Tekdata Interconnections designs and manufactures cryogenic cable assemblies, wiring harnesses and cryogenic wiring for systems that operate from 300 Kelvin (26°C) down to 4 millikelvin (-273°C), and in vacuum environments up to ultra-high vacuum (UHV).

Our cryogenic assemblies are used in ground-based observatories, cryostats, cryogenic chambers, quantum computing, particle accelerators and space exploration systems. Each assembly is built to the customer’s specification, to AS9100D and, where required, to NASA requirements.

To support scientific research that can change how we explore, work, and live, our cryogenic division provides a consultation service from concept through production, helping engineers specify wiring, shielding, thermalisation, and connector interfaces before the design is fixed.

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Cryogenic cable types

We build cryogenic cables in the configuration the measurement needs:

• Single wires and individually shielded wires
• Twisted pairs, triples and quads
• Coaxial lines for high-frequency signal transmission
• Miniature shielded cables for compact instruments
• Woven cryogenic ribbon cables for high wire counts in limited space

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Cryogenic coaxial cable

For high-frequency signal transmission at cryogenic temperatures, we build coaxial lines as well as miniature shielded cables for compact scientific systems. Each design is built to keep data transfer clean and consistent under extreme cryogenic conditions.

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Cryogenic ribbon cable and woven assemblies

Our woven ribbon cables are lightweight, flexible and manufactured in a flat, compact format. We can weave wire as small as 0.1 mm in diameter, allowing us to build 100 wires (50 twisted pairs) into an assembly measuring just 66mm mm by 0.6 mm. This makes them well suited to high-density cryogenic instruments and satellite systems.

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Cryogenic wire materials

Wirematerial sets the balance between thermal conductivity, electrical resistance and mechanical strength at temperature. We select from a wide range ofcryogenic wire materials, including:

• Copper
• Manganin
• Cladded NbTi (niobium-titanium, superconducting)
• CuNi (copper-nickel)
• Phosphor bronze
• Stainless steel
• Beryllium copper
• Brass
• ALI30

We will advise on the material for each line in the harness,depending on its heat load and signal requirements.

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Shielding

Shielding terminations may need to separate 0 V returns, chassis grounds and Faraday shielding. For both circular and rectangular connectors, we provide 360-degree RFI/EMC shielding utilising epoxy backshells and alternate encapsulation materials.

Where the design allows, we can reduce pin count and therefore mass by introducing a busbar that brings individual grounds or return lines to a dedicated pin or the connector shell.

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Thermal management

Heat carried down the wiring affects the stability of every cryogenic system. We control it with:

• Copper heatsinks bonded to ribbon cable assemblies with thermal epoxy
• Thermalisation through epoxy backshells
• Connector flanges or braid straps tied to a heat stage ground plane

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Cryogenic connectors and feed throughs

We terminate cryogenic assemblies to both circular and rectangular connectors. Where space and mass matter, we can remove bulky feedthrough connectors altogether by sealing the ribbon cable directly into the feedthrough. This saves space, reduces weight, takes out a potential point of failure and reduces contact resistance for multiple connections.

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Vacuum compatibility

Where a cryogenic assembly also operates in vacuum, we use low off-gassing materials such as PEEK. For ultra-high vacuum and space environments, see our space cable assemblies and ULT encapsulation.

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