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Sensor and instrumentation RF
Microdot connectors, adapters and sensor cable assemblies
RFShop supplies Microdot 10-32 and 12-32 RF connectors for compact sensor leads, vibration monitoring, acoustic emission and NDT probes, QCM/vacuum instrumentation and test equipment, plus Microdot adapters, cable parts and made-to-length assemblies where the standard options do not fit.
Important: similar small threaded sensor connectors are not always interchangeable. Check the thread size, plug or jack gender, cable type and termination style before ordering. If you are replacing an old sensor lead, photos and cable markings usually help more than a guess from the product title.
✓ Microdot 10-32 and 12-32 guidance
✓ Panel bulkhead and PCB jack options
✓ RG178 and RG316 cable families
✓ Adapters and custom sensor assemblies
Choosing the right Microdot connector
Microdot connector choice is usually set by the equipment or sensor you need to mate with. Start by confirming the thread family, then check whether you need a plug or jack, the cable size, and whether the connector is crimp, solder, bulkhead or PCB mount.
For sensor and instrumentation work, a correct mechanical fit matters as much as the electrical spec. A Microdot 10-32 part, a Microdot 12-32 part and a similar-looking miniature coax connector may all be different in practice.
Connector families and formats
The Microdot 10-32 range covers three mount types — cable-mount for crimping onto coax, panel-mount for chassis pass-through, and PCB-mount for direct board landing. Pick by where the connector lives mechanically, then refine by cable family for crimp parts. The 12-32 thread is a separate, much smaller family covered in the callout below.
Cable-mount 10-32
What it covers: plugs and a cable-mount jack crimped directly onto small coaxial cable, used for sensor leads, accelerometer pigtails, BNC-to-Microdot patch builds and extension cables.
RFShop range: 10-32 plug for the RG178 family (straight); 10-32 plugs for the RG316 family (straight and right-angle); 10-32 cable-mount jack for the RG316 family for extension leads.
Check before ordering: plug vs jack gender, cable family (small or mid), and straight vs right-angle exit at the connector.
Panel-mount 10-32
What it covers: round-body bulkhead jacks for chassis pass-through. Brass jam nut and washer behind the panel, silicone O-ring at the front face, hex flats for tightening.
RFShop range: solder-cup bulkhead jack (rear cup takes a flying-wire pigtail) and RG316-family cable-crimp bulkhead jack (rear accepts a direct cable termination, keeping the coax shield continuous through the panel).
Check before ordering: whether the cable continues through the panel uninterrupted (cable-crimp variant) or terminates as a pigtail behind it (solder-cup variant). Full mechanical detail in the panel and PCB jacks section below.
PCB-mount 10-32
What it covers: a square-body jack that anchors onto a printed circuit board with four corner solder legs and a centre signal pin, with the threaded mating face protruding through a chassis cutout for the customer’s cable.
RFShop range: SQ6×6 PCB jack — the only PCB-mount Microdot variant in stock.
Check before ordering: PCB hole pattern (5.08 × 5.08 mm leg spacing) and PCB-to-panel offset so the threaded face aligns with the chassis cutout. Full hole pattern and pin sizes in the panel and PCB jacks section below.
Microdot 12-32: the 12-32 thread is a separate, much less common Microdot family. RFShop stocks one 12-32 variant — a plug for RG316-family cable — for equipment that specifically calls for the larger thread. 12-32 and 10-32 look similar at a glance but are not interchangeable; confirm the thread before ordering a replacement.
Where Microdot connectors are used
Microdot parts are usually bought for sensor and instrumentation applications rather than general RF interconnects. The most common routes are small 10-32 plugs and jacks for accelerometer-style leads, PCB and bulkhead jacks for instrument front panels, and BNC-to-Microdot cables for connecting sensors into test equipment.
