Revealing connector insertion and extraction force: influencing factors and practical tips
Blog | Jan 12,2024
The connector serves as a crucial component for transmitting signals and electrical energy, finding extensive applications in electronic devices, household appliances, automobiles, communication systems, and various other domains.
The insertion and withdrawal force stand as pivotal metrics for assessing connector performance. Consequently, it prompts the inquiry: What elements influence the plugging and unplugging forces of the connector?
Factors affecting connector insertion and extraction force
Material selection
The composition of a connector material plays a substantial role in determining its mating and unmating forces. In broad terms, metal materials tend to exhibit higher hardness and strength, resulting in increased plug-in and pull-out forces for the connector.
Conversely, non-metallic materials like plastics typically have lower hardness, leading to comparatively smaller plug-in and pull-out forces. When choosing materials, a careful balance must be struck, considering specific application scenarios and performance criteria.
Design structure
The structural design of the connector also affects the mating and uniting force. For example, a connector with a threaded connection needs to overcome the friction of the threads when disassembling;
While a snap-on connector needs to overcome the friction between the slots. Structural parameters should be fully considered during design to achieve appropriate insertion and extraction forces.
Contact resistance
During the plugging and unplugging process of the connector, the contact resistance will change, thus affecting the plugging and unplugging force. The greater the contact resistance, the greater the insertion and extraction force.
Therefore, when designing and using connectors, contact resistance should be reduced as much as possible to improve plugging and unplugging performance.
Environmental factors
Environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, dust, etc., can also affect the plugging and unplugging force of the connector. High temperature will reduce the elasticity of the connector and reduce the plug-in and pull-out force;
In an environment with high humidity, a conductive film may form on the surface of the connector, increasing the contact resistance, and thereby affecting the plug-in and pull-out force.
Number of plugging and unplugging
The number of times a connector is plugged and unplugged has a significant impact on its plugging and unplugging force. As the number of plugs and pulls increases, factors such as material fatigue and contact wear of the connector will cause the plug and pull force to gradually decrease.
Therefore, in practical applications, the number of plugging and unplugging times of the connector should be controlled to extend its service life.
Practical tips for improving connector insertion and extraction force
Choose high-quality materials
Choosing materials with high strength and low friction coefficient can improve the plug-in and pull-out force of the connector. In addition, material surface treatment, such as gold plating, spraying, etc., can be used to reduce contact resistance and improve plugging and unplugging performance.
Optimize design structure
In connector design, structural parameters, such as contact area, thread specifications, etc., should be fully considered to achieve appropriate insertion and extraction force. At the same time, automatic fastening, spring-assisted and other structures can be used to reduce the insertion and extraction force and improve the convenience of use.
Control contact resistance
The contact resistance of the connector directly affects the insertion and extraction force. Therefore, during the design and production process, contact resistance should be strictly controlled to ensure its stability during use.
Pay attention to environmental protection
Connectors should be protected from environmental factors during use. For example, in high-temperature and humid environments, auxiliary equipment such as radiators and moisture-proof covers can be used to reduce the impact of the environment on the connector.
Reasonably control the number of plugging and unplugging
To extend the service life of the connector, the number of plugging and unplugging should be reasonably controlled. In practical applications, modular design can be used to reduce the frequency of connector use, thereby reducing the impact of plugging and unplugging forces on the connector.
The connector plug-in and pull-out force are affected by many factors. By selecting high-quality materials, optimizing the design structure, controlling contact resistance, paying attention to environmental protection and rationally controlling the number of plug-in and pull-out times, the plug-in and pull-out performance of the connector can be effectively improved.
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