

– Diffusion of materials

– Outgassing of materials.

Cracks and imperfections, even microscopic, are the main cause of leakage. They must be avoided by careful manufacturing of the product.

Diffusion, on the other hand, is a natural effect of all plastics and elastomers. It consists in the passage of gas through the barrier surface, even when the barrier surface is free of cracks and imperfections. The greater the difference in pressure between the two atmospheres, the greater the mobility of the gas and the smaller the size of the gas molecules, create the greater diffusion. With a careful choice of materials, it can be minimised but never completely eliminated.

Finally, outgassing consists of the release of water or gases previously absorbed by the materials and released when the vacuum is generated and/or the temperature is increased. A previous treatment of these materials in which they are degassed minimises the occurrence of this undesired effect once the connector is assembled and in operation.

Why ALFA’R Hermetic Connectors?

We select the best materials and we carry out the appropriate treatments of them.

We take care of the smallest details in machining, to obtain pieces of the highest quality.

We have extensive experience designing technologically advanced connectors.

ALFA’R hermetic connectors are 100% tested to achieve the desired leakage values below 10^-8 mbar.l / s with Helium gas. By means this technique, coaxial RF-connectors and Multi-contact: circular and rectangular are produced.

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The post Hermetic Connectors first appeared on Conectores Industriales Sistemas de Conexionado | alfarsl.es.