Twinax Cable

Twinax cable — 100 Ω differential, <3 ps/m skew, 42–44 AWG, ePTFE dielectric. For USB 3.2, HDMI 2.1, MIPI, LVDS in medical devices. Bandwidth >10 GHz. Available as individual pairs or multi-pair bundles.

Ultra-Fine Gauge × Ultra-High Core Density

ePTFE Low-Loss Dielectric Technology

Dual-Layer Shielding — Channel Isolation >40 dB

High-Flex — 1M Flex / 5M Torsion Cycles

ISO 9001 Certified · Fast Turnaround · Full Customization

Phase Matching ±1% — 100% TDR Verified

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Twinax (twinaxial) cable consists of two individually insulated conductors within a common shield — forming a balanced 100 Ω differential transmission line. This construction provides the controlled differential impedance and matched propagation delay (intra-pair skew < 3 ps/m) required by modern high-speed serial protocols: USB 3.2 (10 Gbps), HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps aggregate), MIPI D-PHY/C-PHY, LVDS, DisplayPort, and PCIe.

We manufacture micro twinax cable at 42–44 AWG with ePTFE dielectric, achieving bandwidth exceeding 10 GHz at cable OD from 0.7 mm. Available as individual twinax pairs, multi-pair twinax bundles, and hybrid assemblies combining twinax with single-ended coaxial and power conductors.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	42 AWG Twinax	44 AWG Twinax
Conductor diameter	0.064 mm × 2	0.051 mm × 2
Conductor material	Silver-plated CuAg	Silver-plated CuAg
Dielectric	ePTFE (Dk ≈ 1.45)	ePTFE (Dk ≈ 1.45)
Differential impedance	100 Ω ± 5 Ω	100 Ω ± 5 Ω
Single-ended impedance	~55 Ω (each conductor)	~55 Ω (each conductor)
Intra-pair skew	< 3 ps/m	< 3 ps/m
Cable OD	0.90 mm ± 0.03 mm	0.70 mm ± 0.03 mm
Shield	Foil 100% + Ag braid ≥ 85%	Foil 100% + Ag braid ≥ 82%
Insertion loss at 5 GHz	≤ 3.5 dB/m	≤ 4.2 dB/m
Insertion loss at 10 GHz	≤ 5.5 dB/m	≤ 6.8 dB/m
Crosstalk (inter-pair)	> 35 dB at 5 GHz	> 35 dB at 5 GHz
Flex life (7-strand)	> 300K cycles at 20 mm	> 300K cycles at 15 mm
Temperature	−40°C to +200°C (PFA)	−40°C to +200°C (PFA)

Protocol Compatibility

Protocol	Data Rate	Required Impedance	Required Skew	Our Twinax Support
USB 3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	90 Ω ± 7 Ω	< 15 ps/m	✓ 100 Ω, < 3 ps/m
USB4 / TB4	40 Gbps (2×20)	85 Ω ± 7 Ω	< 10 ps/m	✓ Tunable to 85 Ω
HDMI 2.1	48 Gbps (4×12)	100 Ω ± 10 Ω	< 10 ps/m	✓ 100 Ω, < 3 ps/m
DisplayPort 2.0	80 Gbps (4×20)	100 Ω ± 5 Ω	< 5 ps/m	✓ Precision grade available
MIPI D-PHY	2.5 Gbps/lane	100 Ω ± 10 Ω	< 20 ps/m	✓ Standard
MIPI C-PHY	2.5 Gsps/trio	Varies	< 10 ps/m	✓ Custom trio construction
LVDS	655 Mbps	100 Ω ± 10 Ω	< 50 ps/m	✓ Standard
PCIe Gen 4/5	16/32 GT/s	85 Ω ± 7 Ω	< 5 ps/m	✓ Tunable to 85 Ω

Our standard 100 Ω ± 5 Ω with < 3 ps/m skew meets or exceeds the requirements of all listed protocols. For protocols specifying 85 Ω (USB4, PCIe), we adjust the conductor spacing to achieve the target impedance.

Twinax vs. Single-Ended Coaxial — When to Choose Each

Factor	Twinax (Differential)	Single-Ended Coaxial
Signal type	Differential serial protocols	Analog, single-ended digital
Impedance	100 Ω differential	50 Ω single-ended
Common-mode rejection	> 30 dB (inherent to balanced)	None (unbalanced)
Bandwidth	> 10 GHz at 42 AWG	> 6 GHz at 42 AWG
EMI emission	Low (balanced currents cancel)	Higher (unbalanced)
Cable OD (42 AWG)	0.90 mm (pair)	0.48 mm (single)
Application examples	USB, HDMI, LVDS, PCIe	Ultrasound, RF, video (analog)

Use twinax for any differential serial protocol. Use single-ended coaxial for analog signals (ultrasound echo, RF) and single-ended digital (composite video, clock). Many hybrid assemblies combine both: twinax for data uplink + coaxial for imaging signals.

