A pair of connectors are characterized by the following; a moving part, we call a "plug" and by a fixed part we call a “receptacle".  By “fixed”, we mean that it is fixed to a box, a wall, a bulkhead, etc.  The fastening system is generally integrated in the connector housing and serves several key functions. Perfectly suited to the customer interface, the mounting system helps ensure the electrical and mechanical functions in addition the ease of installation and perfect removeability.

• Mechanical fixing: Standard shapes (jam nut, square flange ...) and customizations to suit all mounting configurations.
• Sealing: The interface between the connector and the bulkhead is crucial to ensure the sealing levels required by the customer. We talk about sealing or hermeticity (IP **, 10^-4 10^-9).
• Mechanical stress: The connector is subject to various constraints, as in multidirectional stresses such as pulling, pushing, and rotating, typical of harsh environments.
• Electrical continuity: Ensure minimal resistance to minimize the voltage drop and being able to channel lightning currents.
• Shielding: Associated with electrical continuity, the Faraday cage helps to ensure immunity to electromagnetic interference.

The most common methods of attachment, is the square flange with four mounting holes. The receptacle may be mounted by the front or rear of the bulkhead according to the connection principle used. A connector equipped with PC tail contacts is usually mounted behind the bulkhead. Under these conditions, for a standard connector, the wall thickness shall not exceed the value allowed by the mating system conditions and thickness of the mounting screw heads. A connector equipped with crimp or solder contacts can be mounted from the front of the bulkhead with the connected inserted through the bulkhead opening. Sealing in this type of assembly is given by a square flat gasket, with precut center hole and four peripheral holes. Mastery of the gasket crushing is important and delicate for watertight sealing. The preference should be blind threaded holes for optimum sealing.

There is a variant with two fastening screws, in this case the flange is oval and the sealing gasket seal possess a suitable form. The interest is to benefit from a reduced size.

A second method for fixing a receptacle to a wall is the central nut with an O-ring for sealing, commonly referred to as a Jam Nut. In this case the installation can be done from the rear of the bulkhead. This type of installation is compatible with all contact types or termination types, with cables or PC tail. Sealing in this type of accommodation is perfectly controlled because the O-ring is placed in a groove on the flange of the receptacle and cannot be forced beyond a certain limit. This limit is the abutment of the flange on the back of the wall under the action of the front bulkhead nut. This principle is commonly used in hermetic connectors, ensuring superior sealing to 10 ^-7 atm/cm3 per second

Fixing by welding is a principle used primarily with hermetic connectors. Materials used for the manufacturing of hermetic receptacles is sometimes steel but more generally stainless steel. There are various welding techniques:  Tin soldering, TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding and electron beam welding. These principles allow a perfect seal between the collar and the bulkhead. The welding can be performed from the front or rear of the bulkhead. The shape of the collar is mainly circular.

The receptacle can also be fixed directly on the printed circuit board (PCB) and thus offers the advantage of a better electrical continuity (grounding) and a better mechanical stiffness resulting in reduced efforts on terminations. This makes the integration of equipment easy since the dimension of the connector can be adapted to the geometry of the equipment. This system is ideal in case of heavy mechanical stress.

More generally, we are able to provide a configuration of the fastening system that will meet the majority of customer specifications