How to Select a Connector PCB
A Connector PCB is a device that links two circuit boards. It can be a single piece or two pieces board-to-board, or even wire-to-wire.
The connector types used on a PCB range from simple sockets and plugs to complex, specialised designs for sensitive applications or more standard, economical solutions for industrial production and manufacturing.
Termination Methods
Choosing the right termination method is critical to making an effective connector. The correct termination for your application will depend on several factors including pin and contact style, board to board orientation, and environmental conditions. Keeping these factors in mind can make designing and selecting the correct connectors easier and more cost-effective.
Wire termination options include crimped wire and cable terminals, solder lugs, wire wrap, and terminating a PCB using through-hole termination technology. Having the right termination method for your application will help reduce time and production costs, as well as increase the reliability of your product.
Crimped wire and cable terminals are an easy and reliable way to connect stranded or solid copper conductors to their corresponding connectors. In addition, crimping terminals are designed to accommodate a variety of wire gauges and lengths. This type of connection can be applied to both bare wire and insulated cables.
Another option for wire termination is the kinked pin termination. This termination method can be applied to a wide range of connectors, including pin headers, sockets, and female/male mating pins. This termination method offers a high degree of mechanical robustness, as it is designed to secure the connector to the PCB and resist movement during wave soldering.
Unsupported flex fingers are another type of termination method that can be used to terminate a flex circuit. These terminations are molded with thicker, more robust fingers that taper down to a thinner copper thickness in the flexing area. This option can be molded on both male and female pins and is available in two standard pitches that meet most market needs.
This method can also be molded on both bare and insulated cables to meet the needs of various applications. However, this method can be costly and is not as customizable as the flex finger option.
Terminating a PCB using through-hole termination technologies introduced many challenges for designers. These include ensuring the correct connection for each wire, minimizing solder joint defects, and eliminating dead ends on traces. This technique also requires a highly skilled Connector PCB operator to ensure the proper crimp. This can be challenging for small batch sizes and prototypes, as it is a time-consuming process.
Pin and Contact Options
The pins and contacts on a Connector PCB can be designed to meet your specific requirements. They may need to be plated, have certain ratings for ingress protection, or be available in different sizes. These features are important to know before you begin the process of selecting your connector.
Plating affects the performance, life cycle, quality, and cost of the connector. It also helps to strengthen the electrical conductivity of the contacts and improve their ability to withstand harsh environments.
Copper alloy is typically used as the base material for connector contacts (pins). Other materials are available that offer better conductivity and strength while being more economical.
For example, tin is a popular option because it offers superior corrosion resistance while still being relatively inexpensive. This option is most commonly found on connectors that have contact mating areas that are exposed to the circuit environment.
Another common plating option is silver, which is an excellent choice for contact mating areas that are not exposed to the environment. This type of coating is also highly resistant to moisture, ensuring that the connector remains stable in harsh environments.
There are other options for plating as well, including nickel and gold. All of these options have their advantages and disadvantages, but ultimately it is up to you to decide what works best for your application.
Headers, also known as pin headers, are a very common component in many applications. They are usually single or double row and are typically offered in through hole and surface mount variants.
Depending on the design, they can be used in co-planar, right angle, or parallel orientations. Knowing which is necessary for your particular design can help you narrow your search considerably.
If you have questions about which option is right for your application, our technical support team can help! They can answer any questions that you have about connectors and provide additional design guidance.
Headers are one of the most important components in any Connector PCB design. They Connector PCB allow for quick and easy connections between two boards. They also help reduce the risk of short circuits between the mating pins on the two boards. They are often found in industrial, automotive, and other electronic applications.
Board to Board Connector Orientation Options
When using board-to-board (or cable-to-board) connectors, there are some orientation options to consider. This can help designers make their design easier and ensure that signals can easily be routed between circuit boards.
For example, parallel boards can be stacked vertically with the connectors in the same direction; or PCBs can be perpendicular to one another. This allows for more room on the PCB, which can be especially beneficial if the board has limited space. It can also allow the PCB to be removed horizontally without having to re-route signals.
Another aspect to consider is the size and shape of the connector. There are many different styles of board to board connectors available, and the choice will depend on the final application.
Connectors are available with different pin sizes, centerline spacings, and plating options. They can also be available in through-hole or surface mount styles. Thru-hole connectors offer more robust physical connections, but they require more room on the board and can be costly.
Moreover, board to board connectors may need to be compatible with standard board layouts. This is especially true if they are going to be used in an enclosure.
The main type of connector used to connect a printed circuit board (PCB) to another board is called a board-to-board connector, or BTB. It is an essential part of an electronic system.
A board-to-board connector typically consists of a male pin, a female socket, and an insulator. The socket is commonly made of brass, and the pin can be plated with copper, gold, nickel, or silver. The insulator is typically PBT or LCP.
There are different pin heights available for board-to-board connectors, as well. These heights are often referred to as stack heights and allow the designer to accommodate different inter-board spacings.
This is particularly useful for PCBs that have limited space on their backplanes. It can prevent thermal excursions, which can break plated through holes and cause the boards to fail.
Having a variety of options for board to board connectors is critical for designers. They need to choose a connector that can be used in a number of orientations, is able to be inserted and removed horizontally, is compatible with different hole patterns on the PCB, and can handle high currents. These features will help them make their design more efficient and ensure that it is safe for the environment.
Custom Packaging
Custom packaging plays an important role in a product’s success and can help to create brand loyalty and a sense of trust with customers. The packaging of your product is what consumers will handle first, before they even open the box, so it’s a good idea to have full control over what goes into the packaging and how it’s displayed.
The connector style you choose and the materials used for printing are all factors that play a role in how your package looks and feels. If your package is made of a material that complements the colors and textures on your product, it will be more attractive to potential buyers.
If your package is made of a material such as paper or plastic, it will need to be durable enough to withstand the transport and storage conditions it will be placed under. This is an important consideration if you want to keep your product in pristine condition throughout its life cycle.
Choosing the right package can be difficult, but it is worth the effort to ensure that you are getting what you want. Talk with the printer about what you need, and they will be able to advise on the best option for your product.
There are a number of companies that specialize in providing end-to-end customized packaging solutions. Some of these companies offer stickers, labels, boxes, bags and pouches that can be printed with your logo or design. They also provide 24/7 customer support to answer your questions and concerns.
Once you have selected the appropriate connector style, you will need to consider how it will be mounted on your PCB. This will require a thorough evaluation of the board’s communication channels. The design of the communication channels in your PCB layout will determine whether you will need to use through-hole or surface-mount connectors.
When selecting through-hole connectors, you will need to make sure that you are using the correct pitch size. Pitch sizes range from 0.5 mm to 2.54 mm. You will also need to consider the pin and contact options that you have.