Application

Medical Device Internal Interconnect
High-speed data links within ultrasound consoles, endoscopy processors, patient monitors, and surgical navigation systems. Twinax provides controlled impedance and EMI compliance within device housings. Typical: 4–8 twinax pairs, 200–500 mm, I-PEX or HIROSE ZIF termination.

4K Endoscope Video Cable
MIPI CSI-2 or LVDS video from chip-on-tip CMOS sensor to video processor. Twinax at 44 AWG provides 100 Ω differential impedance in 0.70 mm OD per pair — fitting within endoscope insertion tubes alongside coaxial imaging channels.

Surgical Robot Data Links
High-speed data and control links between robotic arm joints and system controller. Twinax within hybrid counter-helical cables. USB 3.2 or custom LVDS protocols.

Industrial Machine Vision
Camera link cables for automated optical inspection. Twinax at 42 AWG for Camera Link, CoaXPress, or GigE Vision protocols at industrial temperature range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you supply multi-pair twinax bundles?

Yes. 2-pair to 16-pair bundles in round or ribbon configuration. Each pair individually shielded with overall bundle shield available. Inter-pair crosstalk > 35 dB at 5 GHz.

What is the difference between twinax and shielded twisted pair (STP)?

Twinax uses two parallel conductors within a common dielectric and shield — precisely controlling differential impedance through geometry. STP twists two insulated wires together — impedance depends on twist pitch and varies along the cable length. Twinax achieves tighter impedance tolerance (±5 Ω vs. ±10–15 Ω for STP) and lower skew (< 3 ps/m vs. 5–10 ps/m for STP).

Can twinax be phase-matched between pairs?

Yes. For Applications requiring matched propagation delay across multiple twinax pairs (e.g., parallel LVDS bus), we apply TDR-based pair matching to ±1.0% between pairs.

What connectors are compatible?

I-PEX CABLINE series (VS, CA II), HIROSE DF series, custom board-to-wire, SMP/SMPM push-on. For twinax-specific connectors: I-PEX offers MHF 7S (twinax) and Samtec offers SEAF/SEAM series.

Need twinax for USB 3.2, HDMI, or MIPI? Share protocol, pair count, cable length, and connector — quote within 48 hours.

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Applications

Ultrasound Probe & Transducer

Modern 3D ultrasound probes contain 128–512 piezoelectric elements requiring precisely matched electrical path lengths for accurate beamforming. Multi-core micro coaxial cable provides per-channel shielding with phase-matched construction, serving as the core interconnect for GE, Philips, Siemens, and Mindray platforms.

Medical Endoscope Camera

Endoscope insertion tubes of 2–4 mm diameter must transmit HD/4K video while enduring 1M+ flex cycles. Using 42–46 AWG stranded conductors, OD achieves as small as 1.2 mm, supporting HD-SDI and 4K LVDS signals while meeting ISO 10993 biocompatibility requirements.

Robotic Surgery Cable

Robotic surgery arms must carry imaging signals, electrosurgical RF power, motor drive currents, and fiber optic illumination through ±270° articulating joints — all within a single hybrid assembly. Micro coaxial elements serve as the signal core, qualified to 5 million torsional flex cycles.

NDT Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT / TOFD)

Weld inspection and corrosion mapping in petrochemical, nuclear, and aerospace industries use PAUT and TOFD — requiring 16–256 core, phase-matched ±1%, 50 Ω micro coaxial bundles with industrial PUR/FEP/PTFE jackets, compliant with ASME V and EN 583-2 standards.

MRI-Compatible Device Cables

The MRI bore presents three electromagnetic environments requiring all metals to pass ASTM F2503 ferromagnetic assessment. Non-magnetic silver-plated copper alloy conductors meet 1.5T/3T MRI safety requirements for MRI-guided interventions, coil connections, and CT detector array interconnects.

Semiconductor / Industrial Robotics / Aerospace

Semiconductor wafer AOI inspection, industrial robot joint routing, and aerospace sensor arrays all demand high-density, fine-gauge cables with tight impedance control and signal integrity — areas where micro coaxial cable delivers unmatched performance in high-frequency transmission, channel isolation, and compact construction.