Aviation plugs, commonly used in the shape of a circle, can also be called circular pin electrical connectors. General aviation plugs contain contacts for transmitting data and power.

The name of the aviation plug comes from the military aircraft manufacturing industry in the 1930s. The current application fields of aviation plugs are not only in military equipment and manufacturing, but also in medical equipment, automation, rail transportation and other operating environments where reliability is critical. Aviation plugs typically have plastic or metal shells surrounding the contacts that are embedded in insulating material to keep them aligned. These terminals are usually paired with cables, a construction that makes them particularly resistant to environmental interference and accidental decoupling.

Circular aviation plugs are available in a variety of contact sizes and shell sizes, with common diameters (M8/M5/M12). Connections to sensors and other precision, high-sensitivity devices are typical areas of application for smaller housing diameters; larger housing diameters are better suited for power transfer, such as in machinery.

Advantages and disadvantages of circular aviation plugs (compared to rectangular connectors) Advantages: Circular aviation plugs are ideal for applications that require electrical connectors with stronger terminals. Their cylindrical shape makes them particularly resistant to mechanical turbulence and shock damage. Disadvantages: The circular aviation plug surface area limits the arrangement of pins and sockets on the aviation plug surface; while the rectangular connector can fit more contacts with a larger and even spacing on a smaller surface area.

Our KM-25 CNC lathe can efficiently mass-produce contact pins for aviation plugs.