Q5D and Kyocera extend custom IDC collaboration

The two companies are now jointly developing custom IDC connectors optimised for termination by Q5D’s robotic wiring platforms.

Q5D’s five‑axis manufacturing robots automate one of industry’s most stubborn bottlenecks: manual wiring harness assembly in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, white goods and industrial equipment.

Unlike conventional crimp contacts that usually require hand tools, IDC contacts can be fixed to a surface and terminated from one side, making them ideal for robotic processes that lay in the wire, hold it with simple traps and then press down to complete the connection.

Over the past three years, Q5D and KYOCERA AVX have carried out numerous joint test programmes using established IDC product families with customer‑specified wires. These evaluations span typical harness conductors from around 12 to 32 AWG and current levels from small‑signal through to approximately 20 A, with a focus on reliable cold‑weld terminations and robust performance under shock and vibration.

“IDC technology is ideal for automation because we can place the wire across a fixed contact and use the robot to press it into a controlled, repeatable termination,” said Chris Elsworthy, Chief Technology Officer at Q5D. “Working closely with KYOCERA AVX has given us the confidence to move from standard parts toward custom IDC designs that make fully automated harness assembly even more attractive to our customers.”

James Webb, Kyocera AVX’s Field Applications Manager, adds, “The custom IDC concepts under development are modular and can be arranged side‑by‑side, allowing designers to scale contact count and layout for each application while minimising material use and overall system cost.”

Once finalised and qualified with early adopters, Q5D and KYOCERA AVX expect the technology to help establish repeatable, industry‑standard approaches to automated harness manufacture across multiple industry sectors.

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