grayforge
Well Known Member
The typical method for connecting two DSub (DB9 here) connectors together is to use two #4 standoffs. You use a nut and a couple washers to secure them to one DB9 connector. You then screw the other DB9 backshell into the standoff.
You can see a standoff attached to one connector in this photo:
The connectors end up looking like this. The threads and nut of each standoff is inside the backshell on the left (some grinding of the backshell innards required).
Problem is, the other DB9 backshell is not secured to the assembly, so can wobble and strain the wires a bit. See the following video:
http://www.prettybits.com/video/DB9_Wobble.mp4
So I looked into some other solutions.
The first was to use elongated nuts from McMaster Carr that can be placed between the connectors and each backshell's screws can thread into each side of the nut. I did have to grind/shorten the backshell screws a bit to prevent them from butting up against each other in the nuts. This worked pretty well.
The elongated nuts:
Assembled:
Another option that I liked better was to simply use longer standoffs, also from McMaster. They call them Jack Screws. These go all the way through the DB9 backshells and get secured in place by washers and a nut. I put the standard washer under the jackscrew head to move it closer to the other backshell. Again, both backshells are secured firmly together.
Longer standoffs:
Assembled:
Installed on the copilot stick:
Am I overthinking this?
You can see a standoff attached to one connector in this photo:
The connectors end up looking like this. The threads and nut of each standoff is inside the backshell on the left (some grinding of the backshell innards required).
Problem is, the other DB9 backshell is not secured to the assembly, so can wobble and strain the wires a bit. See the following video:
http://www.prettybits.com/video/DB9_Wobble.mp4
So I looked into some other solutions.
The first was to use elongated nuts from McMaster Carr that can be placed between the connectors and each backshell's screws can thread into each side of the nut. I did have to grind/shorten the backshell screws a bit to prevent them from butting up against each other in the nuts. This worked pretty well.
The elongated nuts:
Assembled:
Another option that I liked better was to simply use longer standoffs, also from McMaster. They call them Jack Screws. These go all the way through the DB9 backshells and get secured in place by washers and a nut. I put the standard washer under the jackscrew head to move it closer to the other backshell. Again, both backshells are secured firmly together.
Longer standoffs:
Assembled:
Installed on the copilot stick:
Am I overthinking this?