flat clear plastic cable

[Mark]

Hello,

What is the proper name for that clear flat cable that has flat metallic
condictors 'printed' on it. I need to make or buy and extension for a four
conductor one that connects two boards. Is it possible to cut it in the
middle, lightly sand down to the conductors and solder a piece of ribbon
cable to extend it?

Mark

 

[Rich Grise]

On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 21:29:09 +0000, Mark wrote:

"John Fields" <jfields@austininstruments.com> wrote in message
On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 20:46:03 GMT, "Mark" <mlerman@ix.netcom.com

What is the proper name for that clear flat cable that has flat metallic
condictors 'printed' on it. I need to make or buy and extension for a
four
....
It's called "flexible flat conductor cable". If you're talking about
the kind that has the conductors silk-screened on the carrier, like
membrane switches, then you won't be able to solder to it, but if it's
the other kind, with thin PC-like traces then you should be able to
solder to it. I'd do the sanding before the cutting so you can expose
....
Another, much cleaner, way would be to cut the cable in the middle,
put connectors on the ends, and then make a center section with
matching connectors on it and ever how long you needed the extension
to be between them.

Thanks, John. I'd rather do it with an extension in the middle as you
describe, but where do I get the connectors and cable - do you have a
source?

Once you've got the conductors exposed, you could just poke it into
a card-edge connector (with the right spacing) and back it up with a
piece of unplated PCB material, which would hold it in place.

I know, it's a klooge, but it would get the job done.

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[John Fields]

On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 21:29:09 GMT, "Mark" <mlerman@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:

"John Fields" <jfields@austininstruments.com> wrote in message
news:d4b351hkrcfmck6viusfdsagtqlhmdeta8@4ax.com...
On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 20:46:03 GMT, "Mark" <mlerman@ix.netcom.com
wrote:

Hello,

What is the proper name for that clear flat cable that has flat metallic
condictors 'printed' on it. I need to make or buy and extension for a
four
conductor one that connects two boards. Is it possible to cut it in the
middle, lightly sand down to the conductors and solder a piece of ribbon
cable to extend it?

---
It's called "flexible flat conductor cable". If you're talking about
the kind that has the conductors silk-screened on the carrier, like
membrane switches, then you won't be able to solder to it, but if it's
the other kind, with thin PC-like traces then you should be able to
solder to it. I'd do the sanding before the cutting so you can expose
as much of the conductor as you need to before you cut it. That way
you wont have to deal with the edges when you sand the cable down.
You may also just be able to melt the insulation over the conductors
and then solder to the conductor without having to sand anything.

Another, much cleaner, way would be to cut the cable in the middle,
put connectors on the ends, and then make a center section with
matching connectors on it and ever how long you needed the extension
to be between them.

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer

Thanks, John. I'd rather do it with an extension in the middle as you
describe, but where do I get the connectors and cable - do you have a
source?

Yeah, take a look at what Digi-Key's got: Amp, Parlex, Waldom...


--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer

 

[Mark]

Thanks for the help!

Mark
"John Fields" <jfields@austininstruments.com> wrote in message
news:rif3511q5tamumicr9qa0iqoocvrkrj4b6@4ax.com...

On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 21:29:09 GMT, "Mark" <mlerman@ix.netcom.com
wrote:


"John Fields" <jfields@austininstruments.com> wrote in message
news:d4b351hkrcfmck6viusfdsagtqlhmdeta8@4ax.com...
On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 20:46:03 GMT, "Mark" <mlerman@ix.netcom.com
wrote:

Hello,

What is the proper name for that clear flat cable that has flat
metallic
condictors 'printed' on it. I need to make or buy and extension for a
four
conductor one that connects two boards. Is it possible to cut it in
the
middle, lightly sand down to the conductors and solder a piece of
ribbon
cable to extend it?

---
It's called "flexible flat conductor cable". If you're talking about
the kind that has the conductors silk-screened on the carrier, like
membrane switches, then you won't be able to solder to it, but if it's
the other kind, with thin PC-like traces then you should be able to
solder to it. I'd do the sanding before the cutting so you can expose
as much of the conductor as you need to before you cut it. That way
you wont have to deal with the edges when you sand the cable down.
You may also just be able to melt the insulation over the conductors
and then solder to the conductor without having to sand anything.

Another, much cleaner, way would be to cut the cable in the middle,
put connectors on the ends, and then make a center section with
matching connectors on it and ever how long you needed the extension
to be between them.

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer

Thanks, John. I'd rather do it with an extension in the middle as you
describe, but where do I get the connectors and cable - do you have a
source?

Yeah, take a look at what Digi-Key's got: Amp, Parlex, Waldom...


--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer

 

[Keith Williams]

In article <fIh4e.182$go4.50@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
mlerman@ix.netcom.com says...

Hello,

What is the proper name for that clear flat cable that has flat metallic
condictors 'printed' on it.

"Copper on Kapton" is a common material used for "flex-circuits", such
as the ones used to connect moving print-heads. I've also seen "silver
on polyester", but the latter is much trouble (I.e. stay away, far-far
away).

I need to make or buy and extension for a four
conductor one that connects two boards. Is it possible to cut it in the
middle, lightly sand down to the conductors and solder a piece of ribbon
cable to extend it?

Should work in a pinch. I wouldn't do it for production, but for a fix
or prototype it should work. I've done worse (e.g. patched SMT devices
into it). The stuff acts much like copper on FR4 (but flexible,
obviously).

--
Keith

 

[John Fields]

On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 20:46:03 GMT, "Mark" <mlerman@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:

Hello,

What is the proper name for that clear flat cable that has flat metallic
condictors 'printed' on it. I need to make or buy and extension for a four
conductor one that connects two boards. Is it possible to cut it in the
middle, lightly sand down to the conductors and solder a piece of ribbon
cable to extend it?

---
It's called "flexible flat conductor cable". If you're talking about
the kind that has the conductors silk-screened on the carrier, like
membrane switches, then you won't be able to solder to it, but if it's
the other kind, with thin PC-like traces then you should be able to
solder to it. I'd do the sanding before the cutting so you can expose
as much of the conductor as you need to before you cut it. That way
you wont have to deal with the edges when you sand the cable down.
You may also just be able to melt the insulation over the conductors
and then solder to the conductor without having to sand anything.

Another, much cleaner, way would be to cut the cable in the middle,
put connectors on the ends, and then make a center section with
matching connectors on it and ever how long you needed the extension
to be between them.

--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer