How to Choose the Right Cable Installation Method of RF connector (Clamping, Crimping, or Soldering)

When RF connector terminates RF coaxial cables, there are generally three methods: Clamping, crimping, and soldering.

1. Clamping RF Connectors:

In this method, the connector's pin is typically soldering to the stripped and flattened center conductor of the coaxial cable. The braided shield of the cable is secured between a metal washer inside the connector body and a bushing by tightening a cylindrical compression nut. A rubber ring then tightens around the cable's sheath.

Advantages: This method provides a secure termination, offers a degree of waterproofing, and allows for the reuse of terminal components. It can be installed using a standard open-end wrench without special tools.

Disadvantages: Clamping connectors are bulkier, require more materials, and are more costly, which is not ideal for reducing passive intermodulation (PIM) interference.

2. Crimping Connectors:

For crimping connectors, the tubular end of the connector's center pin is placed onto the stripped and flattened center conductor of the coaxial cable. A specialized crimping tool is used to crimp this tubular section, creating an airtight connection between the inner conductors. The cable, with the pin installed, is then inserted into the connector shell. The braided shield is spread over the crimp sleeve on the RF connector shell, and a circular crimp sleeve is crimping with a specialized tool.

Advantages: This method is material-efficient, offers good consistency, is suitable for mass production, is cost-effective, and provides high strength.

Disadvantages: The connector cannot be reused, and a specialized crimping tool is required.

3. Soldering Connectors:

Similar to the crimping method, but with soldering connectors, the inner conductors of the cable and connector are joined by soldering, without a crimp sleeve for the outer conductor. Instead, the outer conductor is soldering directly to the connector. This method is better suited for semi-flexible and semi-rigid coaxial cables.

Advantages: This method is more compact, material-efficient, and offers the most reliable contact.

Disadvantages: It is not suitable for field installations.

Conclusion: Each termination method has its pros and cons. Overall, Clamping connectors are more expensive than crimping and soldering ones. To meet low PIM design requirements, only crimping or soldering methods should be used. In the current telecommunications cable assembly market, crimping and soldering structures are widely used.

But for corrugated coaxial cable,such as 1/2" Super Flexible, 3/8" flexible,1/4" flexible etc,  Clamping is more popular, because corrugated cable can't be crimp and hard to solder on field.