LEMO is a brand name for very nice multipin connectors. You assemble them from a variety of different parts to get the pin configuration, cable termination, disconnect style, etc etc that you want. The problem is that there were, years ago when I looked it up, over 70,000 different possible versions of LEMO connector. I see the line has grown. In fact, their web site page for catalog dowloads offers 207 different versions of catalogs.
Woe is me. Again I find myself wishing to have one or two of these things to be compatible with fancy instrumentation that uses them. I mean, we have a big expensive lab instrument that connects to probes with a LEMO connector, and I want to be able to patch an alternative probe in, or connect something else to the probe. In the past it has taken hours to figure out what would be compatible with this one right here in my hand.
Is there some secret to this? Gray market agents who know the secret code perhaps?
Do you not have spec sheets for those lab equipment? Or do they just say “LEMO”?
Usually I look at distributers like Digikey and Mouser, their stock can be an indicator of how common that connector is (i.e. if it’s not in stock at Digikey, and you think you’re buying a widely used type, you probably didn’t select the correct one).
The connector body of what you have should be stamped with a code (e.g. FGG-1B or FGG.1b) which you should be able to match up to a mating connector.
on the other hand, if all you have is the equipment itself with a LEMO jack w/no visible markings, you might have to use the search filters at Digi-Key to narrow it down by # of pins and connector body size. I know B&K loves to use LEMO connectors on all their audio hardware.
Documents for the equipment I’m dealing with right now do not name the connectors. I’ve dealt with this at least a couple times before, and generally there’s not a LEMO part number in docs. It’s typical for instruments and probes that are designed to work together. Instruments for which the user supplies a probe typically include a single matching connector.
I have a lead on my current instrument situation. I’ve asked the instrument maker (who completely agrees with how difficult it is specifying the connector) to quote me on putting pigtail cables on some connectors for me. That way I don’t have to buy the special tool for crimping pins on the wires, and I don’t have to get good at assembling the connectors. In my experience you have to be better at cutting jackets, shields, insulations, and conductors with something like millimeter length precision than I will ever be, or else you’re going to sweat plenty and wind up with a lumpy cable that comes out of the strain relief at a funny angle – if you’re lucky enough not to have any conductor shorts to the body!
I might add that I’m not very dexterous. I can’t even terminate an Ethernet cable without having nearly an inch of wires exposed between the connector and the end of the jacket. I admire people who are good at this.
I’ve actually had to deal with this before and one does have to be careful on those part numbers as Leno has bunches of connectors and some are superseded… so… yeah, huge PITA. I ended up calling them and sending them pics of the connector in question so they could confirm the part number.
Also, one does need to know how to make a cables properly if there are many many pins to solder too. I think you can get crimps but then you’d need that particular tool.
Howeve, you say you aren’t the best at it so going the route of the pigtails isn’t a bad idea at all. Those connectors, albeit very nice, were expensive.