In Part 1 of this blog, I introduced you to Mr. Phil Eckert, Samtec's Quality Engineering Manager. Phil shared seven tips to help designers select the right connector system for their application, and to generally make your life easier. Today, in Part 2, Phil gives us eight more tips to help you choose the right connector system for your design. 1. Flux: Unspent flux is problematic in connectors from both a mechanical interference and a corrosive nature. Ultimately this can result in … [Read more...]
Selecting the Right Connector, Part 1
Inventing the light bulb, phonograph, motion picture technologies, film, the mimeograph, and holding a record 1,093 patents is impressive. But, I bet Thomas Edison never had the truly difficult job of selecting the right connector system for his printed circuit boards (PCB), nor did he have to work with process or quality engineers to make sure said connector systems were designed-for-manufacturability. That's where Phil Eckert comes in. Phil is Samtec’s Customer Quality Engineering Manager … [Read more...]
Challenges Of Aligning Multiple Connector Sets
Increased density, shrinking footprints, higher data rates, and thermal management are but a few of the challenges affecting the design and fabrication of printed circuit boards (PCBs) in today’s electronic systems. And did I mention cost? An important, although sometimes overlooked consideration, is these increasingly sophisticated PCBs often require more complex connector systems. Most of the aforementioned design factors also affect connector design and performance, including smaller … [Read more...]
Understanding IPC Class 2 vs Class 3 for a Gull Wing Lead
IPC-A-610 covers a wide range of solder joints, and what it takes to meet Classes 1 - 3 in varying types of connector termination styles. These classifications help a designer determine if a connector is capable of being used in their application. In a previous blog, I discussed IPC Class 2 vs Class 3 solder joints for J-Lead Components, and in this one we will look at the difference for Gull Wing Leads. In case you were wondering, a gull wing lead is a type of surface mount lead that is … [Read more...]
Understanding IPC Class 2 vs Class 3 Solder Joints
In the manufacturing world there are standards for just about everything, and they all are typically there to ensure a product can perform as expected for the end application. Among these standards is IPC-A-610 covering solder joints for varying types of connector termination styles. For this blog, we are going to take a quick look at IPC-A-610 Class 2 and Class 3 solder joints, and some of the requirements of those two classifications. To narrow the focus further, we are looking at a J-Lead … [Read more...]
The Effects Of Lubrication On Connector Processing
Decisions, Decisions ... I may be in the market for a new car in the near future. Unless you’ve got a strong preference (and most car buyers DO have a strong preference, IMO), choosing a vehicle is a series of trade-offs. Fuel efficiency vs. horsepower. Functionality vs. appearance. Safety vs. fun. Cost vs. a heated steering wheel and seats. Choosing the right connector set for many EOEM applications is also full of trade-offs, including pitch, termination type, plating, and contact … [Read more...]
Connector Thermal Cycle Qualification For Military and Avionic Environments
Collins Aerospace recently published a white paper entitled “Qualification Of High Density Connector Solutions For Military and Avionic Environments.” It discusses their qualification process of high density connectors for rugged military and avionics applications. This paper focuses on the thermal testing of solder joints because “printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies are made up of many different materials that have different coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) … [Read more...]
The Fine Art of Contact Plating
In the first article of this series, we looked at how contacts are formed. This time, we'll investigate the next step in the manufacturing process - plating. Have you ever looked closely at an electrical contact? Contacts may be small and hard to see, but they are the most important component in any connector. With their intricate design and shiny gold plating, they have as much in common with fine art as they do with electronic components. But connector manufacturers do not invest huge … [Read more...]
Do You Care About Your Connector Contacts?
Have you ever wondered how the contacts get into a connector? Quite possibly not as they tend to be small and hidden, but the contact is at the very heart of connector design. This article is the first of a short series that looks at the life of a contact, from manufacturing to understanding its performance. Hopefully, by the end, you will have a better understanding of what the contact does and how it does it. At the simplest level, a connector is a device that allows the joining of an … [Read more...]
Solder 0.15 mm Coplanarity Connectors With a 0.10 mm Stencil
COPLANARITY AND STENCIL THICKNESS STUDY Samtec and Phoenix Contact recently completed dual studies that show when PCB processing requirements dictate using a 0.10 mm (.004”) stencil, the coplanarity requirements for most connectors can be relaxed to a maximum of 0.15 mm (.006”). In other words, Samtec and Phoenix Contact both successfully soldered PCB connectors with 0.15 mm coplanarity using a 0.10 mm thickness stencil with optimized apertures. CHALLENGE FOR DESIGNERS Designers … [Read more...]