| Application area | Typical connection | RFShop route to check | Selection notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vibration and condition monitoring | Accelerometer or vibration sensor to analyser, data acquisition unit, charge amplifier or IEPE signal conditioner. | 10-32 Microdot plugs, Microdot-to-Microdot leads, BNC-to-Microdot cable assemblies and right-angle Microdot options for tight sensor locations. | Confirm whether the sensor has top or side entry, whether the instrument end is BNC, and how flexible the cable run needs to be. |
| NDT and acoustic emission | Ultrasonic, acoustic emission or compact inspection probe to portable instrument, preamplifier or test receiver. | Microdot cable plugs, Microdot-to-Microdot leads, BNC-to-Microdot leads and custom assemblies from a probe model, drawing or sample cable. | Check straight vs right-angle Microdot, cable length, jacket type and the exact connector fitted to the probe before treating parts as interchangeable. |
| OEM sensor electronics and input panels | Panel or PCB-mounted Microdot jack feeding a board-mounted amplifier, signal conditioner or sensor interface module. | Panel bulkhead jacks (solder-cup or RG316-family cable crimp), square-body SQ6×6 PCB jacks, cable-mount jacks and bulkhead Microdot adapters. | Design the panel cutout, PCB hole pattern and panel-to-board spacing together; the mechanical fit is often the limiting factor. |
| Vacuum, thin-film and QCM monitoring | Crystal sensor, feedthrough or in-vacuum lead connected back to a monitor, oscillator or controller. | Custom Microdot leads and replacement-style assemblies quoted from an old lead, datasheet, drawing or equipment model. | Confirm the process environment, temperature and material requirements separately; connector fit alone does not prove vacuum or process suitability. |
| University, motorsport and R&D test rigs | One-off sensor leads, replacement cables, short bench leads and instrument breakout cables. | BNC-to-Microdot assemblies, Microdot plug/jack leads, adapters and custom made-to-length builds. | Send photos of the old lead, the sensor model, the cable marking and the required length so the connector gender and thread can be checked before quoting. |
Common Microdot cable configurations
Many Microdot enquiries are for a complete lead rather than a loose connector. These are the common RFShop routes to check first, including the BNC-to-Microdot cables used to connect sensor leads into oscilloscopes, analysers, charge amplifiers and general test equipment.
| Configuration | Common cable | Typical RFShop routes | Best for | Check before ordering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microdot plug to Microdot plug | RG316 or RG174 | MD30MD30 assemblies, commonly stocked in short bench/sensor lengths such as 350 mm, 400 mm, 500 mm, 750 mm, 1 m, 1.5 m, 2 m and 3 m depending on cable type. | Like-for-like sensor leads where both ends need a 10-32 Microdot plug. | Confirm straight vs right-angle connector, cable type and required length. |
| Microdot plug to Microdot jack | RG316 | MD30MD80 extension-style assemblies. | Extending or adapting an existing Microdot sensor lead while keeping the same 10-32 interface family. | Check plug/jack orientation carefully; gender names refer to centre contact. |
| BNC plug to Microdot plug | RG316 | B30MD30-316 routes, including 600 mm, 1.5 m and 3 m catalogue examples. | Connecting Microdot sensor interfaces to BNC inputs on lab instruments, oscilloscopes, analysers and signal conditioners. | Confirm the instrument side is BNC plug-compatible and the sensor side needs a Microdot plug. |
| BNC plug to Microdot plug | RG174 | B30MD30-174 routes, including 1.5 m and 7 m catalogue examples. | Flexible BNC-to-Microdot sensor leads where a lighter RG174 cable is preferred. | RG174 is more flexible but has different handling and loss characteristics from RG316. |
| BNC plug to right-angle Microdot plug | RG174 | B30MD39-174 routes, including 2 m and 5 m catalogue examples. | Sensor installations where a straight Microdot connector would project too far or add strain at the sensor. | Check whether the Microdot end needs right-angle exit and whether the cable route has enough clearance. |
If the exact connector pair or length is not listed, RFShop can build custom Microdot and BNC-to-Microdot assemblies from a drawing, sample lead, BOM or equipment details.
Common RFShop Microdot product routes
Use these routes when you already know whether you need loose connectors, a finished lead, an adapter or a custom sensor cable. If the connector is being matched to an old accelerometer or probe, check the thread and plug/jack gender before treating any part as equivalent.
Microdot connectors
Browse 10-32 Microdot plugs (straight and right-angle), cable jack, panel bulkhead jacks (solder-cup and cable-crimp variants) and SQ6×6 PCB jack. The 12-32 range comprises a single plug for RG316-family cable.
View 10-32 Microdot connectors
View 12-32 Microdot connectors
Microdot cable assemblies
Standard Microdot cable assemblies are available in common lengths and cable types for sensor, accelerometer, vibration monitoring and test equipment connections.
Microdot adapters
BNC-to-Microdot adapters in both directions, plus a Microdot jack-to-jack panel bulkhead feedthrough for passing MD-terminated cables through a chassis.
Custom Microdot builds
For non-standard lengths, connector pairs, cable types or replacement sensor leads, RFShop can quote from a drawing, BOM, old part number or photos.
