Has anyone modeled a ribbon cable folded over at 90 degrees so that the end result is a 90degree bend in the plane of the cable. This looks easy, but I have spent way too much time on this already. regards malcolm (fighting CADitis dily)
CADitis ... wasting disease, symtoms are excessive ellaboration of CAD models beyond that which is strictly necessary, but which feels real good at the time. Especially easy to catch from 3D cad.
Just BTW, in case you're contemplating using ribbon cables in a design where cost is important (and when is cost NOT important?):
There are a couple of different types of ribbon cable. One is called flat printed circuit (FPC) cable, which is just what it sounds like -- cable actually etched from copper-clad laminate stock, and then usually laminated with more (un-clad) stock and plated to prevent oxidation of exposed copper. Natually it can connect however you need it to, and even be integral with non-flexible printed circuit board. It ain't cheap, though, because of the multiple operations it takes to produce it, and it can get pretty darn expensive if it's complex . . . expecially when designed as rigid-flex printed circuit.
Another type is called flat flex cable (FPC), and it's basically just flattened wire laminated on both sides and exposed on one side at the ends. It typically fits into ZIF (zero insertion force) or LIF (low insertion force) connectors which are soldered onto non-flexible printed circuit board. Obviously this is just straight point-to-point connection, which can't always server the same purposes as FPC, but it is a hell of a lot cheaper when it can be used, even considering the cost of the ZIF or LIF connectors and soldering.
'Spork'
Brian Park wrote:
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