In the world of interconnection there are two very similar series of connectors with their own specification and standards and they are very similar in application and specification. This is the industrial and military specification connectors.
Recently there has been a drive in the MOD Industry to reduce costs while maintaining quality and the industrial connector market has been taking great advantage of this. So let’s take a closer look at the connector types and their differences.
First a history lesson. The Industrial and Mill Spec connector industries both grew with the desire to create uniformity and universal standards so that all manufactures agree on standards for universal mating, in other words, connectors from different brands will mate. Much like the Electrical Plug or USB Cable.
At this point you may be asking why don’t connector manufacturers get together and just make everything universal? One of the many answers is that traditionally they served separate markets and therefore what was suitable for industrial applications may not have suited military ones.
A great example of this would be the familiar Olive Drap plating on the Mill Spec connectors giving them the khaki green appearance. There are many different specifications around this that would not be applicable to industrial connectors.
A good illustration of where there are many similarities would be with the industrial M23 and the Mill Spec 26482 Specifications. Both connectors are manufactured from robust metal bodies and have multiple insert pin configurations and backshell options.
In many situations there are no specific reasons you cannot use either specification so long as they are appropriate for the end products use – then you can easily mix and match. With so much choice and pressure of costs industrial connectors are becoming more and more widely used and this trend is set to continue.
A Guide on Industrial v Mill Spec Connectors
In the world of interconnection there are two very similar series of connectors with their own specification and standards and they are very similar in application and specification. This is the industrial and military specification connectors.
Recently there has been a drive in the MOD Industry to reduce costs while maintaining quality and the industrial connector market has been taking great advantage of this. So let’s take a closer look at the connector types and their differences.
First a history lesson. The Industrial and Mill Spec connector industries both grew with the desire to create uniformity and universal standards so that all manufactures agree on standards for universal mating, in other words, connectors from different brands will mate. Much like the Electrical Plug or USB Cable.
At this point you may be asking why don’t connector manufacturers get together and just make everything universal? One of the many answers is that traditionally they served separate markets and therefore what was suitable for industrial applications may not have suited military ones.
A great example of this would be the familiar Olive Drap plating on the Mill Spec connectors giving them the khaki green appearance. There are many different specifications around this that would not be applicable to industrial connectors.
A good illustration of where there are many similarities would be with the industrial M23 and the Mill Spec 26482 Specifications. Both connectors are manufactured from robust metal bodies and have multiple insert pin configurations and backshell options.
In many situations there are no specific reasons you cannot use either specification so long as they are appropriate for the end products use – then you can easily mix and match. With so much choice and pressure of costs industrial connectors are becoming more and more widely used and this trend is set to continue.
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