Name good companies that make custom cables

[dullard]

I'm looking for a good company that has fast turnaround to make me some custom cables. I need a company that would let me specifiy the end of each cable and how each pin connects on each end (i.e. pin 1 on one end connects to pin 50 on the other end). A google search gives hundreds of places I've never heard of (so I don't know anything of quality, price, or turnaround time). So I want to know if there are companies you have used and what your experience was.

 

[buleyb]

any specific type of cable you are going for? I know of a few companies we've used for custom networking or custom scsi cables, and I know a few others that do serial, ribbon, and even custom connectors...I'll have to dig around for names, but toss me some more specifics

 

[dullard]

I want to connect this (pin layout on page 2 of that pdf) to this (pin layout on page 4).

The company that makes those boards does have the connecting cables but they are very expensive and very bulky. To connect them requires 3 cables each 1-2 meters long and two circuit boards. This has a total price of $296 + shipping. It requires a space that is 4"x8"x2" in my machine (which needs to be small to be portable). And they have a minimum 3 week delay for all orders.

If I could get a custom cable made, it will save lots of space. And I think if I order enough cables the price will hopefully be less than $296 per cable.

Edit: I think the links are working now.

 

[buleyb]

I'm pretty sure the one we used before was CablesToGo.com

Custom Page Link

you're pin-outs should be good for them, and they can confirm the connector type for you.

 

[CraigRT]

I've had a few cables made up from Startech.com

mind you, that was a while ago.. not sure if they still do that.

 

[dullard]

Were both of you satisfied with the cable quality and the service?

 

[buleyb]

We got some custom length ribbon cables if I remember correctly, they were good. Nothing memorable about the service, so I would say it wasn't anything amazing, nothing worth bitching about

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: buleyb
We got some custom length ribbon cables if I remember correctly, they were good. Nothing memorable about the service, so I would say it wasn't anything amazing, nothing worth bitching about

That sucks for the companies... How do you get customers to remember the companies that did everything so perfectly that you didn't think about the deal at all afterwards. It's only the sucky ones you really remember.

Do you have a link to those $296 connector systems?

 

[alkemyst]

custom cables are expensive mostly due to the molded cable ends if proprietary.

the second aspect is to PC rapists just charging high because the uneducated will pay $50 for a $2 cable.

I had luck with SCSI from sidewinder.com...very cheap and high quality. The only thing I'd change is the 50 pin cable I bought, I'd put the cable to host end on backwards from what they did...but everyone's pc varies.

Technically in reality any cable end you can buy the pins and then take a old end and plastic (or wood even) and sand it down to fit and then take a drill press and the old connector and drill it out (it's a little more complicated than that but that's the idea).

I do a lot of custom fabrication and I can tell you the first batch of up to 100 kills the deal if that's all that's will be sold. However if you know more will be sold the price usually drops to 50% or less depending on set up costs.

I hate buying cables....it's either too expensive or the quality is crap....sidewinder was a good deal, I was impressed.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Do you have a link to those $296 connector systems?

Lets see what I can do.

CAB-1284CC-2 IEEE 1284CC Shielded Cable, 2m (no picture, but text is on page 4). This is the first cable which connects to the PCI card in the computer. Their Nov 2002 price schedule says it is $53 (sorry not online, but you could use their online quote system to verify all this info).

The CAB-1284 cable connects to the STA-3108-D1 board (picture and text on page 2 of the link above). This board at least for me will only be used to connect two cables together. It is simply a few traces on a PCB to connect the two headers. It has a useless screw terminal block on it as well (useless since the computer doesn't put out enough current, so we need to use a relay board - which is one of the boards I linked in my second post). Nov. 2002 price is $101.

ADP-5037. Page 2 shows a diagram of the whole connection (middle picture). The ADP-5037 consists of two cables and a PCB connecting the cables (this time the PCB does absolutely nothing but connect the two headers). Bascally for one low price of $142 you get all three things. Note the picture on Page 2 shows a C-1800 cable, this is one of the cables included in the ADP-5037 package.

 

[DurocShark]

That is insane! There's nothing but connectivity there!! You're paying for a kludge. Grrrr...

Definitely bypass that crapola and get custom cables. Even if you had to pay $100 a pop (and you won't) it will save you a bagfull of money.

I hate when companies do that kind of crap. There's obviously a market for that cable, since they make those boards, so I can't believe nobody has come out with an inexpensive cable to replace it.

Good luck!