Before building anything custom, we usually spend an hour or two figuring out whether the cable is actually custom — or whether it closely matches an existing standard with a small twist. 99% of “custom cable” projects end up being closer to a known protocol than the customer thinks. Identifying the match saves you cost, shortens timeline, and sometimes means the part already exists on our shelf. For the remaining 1% that genuinely is unique, we build from drawing, sample, or description. MOQ 100 sets, first samples in 7–10 days.

Discuss Your Custom Cable Project

Not Sure Which Cable You Need?

If you landed here searching “custom cable,” you’re probably in one of these situations:

  • You have an old cable that needs replacing — maybe the original supplier went out of business, the part went EOL, or you’re building a legacy product. Send us the sample.
  • You have a drawing but you’re not sure it’s complete — missing pin-out, unclear impedance, vague shield spec. Send what you have.
  • You know the endpoints but nothing in between — you know the camera module on one side and the processor on the other, but not the cable specification connecting them. Send the component datasheets.
  • You’re designing something new and need engineering help — no drawing exists yet, just a product concept. This moves toward our ODM services — we handle both.

In each case, the first step is the same: we identify whether your cable fits a standard protocol (most do) or genuinely requires a custom build.

Does Your Cable Match a Standard Protocol?

Before treating a job as “custom,” we check it against the cable types we build routinely. If it matches any of these, the production path is faster and cheaper than a true custom build:

  • LVDS cable — if the cable has differential pairs at 100 Ω impedance connecting to a display or imaging panel, it’s very likely LVDS. Check for I-PEX Cabline-CA or JAE FI-X connectors at either end.
  • eDP cable — similar construction to LVDS but higher lane speeds. Common in 4K laptops and gaming devices. If the panel is 4K and the interface supports variable refresh, eDP is likely.
  • Micro-coaxial cable — single-ended 50 Ω with ultra-fine coax (40–50 AWG), usually with MHF, U.FL, or MMCX-type connectors. Standard for WiFi antennas, GPS, and medical endoscope signals.
  • MIPI cable — mobile interface carrying CSI-2 camera data or DSI display data over D-PHY differential pairs. Common in smartphones, tablets, automotive ADAS cameras.
  • RF cable — standard-diameter coax (RG178, RG316, LMR series) with SMA, N-type, BNC, or similar connectors. Anything from antenna jumpers to base-station feed lines.
  • Medical cable — if biocompatibility, sterilization, or FDA documentation is involved, your “custom” cable is actually a medical cable with standard protocol signals inside.

If your project matches one of these, start from the specific page. If nothing fits, keep reading.

What Truly Custom Cables Look Like

About 1 in 10 “custom cable” inquiries we receive are genuinely non-standard. These projects typically fall into one of these patterns:

Hybrid cables mixing signal types. Power + data + RF all running through one cable assembly with different wire constructions bundled together. Robotics and medical instruments often need this. Each wire inside is “standard,” but the combined assembly isn’t something you’d find in a catalog.

Unusual connector combinations. A product that mates to I-PEX on one side and a custom 40-pin header on the other, or cross-combinations from multiple generations of design. Individually the connectors are standard — together they form a custom assembly.

Non-standard jacket materials. Chemically resistant jackets for specialty industrial equipment, UV-stable outer jackets for outdoor installations beyond standard IP-rated builds, bio-inert coatings for unusual medical contact applications.

Unique pin-out or breakout patterns. Cables that split one connector into multiple, merge several sources into one, or re-map pin positions between otherwise-standard connectors. Common in integration work where two systems designed separately need to connect.

Mechanical-priority designs. Very high-flex cables rated for 1 million+ cycles, ultra-short assemblies (under 20 mm), unusually long runs with maintained impedance, or cables that have to survive specific vibration, crush, or bend tests.

Proprietary protocols and specialty signaling. Internal interfaces defined by specific OEMs, signaling standards that never became industry-wide, or legacy protocols from products still in service.

Our Reverse Engineering Process

When a client sends us an old cable to reproduce, here’s what actually happens:

  1. Physical measurement. Overall length, connector pitch, pin count, wire gauge estimate, jacket material visual ID, shield construction. Takes 2–3 hours for a typical cable.
  2. Electrical characterization. Continuity mapping to confirm pin-out, impedance measurement if differential pairs are present, basic frequency response if RF signals are involved.
  3. Connector identification. Most connectors carry a manufacturer mark somewhere — I-PEX, JAE, KEL, Hirose, Molex. If unmarked, we cross-reference to known part numbers by dimensional match.
  4. Wire identification. Stripping back a sample to examine center conductor, insulation, shield, and jacket layers. We can tell the difference between twin-axial, micro-coax, and bundled discrete wire by inspection.
  5. Draft drawing. Working drawing generated from the measurements and ready for your engineering review.
  6. First sample build and verification. 5–10 pieces built from the draft drawing, tested side-by-side against the original sample, refined if needed.
  7. Production release. After you approve first samples, we proceed to production volume.

