Favorite connector for I/O board

[nctnico]

I need some help on a decission...
I'm contemplating designing a programmable box or board which has 32 to 64 analog inputs and outputs for controlling test setups etc. So up to 128 connections have to be made. I'm not quite sure what kind of connector I should put on it. Sub-D, ribbon cable or screwless clamps are on the short list.

[minime72706]

Would you dedicate certain connectors for analog inputs and some for outputs or would this be configurable? Do you plan to drive much of any power through these connectors?

[casinada]

Do you need to be able to connect them at the same time or individually?
https://www.phoenixcontact.com/online/portal/us?1dmy&urile=wcm%3apath%3a/usen/web/main/products/subcategory_pages/PCB_terminal_blocks_P-20-04/662f4561-9547-4cf3-89a0-0044c5a658aa

They have Male female configurations that come really handy as you can see on the bottom of the page:
http://www.akshatautomation.com/phoenix_pcb_connectors.html

It was easier to find the connectors before.

I wish everybody had product finder like this:

https://www.mill-max.com/product_finder/1

[Niklas]

There are a few questions you have to ask yourself before selecting a connector:
- Is it a on time setup or reconfiguration on the fly?
Screw terminals might be easier than soldered wires to reconfigure

- Just one pcb to test or series production?
Series production must be faster to connect/disconnect

- How many cycles do you expect to connect/reconnect?
Connection quality degrades with each mating cycle.

- Signal integrity, need for a physical split up of different signals?
- Available space?
A larger connector is usually to connect

[nctnico]

The signals will be low frequency analog (-10V to +10V at a few mA tops). For now the spring clamp connectors seem a good option. I've used sub-D on an earlier 'version' and soldering the wires took quite some work.

The number of mating cycles depends on the application. I guess some boards will be used in a number of test setups and some will remain in one setup forever.

[marshallh]

pci-e x16 edge mount connector

[calexanian]

What kind of terminations or connections will you need to make on the DUT end?

[nctnico]

Most DUTs will have screw or spring loaded terminals. At least not some high pin count connector.