Visual Inspection; Look For Obvious Defects And Damage First; Inspect The Mating Plane Surfaces - Agilent Technologies 85091C Reference Manual

Visual Inspection

Visual inspection and, if necessary, cleaning should be done every time a connection is
made. Metal particles from the connector threads may fall into the connector when it is
disconnected.
Devices with damaged connectors should immediately be discarded or clearly
CAUTION
marked and set aside for repair. A damaged device will in turn damage any
good connector to which it is attached. Try to determine the cause of the
damage before connecting a new, undamaged connector in the same
configuration.
In some cases, magnification is necessary to see damage on a connector. Not all defects that
are visible only under magnification will affect the electrical performance of the connector.
Use the following guidelines when evaluating the integrity of a connector.

Look for Obvious Defects and Damage First

Examine the connectors first for obvious defects and damage: badly worn plating on the
connector interface, deformed threads, or bent, broken, or misaligned center conductors.
What Causes Connector Wear?
Connector wear is caused by connecting and disconnecting the devices. The more use the
device gets, the faster it wears and degrades. The wear is greatly accelerated when
connectors are not kept clean, or are not properly connected. This is especially true with
electrically characterized devices such as ECal modules. ECal modules should have a long
life if their use is on the order of a few times per week.
The test port connectors on the network analyzer may have many connections each day,
and are therefore more subject to wear. It is recommended that an adapter be used as a
test port saver to minimize the wear on the connectors. Replace devices with worn
connectors.

Inspect the Mating Plane Surfaces

Uniform contact between the connectors at all points on their mating plane surfaces is
required for a good connection. See
surfaces. Look especially for deep scratches or dents, and for dirt and metal particles on
the connector mating plane surfaces. Also look for signs of damage due to excessive or
uneven wear or misalignment.
Chapter 4
Figure 4-2 for an example of locations of mating plane
Use, Maintenance, and Care of the Devices
Visual Inspection
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