- New products build off of the company’s award-winning technology to provide design engineers with low-profile, foldable cabling options for internal and external high-speed applications -
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--3M today announced at DesignCon 2012 the availability of its latest high-speed products from the rapidly expanding line of 3M Twin Axial Cable Assembly Solutions, which allow design and hardware engineers to achieve exceptional electrical performance while improving airflow and cable management in internal and external electronics applications. These cable assemblies utilize the award-winning 3M Twin Axial Cable, SL8800 Series, the industry’s first known flat, foldable and longitudinally shielded high-performance twin axial ribbon cable.
The 3M Cable Assemblies for SFP+, 3M Cable Assemblies for QSFP+ and the 3M High- Routability External MiniSAS Cable Assembly 8G26 Series are designed for high data-rate applications, including servers, storage, switches and data center networks. These cable assemblies are compatible with multiple protocols including InfiniBand*, Ethernet, Fibre Channel and SAS. The newly released external cable assemblies leverage the 3M Twin Axial Ribbon Cable, SL8800 Series’ mechanical and electrical benefits, allowing for maximum routability while maintaining optimal signal integrity and performance. Like the unjacketed versions, the external cable assembly options achieve tight bend radii enabling improved airflow and extremely organized and flexible cable management outside the box. These benefits are proving to be vital for customers with cable routing challenges.
Customers are choosing 3M Twin Axial Cable Assemblies for a variety of external applications because the cable’s unique characteristics are not found in traditional cable offerings. This includes:
- Unparalleled flexibility. Customers have leveraged 3M High-Routability External MiniSAS Cable Assembly 8G26 Series for applications that demanded flexibility from high-speed assemblies for use in the server’s articulating arm.
- Unique mechanical capabilities. Other customers have used 3M Cable Assemblies for SFP+ for its extremely small bend radii to save space behind the rack.
- Optimal performance for high-speed applications. 3M Cable Assemblies for QSFP+ have met the needs of customers who require performance beyond the current standards at 10 and 14.5 Gbps.
“The 3M Twin Axial Cable Solutions we have available today are some of the most versatile cables currently on the market – from both a design and capability perspective,” said David N. Schneider, global business manager, 3M Electronic Solutions Division, Interconnect Business. “We believe that this is truly the cable of the future and are excited to offer this cable with a variety of assembly options for our customers.”
These new cable assemblies for external applications are available now through 3M authorized distributors and direct from 3M. Also being showcased at DesignCon 2012 is a wide range of internal cable assembly solutions by 3M designed to address density and airflow constraints, while performing at the highest speeds. These cables feature extreme bend radius benefits with a low-profile design, ideal for internal applications from server boxes to embedded systems.
The 3M Twin Axial Cable Assembly form factor that has drawn the most significant interest from customers is semi-custom to completely custom high-speed assemblies that enable the integration of PCIe hardware without the physical restriction of PCB’s, coupled with the benefits of an extremely thin, foldable high-bandwidth cable. It is anticipated that the 3M High-Routability Internal Cable Assembly 8F68 Series for MiniSAS and 8X PCIe applications, 3M High-Routability Internal 7 Position SATA, 3M High-Routability Internal MiniSAS to SATA Fanout Cable Assemblies, and 3M High-Routability PCIe Extender Assembly will all be fully available through 3M authorized distributors and direct from 3M in Q1 2012.
All of these products are based off of the 3M Twin Axial Ribbon Cable, a recipient of R&D Magazine’s 49th Annual R&D 100 Awards. The award recognizes 100 of the most technologically significant products and has long been a benchmark of excellence in a variety of industries – from academia to government to medical to manufacturing.
Samples of the cable assemblies will be available at the 3M booth (#706) at DesignCon 2012 in the Santa Clara Convention Center, Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2012. To learn more about Twin Axial Cable Solutions from 3M and its line of interconnect offerings, visit http://www.3Mtwinax.com.
About 3M Electronic Solution Division – Interconnect
3M Electronic Solutions Division’s Interconnect business offers a variety of innovative connectors, cables and cable assemblies, embedded capacitance materials and Textool brand test and burn-in sockets for component engineers and designers in the electronics industry. For more information about 3M’s Interconnect solutions, visit: http://www.3Mconnectors.com. Information about 3M Company is available online.
3M is a trademark of 3M Company.
*All other trademarks, names and brands listed herein are property of their respective owners and/or companies.
3MJenni Balthrop, 512-984-2146jsbalthrop@mmm.com
