Overview
- Initial business with Coherent started in January of 2009.
- Since 2009, ISC has collaborated with Coherent on 80 different renditions of products totaling over 40,000 units of high-end interconnect solutions
- Most of Coherent’s assemblies are what are referred to as “smart cables”. A smart cable integrates in a feature like a PCB which allows the cable to convert transmissions from one format to another.
- What makes these assemblies unique is that the PCBA is direct over-molded. Over-molding a PCBA such as an RS232 can be challenging with material shrinkage, proper pin placement, addressing sensitive components when exposed to heat and pressure and other standard criteria like cosmetics.
- ISC continues to be a key strategic supplier to provide expertise on the interconnect front of this growing business.
- Although there are challenges to direct over-molding PCBA’s there are several benefits to this value-added process.
- The over-mold protects the board and other sensitive components such as crystal clock oscillators from damage and failure.
- The over-mold provides strain relief to the assembly where the highest failure mode occurs when an assembly is used over time.
- The over-mold is customizable with logos that helps with brand recognition
- The over-mold can also aid in ingress protection and other environmental failures.
- Translucent material allows LED’s and other key components on boards to be seen
Challenge
Challenge was to direct over-mold onto PCB and maintain the performance integrity of sensitive components which can malfunction under heat and pressure during molding.
Solution
Build a smart cable with logo, strain relief, and integrating visual elements like LED to be seen through over-mold solution.
Outcome
Thousands of products put into the field helping to make Coherent an industry leader in the photonics industry.