What are Flat Ribbon Cable Assemblies?
Like many things, flat ribbon cable assemblies get their name from their appearance. As a series of conductors or wires running parallel to one another, the effect is a flat line in a ribbon-like shape. Flat ribbon cable assemblies are rectangular-shaped which gives them added flexibility to be used in smaller places, like computers and printers. This formation resembles a strand of ribbon and thus, the name flat ribbon cable assemblies.
As opposed to a cable in which the wires are in a spiral formation and create a round cable, flat ribbon cable assemblies are, well, flat. This configuration has many practical benefits as well as transmission benefits. With multiple industries in which flat ribbon cable assemblies are utilized, they can be found in nearly every electrical device and machinery.
The unique design of flat ribbon cable assemblies allows them to be utilized in smaller devices with multiple connection points. This can be extremely useful for complex instruments that require several signals, data transfers, or sources of power. These versatile powerhouse cable assemblies are an incredible work of engineering.
Building a Custom Flat Ribbon Cable Assembly
Here at Meridian Cable, our engineering and design teams build completely customizable flat ribbon cable assemblies for the conductor up. Creating these capable cable assemblies requires years of experience, quality materials, and thorough auditing of our product and process for quality assurance.
Though there are several thousand smaller steps that constitute the creation of a custom flat ribbon cable assembly, the in-house engineers of Meridian work through every process with precision and intentional attention to detail.
Some of the steps that go into creating a custom flat ribbon cable assembly include:
Applications for Flat Ribbon Cable Assemblies
Though you can find flat ribbon cable assemblies in nearly every electronic device, they are frequently used in computers because of their folding capabilities. Because the wires or conductors are laid out parallel to one another and not spiraled, they can be nearly folded in half or manipulated into waves. This enables flat ribbon cable assemblies to be utilized in all kinds of technology and machinery.
Within every computer, flat ribbon cable assemblies exist in some form or another. Within personal computers, flat ribbon cable assemblies are used to the disk drive and/or the hard drive to the motherboard. This interconnectivity is made possible by the multiple conductors that flat ribbon cable assemblies. Typically, the more complex the drive that is being connected to the motherboard, the more wires/conductors are necessary for the flat cable assembly.
One of the benefits that the design of flat ribbon cable assemblies provides in computer utilization is their ability to terminate quickly. This allows the computer operating system to end a task or program rapidly. Because of the multiple and simultaneous connections, flat ribbon cable assemblies can allow the computer processors to function with expediency when transferring commands.
Because they are so adaptable in their capabilities and design, flat ribbon cable assemblies can have several advantages for military technology. Found in everything from drone operating systems to robotic and autonomous solutions, flat ribbon cable assemblies are an essential component of modern military technology.
Just as in the medical field, flat ribbon cables in the military application need to be made to the most exacting details. With important functions, equipment, and technology, the interconnective components must be built to rigorous standards. Meridian Cable creates military-grade cable assemblies and thoroughly tests them to ensure their quality.
In the medical field, many pieces of equipment utilize flat ribbon cable assemblies for interconnectivity and processing. You may find these versatile cable assemblies on the inside of a heart monitor, ultrasound machine, or any number of other life-saving equipment.
The flat ribbon cable assemblies used in the medical arena need to be reliable and precise in their construction. Because they operate within several machines that can literally be the difference between life and death, medical flat ribbon cable assemblies must be held to the highest standard.
With industrial manufacturing being such a massive and varied field, there are nearly infinite possible utilizations for flat ribbon cable assemblies. Some industrial equipment that makes use of flat ribbon cable assemblies are industrial control boards, automated packaging machines, or cutting machines similar to what Meridian cable uses to cut its wire harnesses.
Industrial flat ribbon cable assemblies need to be made to hold up in a variety of conditions and still function properly. This requires materials that may need to come into contact with high temperatures, varying levels of moisture, industrial chemicals, and other common hazards within industrial facilities.
Because of the natural potential for harsh conditions in an industrial environment, the cable assemblies within the machinery must be built to endure. This means using quality materials that can withstand the stressors of less ideal conditions.
Find more info on the manufacturing and applications of custom flat ribbon cables on our blog.
Flat Ribbon Cable Assemblies FAQs
Certainly! Our team of in-house design engineers will help design and create the ideal custom flat ribbon cable assemblies for your needs. We work with you through every step of the process to ensure your satisfaction and the quality of your cable solution.
The design phase of production is a crucial part of creating flat ribbon cable assemblies. During this portion of the process, our team will take the time to understand your unique cable needs and begin designing a custom solution. We draft a digital design of your flat ribbon cable assemblies from the design stage and run preliminary screening tests to ensure it meets your needs. Because of the importance of the design stage, our engineers work directly with you throughout the entire process.
Flat ribbon cable assemblies have a lot to offer in terms of benefits and capacity. For one, a flat ribbon cable has the ability to mass terminate, meaning it can connect to multiple ports/connections at once. In contrast with a round cable assembly, in which there can only be one termination per port, flat ribbon cable assemblies have multiple terminations in a linear structure.
Flat ribbon cables can be built to correspond with any number of different port configurations. This flexibility gives flat cables the ability to be custom designed to suit the specific needs of equipment and function. Their unique design lends itself to a wide range of applications and industrial processes. One of the most common benefits of a flat ribbon cable assembly is that its structure can fit in small spaces like a computer. This allows them to be used in nearly every industry that uses technology.