Typical turnaround from sample receipt to first production sample: 10–14 days. For connectors that have gone EOL, we add 1–2 weeks for cross-reference sourcing.

Why SZFRS for Custom Cable Work

Custom cable work depends on three things: protocol knowledge, connector library breadth, and patient engineering.

Protocol knowledge. Because we build cables across six major signal protocols daily, we recognize patterns other factories miss. That LVDS cable that looked “custom” might match a known I-PEX part number with a minor length change. Recognition saves cost.

Connector library. We stock I-PEX Cabline-CA/VS, JAE FI-X/FI-JH, Hirose DF40/U.FL, KEL USL, Molex MicroClasp, JST PH/XH/SH, and most common RF connector variants. Uncommon parts we source on 1–2 week lead times through authorized distribution.

Engineering time on sample review. Unlike factories that quote blindly from a drawing, we spend engineering time identifying issues before they hit production. See our capabilities page for equipment and engineering team details.

IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship. Class 2 default, Class 3 on request. Full documentation scope on our quality and certifications page.

Cross-reference expertise. For older designs where the original part has gone EOL, we maintain cross-reference data to current production parts. Usually we can match electrical and mechanical spec with a current-production connector.

How Custom Differs from Our OEM/ODM Work

Custom cable work sometimes overlaps with OEM or ODM services but the distinction matters for quoting:

  • Custom cable — you know what the cable should be or can provide a sample. We identify, reverse-engineer if needed, and build. The product is well-defined before build.
  • ODM services — the cable doesn’t exist yet. We help design from scratch based on your product requirements. Longer engineering phase, different pricing structure.
  • Custom manufacturing — includes related services like overmolding, box build, and kitting that go beyond the cable itself. See our custom manufacturing page for these.

Most projects span two or three of these. We scope and quote whichever combination applies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you need to quote a custom cable?

At minimum, one of: a drawing (PDF, DWG, or STEP), a physical sample, or the component datasheets for the endpoints you’re connecting. The more you send, the faster the quote. Quote turnaround 24–48 hours for well-defined jobs; 3–5 days if reverse engineering is needed.

Can you reproduce a cable when the original connector has gone EOL?

Usually yes. Most EOL connectors have direct or near-direct replacements in current production. We maintain cross-reference data for I-PEX, JAE, KEL, Hirose, Molex, and other major connector vendors. For genuinely discontinued parts with no replacement, we identify the closest alternative and flag any mechanical or electrical differences you should verify.

What’s the MOQ for custom cables?

100 sets for standard production. Prototype batches from 10 pieces with NRE cost for engineering and tooling. For very specialized builds (proprietary protocols, unusual materials), prototype MOQ may be higher depending on what’s needed to set up production.

Will you sign an NDA before I send my sample?

Yes, standard. Mutual NDA takes 24 hours. We protect customer samples, drawings, and proprietary information. Samples are not retained after project completion unless specifically requested.

Can you match a cable from a verbal description if I don’t have drawings or samples?

Maybe. This depends on how well-defined the endpoints and requirements are. If you know the camera or display model, the processor or board interface, and the approximate length, we can usually work backward to a specification. If the description is too vague, we’ll ask for additional information before quoting. This path typically moves into ODM territory.

How much does reverse engineering add to cost?

For simple cables, reverse engineering is included in the first-sample NRE with no separate charge. For complex multi-conductor assemblies or cables with difficult-to-identify shield construction, we may quote a separate engineering NRE upfront. Either way, you know the cost before work starts.

Do you ship custom cables internationally?

Yes. Europe, the US, India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East are regular destinations. FedEx, DHL, and UPS for samples and smaller orders; ocean freight for production volumes. DDP, DAP, or EXW terms per preference.

Related Cable Products and Services

If your project matches a standard protocol, start from the relevant specialized page for faster quoting:

Ready to Identify Your Cable?

Send us what you have — drawing, sample, datasheets, or just a description. We’ll come back within 24 hours with either a quick quote (if your project matches a standard protocol) or a reverse engineering scope (if it’s genuinely custom). Either way, no cost for the initial assessment.

Contact Us for Free Cable Assessment