GORE^® Microwave/RF Assemblies, General Purpose Test Solutions

A recent study showed that globally more than 75% of microwave/RF cable assemblies are replaced frequently due to damage during installation or operation. GORE Microwave/RF Assemblies are extremely flexible and withstand the rigors of handling and installation. Unlike traditionally designed flexible cables that are more stiff and difficult to handle, Gore’s lightweight assemblies have a small bend radius that makes routing easy even in tight spaces, particularly in board-to-board and inside-the-box systems. Their smaller size and flexibility enable our cables to maintain signal integrity for a longer service life.

Our assemblies offer excellent electrical performance in applications from DC through 67 GHz. Gore’s expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) insulation has a dielectric constant of 1.4, which translates to:

• low relative loss
• high velocity of propagation (85% speed of light)
• low capacitive loading
• high cut-off frequencies

Protected by the inner braid and jacket, the outer conductor delivers a minimum of 100 dB/ft., of shielding effectiveness through 18 GHz.

Since a specific assembly’s shielding effectiveness is determined by the choice of connector, we offer a variety of standard connectors designed specifically for our assemblies. These connectors are engineered to complement the performance of each cable,
minimizing loss and reflection for optimized signal transmission.

GORE Microwave/RF Assemblies are engineered to perform reliably in a variety of test and measurement applications, including:

• antenna arrays
• ATE systems (automated test equipment)
• backplane interconnects
• board-to-board systems
• clock distribution
• environmental test chambers
• evaluation boards
• inside-the-box systems
• load boards
• module-to-module interconnect
• optical modules
• telecommunication systems
• test bench systems
• thermal vacuum chambers
• wafer probing

If you have any questions or to discuss your specific application needs, please contact a Gore representative.

GORE Microwave/RF Assemblies provide manufacturers with many benefits that improve electrical and mechanical performance such as:

• reliable signal integrity over longer distances with low loss up to 67 GHz
• reliable, repeatable electrical performance with consistent phase and amplitude stability
• easy installation with flexible construction and small bend radius
• decreased weight with smaller diameter for higher density applications
• design flexibility with a variety of interconnect options

For more information about the benefits of our cables, please contact a Gore representative.

Go to our YouTube Channel to watch these and other videos of Gore engineers demonstrating the benefits of GORE Microwave/RF Assemblies.