Connector Design
The SMA connector consists of a 1/4"-36 thread. The male is equipped with a 0.312" (5/16") hex nut.
In SMA and RP-SMA connectors, the terms "male" and "female" refer exclusively to the male center pin and its female sleeve counterpart rather than to the threads that are used to hold the connection in place. The male connector has inside threads while the female connector has outside threads.
The SMA connector uses a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) dielectric which will contact along the mating plane. Variability in the construction and the mating of the connectors limit the repeatability of the connector impedance. For that reason, an SMA connector is not a good choice for metrological applications.
SMA connectors are rated for 500 mating cycles, but to achieve this it is necessary to properly torque the connector when making the connection. A 5/16 inch torque wrench is required for this, set to 3–5 in·lbf (0.3 to 0.6 N·m) for brass, and 7–10 in·lbf (0.8 to 1.1 N·m) for stainless steel connectors. Flats are sometimes also provided on the cable side of the connector assembly so that a second wrench can be used to prevent it from rotating and damaging the joint to the cable. It is also advisable to clean out loose debris from the internal surfaces with compressed air or a gas duster can before mating.
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