Microdot 10-32 panel and PCB jacks
RFShop stocks three chassis-mounted Microdot 10-32 jack form factors. All use #10-32 UNF threads, a silicone O-ring at the panel face, and gold-plated brass bodies with gold-plated BeCu centre contacts and PTFE dielectric. The difference is what happens behind the panel. The round-body solder-cup bulkhead secures through a panel hole with a brass jam nut and washer, and terminates in a solder cup for a flying-wire pigtail. The round-body cable-crimp bulkhead mounts the same way but accepts a direct RG316-family cable crimp at the rear, keeping the coax continuous through the chassis. The square-body SQ6×6 anchors directly onto a PCB with four corner solder legs, and its threaded face protrudes upward through a panel cutout for the cable.
(Cable plugs — RG178-family and RG316-family crimp variants — are covered separately in the Cable choice section below.)
Panel Bulkhead Jack with Solder Cup (round body)
What it is: a round-body Microdot 10-32 jack (female socket) with #10-32 UNF-2A thread on the mating face, HEX 6.35 mm wrench flats, silicone O-ring sealing at the panel face, and a brass jam nut and washer for chassis mounting. Behind the panel, the rear post terminates in a solder cup that accepts a flying wire — typically the centre conductor of small coax for a pigtail back to a PCB, another connector or a terminal block elsewhere in the chassis.
Best for: panel pass-through where the chassis cutout doesn’t sit directly above the board-mounted amplifier or signal conditioner. Sensor junction boxes, panel-mount interface adapters, repair builds and retrofits where the destination point is on a different plane or wouldn’t accept a direct PCB jack.
Why this variant: decouples the panel-mount location from the on-board landing point. Run a short pigtail of small or mid-family coax between the bulkhead cup and wherever the signal needs to go. The solder cup is field-serviceable — re-strip and re-solder without replacing the connector.
Watch out: drill the panel for a #10-32 thread clearance hole (typically ⌀5.0 mm). Maximum panel thickness is set by the 6.20 mm thread length minus the brass jam nut and washer. Use the HEX 6.35 mm wrench flats on the front to hold the body steady while tightening the jam nut on the back, otherwise the cup orientation can rotate during install. The solder cup is sized for the centre conductor only (1.50 mm bore) — the coax shield needs its own termination, normally grounded to the chassis through the bulkhead body. Strain-relief the pigtail at the panel side; the cup is not designed to carry cable load.
Panel Bulkhead Jack with RG316 Cable Crimp (round body)
What it is: a round-body Microdot 10-32 jack (female socket) with #10-32 UNF-2A thread on the mating face, silicone O-ring at the panel face, and a brass jam nut and washer for chassis mounting. Behind the panel, the rear of the body accepts a direct cable crimp sized for the RG316-family OD class — RG316, RG174 or CLF100 terminate straight into the connector with no pigtail and no separate solder operation.
Best for: chassis pass-throughs where a continuous coax run is preferred over a flying-wire pigtail. Sensor breakout panels, instrument back-panel inlets, repair builds replacing a one-piece panel-mount lead, and any installation where a tidier behind-the-panel layout matters or signal integrity across the panel needs the shield to stay continuous.
Why this variant: keeps the cable shield continuous through the panel because the braid is crimped to the connector body rather than terminated separately at the chassis. One part replaces a solder-cup bulkhead plus pigtail plus second connector — fewer joints, fewer assembly steps.
Watch out: drill the panel for a #10-32 thread clearance hole (typically ⌀5.0 mm) and allow space behind the panel for the jam nut plus the cable bend at the crimp. The crimp is sized for RG316-family cable only — it will not accommodate RG178-family cables (RG178/179/188).
PCB Jack — Square Body (SQ6×6)
What it is: a square 6×6 mm Microdot 10-32 jack with four corner solder legs anchoring the body directly to the PCB, plus a centre signal pin landing in a board through-hole. The threaded mating face (#10-32 UNF-2A, with silicone O-ring) protrudes upward through a panel cutout for the customer’s cable. No jam nut required — the four legs do the mechanical work.
Best for: instrumentation modules where the connector lives directly on the PCB and the threaded face needs to align with a chassis cutout. Charge amplifier inputs and IEPE signal conditioners for piezoelectric accelerometers, vibration analyser front-end input cards, acoustic emission (AE) receiver boards, NDT receivers, modular sensor electronics, and replacement boards for older accelerometer instrumentation.
Recommended PCB hole pattern: ⌀1.10 mm centre signal hole and four ⌀1.60 mm leg holes on a 5.08 × 5.08 mm centre-to-centre pattern. Leg diameter is 1.40 mm; centre pin diameter is 0.90 mm.
