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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>In my line of work, one of our customers
is a major avionics manufacturer for whom I do some environmental monitoring in
their production facilities. One of the rooms that I check is where they
pot electronics and crt displays. I always like to see these processes
and it spurs me to think how nice I could make projects look and last if I
adopted such concepts as potting and creating molded connectors.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>In asking around it was suggested that I
look in Arts and Crafts stores for molding supplies. I did run across
this company at a local store: <a href="http://www.smooth-on.com/">http://www.smooth-on.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Looking at some disc samples of the
different molding compounds makes this stuff look promising. I don’t
know about dielectric properties of the material but since it’s
rubber-like or plastic-like in some forms I don’t think that would be a
problem.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Keith, KF4BXT<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> scott@opentrac.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [aprssig] FW: D-sub
connector components</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>Digi-Key and Mouser should both have all
of those parts. I can suggest some part numbers for the 9-pin connectors
and backshells. I carry those on my own site as well: <a
href="http://n1vg.net/opentracker/purchase.php">http://n1vg.net/opentracker/purchase.php</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>The backshells come with all the
hardware. For the side connecting to the GPS cable, you might want
connectors with integrated clinch nuts. Digi-Key carries a couple
thousand d-sub connectors and they've got the best parametric search around.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>Let me know if you find any good homebrew
techniques for overmolding. I've done some stuff with hot melt glue when
necessary, but that's about it. I need some custom molding myself -
I've got to make cables for Motorola handhelds, and the spacing between the 2.5
and 3.5 mm plugs is too small for separate connectors. Mouser sells plugs
designed for overmolding, but aside from investing some serious money in
tooling and injection molding, I don't know how you'd use them.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>Scott</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>N1VG</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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