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"Molex" usually refers to flat 4 pin AMP 1-480424-0 or Molex 8981-04P connectors(part number taken from random pdf on the Internet[1]). Confusing as it is... Ac

"Molex" usually refers to flat 4 pin AMP 1-480424-0 or Molex 8981-04P connectors(part number taken from random pdf on the Internet[1]). Confusing as it is... Actual Molex Mini-Fit are rarely colloquially referred to as Molex. 1: https://community.intel.com/cipcp26785/attachments/cipcp26785/intel-optane-ssd/2893/1/developer_specs_ATX12V_1_3dg.pdf https://community.intel.com/cipcp26785/attachments/cipcp2678...

ssl-3 1y ago
I've heard it argued that "Molex" means any extruded-pin connector. Like "Kleenex" means any facial tissue that is meant to be sneezed on. (Both uses are wrong, but both also tend to promote efficient communication.)
- SAI_Peregrinus 1y ago
  And "JST" is used for any small white plastic connector with one side open showing the pins. "DuPont" means "Amphenol Mini-PV" or "Harwin M-20" or any other Mini-PV clone.
- 0_____0 1y ago
  I work a lot with connectors and I'm not really sure what you mean by extruded pin connectors. Typically the terminals are formed from sheet, unless you're using fancy 38999-style pins, which I believe are machined (and very expensive).
  - ssl-3 1y ago
    I'm not sure what they meant, either. It's just a thing I've heard, verbatim. I think "extruded" in this context comes from CAD terms, wherein: One builds the 2D cross-section of whatever complexity is entailed, and then mashes the "Extrude" button to add a third dimension to the shape. I don't think the term, as-used, has anything at all to do with extrusion as a manufacturing process.
- msla 1y ago
  At a certain point, the genericized trademark is the correct term, like how aspirin is the correct term (only term, really) for a specific preparation of acetylsalicylic acid, even though it was a trademark of the Bayer corporation.
  - ssl-3 1y ago
    Yeah. The same thing also happened to heroin, which was also a trademark of Bayer. ;)
- hhh 1y ago
  I’ve seen Molex’s part catalogue, and would expect that almost any connector could be a molex part ;)
dcrazy 1y ago
Ah, so it does appear that Mate-n-Lok is a name that AMP/TE uses for some Molex-compatible products. For example, TE’s Micro Mate-n-Lok appears to be compatible with Molex’s Micro-Fit.

ssl-3 1y ago

I've heard it argued that "Molex" means any extruded-pin connector. Like "Kleenex" means any facial tissue that is meant to be sneezed on. (Both uses are wrong, but both also tend to promote efficient communication.)

SAI_Peregrinus 1y ago
And "JST" is used for any small white plastic connector with one side open showing the pins. "DuPont" means "Amphenol Mini-PV" or "Harwin M-20" or any other Mini-PV clone.
0_____0 1y ago
I work a lot with connectors and I'm not really sure what you mean by extruded pin connectors. Typically the terminals are formed from sheet, unless you're using fancy 38999-style pins, which I believe are machined (and very expensive).
- ssl-3 1y ago
  I'm not sure what they meant, either. It's just a thing I've heard, verbatim. I think "extruded" in this context comes from CAD terms, wherein: One builds the 2D cross-section of whatever complexity is entailed, and then mashes the "Extrude" button to add a third dimension to the shape. I don't think the term, as-used, has anything at all to do with extrusion as a manufacturing process.
msla 1y ago
At a certain point, the genericized trademark is the correct term, like how aspirin is the correct term (only term, really) for a specific preparation of acetylsalicylic acid, even though it was a trademark of the Bayer corporation.
- ssl-3 1y ago
  Yeah. The same thing also happened to heroin, which was also a trademark of Bayer. ;)
hhh 1y ago
I’ve seen Molex’s part catalogue, and would expect that almost any connector could be a molex part ;)

dcrazy 1y ago

Ah, so it does appear that Mate-n-Lok is a name that AMP/TE uses for some Molex-compatible products. For example, TE’s Micro Mate-n-Lok appears to be compatible with Molex’s Micro-Fit.