Cables & Cable Assemblies

Case Study: Shipboard Application - Pre-formed Backplane Assembly

Navy Ship

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy

The Challenge:  In a shipboard application with harsh shock and vibration, the customer had planned a complex multi-point clamping solution to avoid problems of optical loss.  The optical backplane assembly needed to route connections from four MT ribbon connections to a single MIL-C-28876 connector. 

The Solution: An easily-installed pre-formed optical backplane assembly


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Unlike copper interconnects, exceeding the minimum bend radius of optical fibers can result in excessive loss and reduction of margin in the optical power budget.  This application called for unusually tight routing with 0.5” radius bends.  If, as in this application, installers are not specifically trained in fiber optics, improper installation could have a direct impact on reliability. 

The customer supplied Gore with a 3-D CAD model that depicted 3-D routing paths for the optical interconnect.  Working directly from this CAD file, Gore created a drop-in solution based on a pre-formed optical backplane assembly.   Gore’s crush-resistant cabling materials further simplified the clamping solution.

Gore’s unique technology:

  • Removed the burden and risk of fiber optic installation
  • Tremendously simplified customer's clamping and strain-relieving challenges
Application Need Requirement Gore's Enabling Technology

Four MT-based backplane connections to MIL-C-28876
 Amphenol LRM connectors, MIL-T-29504 terminations - Termination expertise
- Access to all available connectors
Installers untrained in fiber optics Pre-defined 3D routing Pre-formed bend from customer’s 3D CAD input
Tight routing 0.5” bend radius
 Gore buffering and cabling technology
Simplify complex customer-planned clamping solution Hold down /  immobilize fiber under heavy duty shock & vibration Crush resistant pre-formed cabling material simplified clamping