# Cabling the Backplane

- Show: [Oxide and Friends](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends)
- Published: 2023-04-04
- Length: 1h 00m
- Episode: 10
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-04-04-cabling-the-backplane
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/7258e2b5

## Summary

Doug Wibben of Benchmark and Robert Keith of Oxide Computer Company explain the mechanical design of the Oxide rack's cabled backplane, which enables 'blind-mated' server sleds without user-visible cabling. They detail the engineering challenges of aligning sheet metal tolerances, preventing bent pins through rigid steel guide pins, and managing the insertion force of high-density Xmax connectors. The team also describes the development of custom 'squid cables' and the collaborative debugging process with Samtech to resolve signal loss and assembly damage issues.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-04-04-cabling-the-backplane#t=0) Introduction: Doug Wibben and the Blind-Mate Concept
- [4:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-04-04-cabling-the-backplane#t=255) Mechanical Tolerance Analysis and Sheet Metal Precision
- [6:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-04-04-cabling-the-backplane#t=409) Preventing Bent Pins with Steel Guide Pins
- [12:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-04-04-cabling-the-backplane#t=734) Connector Gather and Floating Interconnect Design
- [21:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-04-04-cabling-the-backplane#t=1262) Partnering with Samtech for Custom Cables
- [26:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-04-04-cabling-the-backplane#t=1564) Designing the 'Squid Cable' System
- [34:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-04-04-cabling-the-backplane#t=2092) Debugging Signal Loss and the 'Spaghetti' Backplane
- [44:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-04-04-cabling-the-backplane#t=2652) 3D Printed Fixtures and Assembly Error Proofing

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Benchmark (company)
- Oxide Computer Company (company)
- Samtech (company)
- Amphenol (company)
- Xmax (product)
- Gimlet (product)
- Squid Cable (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Spark Gap - Episode 40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-10-03-the-spark-gap-episode-40) (The Spark Gap)
- [494: All Tech Is Wearable](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-02-07-494-all-tech-is-wearable) (Embedded.fm)
- [486: If I Had $300, I Could Do That Too](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-06-16-486-if-i-had-300-i-could-do-that-too) (Making It)
- [44: A Good Two Weeks of Stress](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-11-21-44-a-good-two-weeks-of-stress) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Thermal Reliability and Beyond: A Glimpse into the Future of Tech with Indium Corporation's Chris Nash](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-01-18-thermal-reliability-and-beyond-a-glimpse-into-the-future-of-tech-with-indium-cor) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-04-04-cabling-the-backplane. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Oxide and Friends.