Watch out: the threaded-face position is fixed by the body height (14.60 mm total), so PCB-to-panel offset has to be designed in — get this wrong and the threaded face either sits below the panel or stands proud.
Need a datasheet? RFShop UK-branded Microdot connectors come with full datasheets — most are not published on the website. Send us the part number or product page link and we’ll email the datasheet straight back.
Cable choice for Microdot sensor leads
Microdot cable plugs and jacks are crimped onto small coaxial cables, so the connector must match the cable’s outside diameter class. RFShop groups the common options into two families — the same Microdot crimp variant covers every cable in each family, so you choose by size class rather than by individual cable code.
Small cable family — RG178 / RG179 / RG188
Best for: very small, flexible sensor leads where cable diameter and routing space matter — accelerometer pigtails, tight cable runs, lightweight instrumentation harnesses.
RFShop crimp: the 10-32 Microdot plug for RG178 is the small-family crimp variant. Its ferrule and centre-pin hole are sized for cables in this OD class, so it fits RG178, RG179 and RG188 cables interchangeably.
Watch out: “small family” is defined by cable OD and braid construction, not by impedance alone. Do not assume larger or differently shielded cables will fit this crimp simply because the impedance matches.
Mid cable family — RG316 / RG174 / CLF100
Best for: compact instrumentation leads with more mechanical substance than the small-cable family — bench leads, sensor extension cables, and runs where signal integrity becomes an issue. CLF100 is the low-loss option in this size class for longer routes.
RFShop crimps: 10-32 Microdot plug for RG316 (straight and right-angle), 10-32 Microdot jack for RG316 (cable-mount for extension leads), 10-32 Microdot bulkhead jack for RG316 (panel-mount with crimp termination), and 12-32 Microdot plug for RG316. All fit RG316, RG174 and CLF100 cables — the family is set by OD class, not cable code.
Watch out: CLF100 is a low-loss alternative within the same size class, not a different impedance or shielding class. RG174 is more flexible than RG316 but has different loss characteristics — choose the cable to suit the run, not just the connector.
What to send us for fast Microdot identification
- Connector thread if known: 10-32, 12-32 or unknown.
- Photos of the mating face, side profile, rear termination and any panel mounting.
- Cable marking or measured cable outside diameter.
- Sensor, probe or instrument model number.
- Whether you need loose connectors, a repair part or a finished cable assembly.
- Required length and quantity for finished leads.
Microdot connector FAQs
What are Microdot 10-32 connectors used for?
Microdot 10-32 connectors are commonly used on accelerometers, vibration sensors, acoustic sensors, NDT probes and compact instrumentation leads where a small threaded coaxial interface is needed.
What applications commonly use Microdot connectors and cables?
Common applications include vibration and IEPE accelerometer leads, NDT and acoustic emission probes, sensor interface boards, vacuum or QCM monitoring cables and R&D test rigs where a small threaded coaxial connection is needed.
Are Microdot 10-32 and 12-32 connectors interchangeable?
No. Microdot 10-32 and 12-32 connectors use different thread sizes and should not be treated as interchangeable. Check the mating connector, equipment manual or old lead before ordering.
Which cable is used with Microdot connectors?
RFShop groups the common cables into two size families. The small-cable family (RG178, RG179, RG188) shares a single Microdot crimp variant for compact, flexible sensor leads. The mid-cable family (RG316, RG174, CLF100 low-loss) shares another Microdot crimp variant for bench leads, extension cables and longer instrumentation runs. Choose the family by cable OD class — the connector is the same within each family.
Does RFShop supply Microdot adapters and cable assemblies?
Yes. RFShop supplies Microdot connectors, Microdot adapters, standard Microdot cable assemblies and custom Microdot sensor leads. For custom builds, provide the connector type, cable type, length and mating equipment details where possible.
What Microdot cable configurations are commonly available?
Common RFShop Microdot cable configurations include Microdot plug to Microdot plug assemblies on RG316 or RG174, Microdot plug to jack extension leads on RG316, BNC plug to Microdot plug assemblies on RG316 or RG174, and BNC plug to right-angle Microdot plug assemblies on RG174. Custom lengths and connector combinations can be quoted.
What is the difference between Microdot plug and jack?
On RFShop product pages, plug means the male centre contact and jack means the female socket. For sensor leads, the correct gender depends on the mating connector fitted to the equipment or transducer.
Can RFShop help identify an old Microdot sensor lead?
Yes. Send photos of the connector front, thread, rear termination, cable marking and the sensor or instrument model if available. RFShop can help narrow down whether it is likely to be 10-32, 12-32 or another small coaxial interface.