Traditional cable assemblies are composed of cables that are generally rounded and have a spiral interior structure. Flat ribbon cables, however, have the conductors structured linearly so that they are side-by-side to form a flat structure. This design allows flat ribbon cables to fold into smaller spaces and have multiple terminations at each end. Practically, flat ribbon cables have a lot to offer in terms of flexibility and adaptability to a plethora of applications.
The unique linear design of flat ribbon cables can be configured into the ideal solution for custom equipment. Their design often works better in computers than a standard cable because of the flat ribbon cable’s flexibility.
Having been in the cable production business for several decades, we understand that there are numerous cable manufacturers out there. While you certainly could purchase from any old cable production company, you may not be getting the solution your unique situation demands. When you buy an off-the-shelf cable solution, it is going to be a generic cable that may or may not do what you need.
We’ve been in this business long enough to know that a one-size-fits-all approach should not apply to cables. We create a custom flat ribbon cable solution from the design up, meaning it is always exactly what’s required to solve the task at hand. We work with our clients to build the ideal solution to the most exacting detail. When you choose Meridian Cable, you get our custom design process, our years of experience, and our top-notch quality cable solutions. You can trust our team with any of your flat ribbon cable needs.
Insulation serves a very important role in the function of a flat ribbon cable. The conductor on the inside of each cable transfers high amounts of data and electricity in pulses. While these electrical pulses are often low voltage, they need to be contained within the cable to properly function and avoid loose electricity in the area surrounding the cable. The insulation in a flat ribbon cable keeps the electricity flowing through the conductor and allows the cable to transfer data and power correctly and safely.
During the design phase, you can choose from different insulators that will best suit the purpose of your cable solution. Getting the appropriate materials for the job is important with an important component like insulation.
UL-Certification is the gold standard within the cable industry. Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) has developed a multi-level certification standard by which cables are measured for quality and reliability. This rigorous certification means that the cables, components, and manufacturing processes are all of the highest ethical and industrial standards. In other words, a UL-Certified cable is one that has been built and tested to ensure that it meets qualification standards for safety, integrity, functionality, and reliability.
Meridian Cable is proud to say that we offer UL-Certified cable assemblies, wire harnesses, flat ribbon cable assemblies, and more. You can trust that when we make your cable solution, it will be crafted and vetted to the highest standards and most precise detail. With a UL certification, you can rest easy knowing that your cable solution is both capable and well-made.
Meridian Cable has multiple facilities where we manufacture our cable solutions. Over the course of several decades, we have grown our business to be a world leader in cable manufacturing. Between our first facility in Tanggu, China to our US-based facility in St. Augustine, Florida, we supply the world with custom cable assemblies and more.
In 1999, we had to make the difficult decision to close our facility in the United States. However, just a few years later, business was booming, and we were able to bring our manufacturing back to the USA. Now, in our 7,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility in Florida, we are able to provide jobs to our community in the areas of St. Augustine. With facilities literally around the world, we are able to deliver the perfect solution no matter where our clients need us.
When you purchase a custom cable solution, it likely represents a significant investment for your business. Meridian Cable stands behind every product we manufacture. Our in-house engineering team designs every cable to the most precise detail, so it is exactly what you need. Standing behind our work, we offer a complete, one-year warranty on the manufacturing and components.
When you choose Meridian Cable for your flat ribbon cable solutions, your investment is well-founded. We manufacture our cables to the highest standards and hold to rigorous, UL-Certified qualifications and several internationally-recognized certifications. If that were not enough, you can always trust in our several decades-worth of experience and our outstanding team of experts. We only hire the best of the best for engineering, manufacturing, and design. We take our business seriously and expect our products to be top-notch.
Certainly. As part of our stringent testing process, we can create a prototype to ensure that the solution works well for your equipment. This will give you a tangible representation of the design and the larger order that is yet to be produced.
With every one of the flat ribbon cable assemblies that we manufacture, we perform intense testing, reworking, and configuring. If there is an issue with the prototype, we can go back to the drawing board and redesign a viable solution. We do this to be certain that our cables are the ideal solution and will be precisely what your equipment needs.
Over the past several decades, we have become proficient at designing and producing our cable solutions. With our experience in the industry, we have developed intense testing procedures to guarantee the top-notch quality of our flat ribbon cable assemblies. Each cable we produce will undergo a myriad of stress tests, manufacturing inspections, and practical functionality tests to ensure that it is upheld to UL-Certified standards.
Even by the time the prototype is developed, our flat ribbon cable assemblies have been subjected to virtual testing to ensure it will function in simulations. This testing helps us ensure the design of your cable solution has the highest probability for success before we even start the physical manufacturing. We want to do everything we can to provide dependable cable solutions of the highest industry standards.
Because flat ribbon cables are often used in computers, their applications are virtually limitless. In our multiple decades of experience in the cable production industry, we have made flat ribbon cables for a range of businesses. We have created thousands of flat ribbon cables for the medical sector, military, telecommunications, and industrial production.
One of the beauties of flat ribbon cable assemblies is that they can be found anywhere in some capacity. Their flexible design makes them a valuable cable option for every industry imaginable.
Let Meridian Tailor Make a Flat Ribbon Cable Solution for You
Meridian Cable has been a leader in building custom cable solutions for decades and has the skills, experience, and quality you are looking for. Our team will work directly with you to build the perfect cable solution. Contact our team to get started today.