Connector PCB Miracle – Connecting Your PCB to the World
PCBs are essential to the proper functioning of electronic devices. They transfer electrical signals and power between components on the board. Connectors are an important part of the PCB, as they provide the necessary connectivity between the conductive circuit layers.
These connectors come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The final application will determine their Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) properties. They can be designed for board-to-board or cable-to-board connections.
High-Reliability Connectors
High-reliability connectors are used in applications that cannot afford any downtime due to failure. They are designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions such as temperature, shock, vibration, and moisture. They can also handle a wide operating voltage range.
There are many off-the-shelf high-reliability connector solutions that can be used in a variety of harsh environments. Harwin’s Gecko, Datamate, M300, and Kona series of interconnects are suitable for aerospace, defence, motorsport, and other high-end industrial applications. They allow designers to optimize their space, weight and power (SWaP) without sacrificing performance.
These connectors are typically characterized by their robust construction, mate-before-lock technology, and a stainless-steel thumb screw fitted to the female connector housing. The male contacts are recessed to prevent physical damage and accidental contact. The female contacts have a spring force inside them that ensures positive engagement. Both connectors have a gold finish for maximum conductivity.
A rugged, IP67-rated circular connector that delivers exceptional resistance to vibration and impact in rail balise systems and similar applications. This connector has a compact size that saves space and offers the highest current capacity in its class. It is able to deliver up to 30A at a distance of Connector PCB Miracle 15 meters. This connector is compatible with plated holes on the PCB and can be assembled using a reflow soldering process or manual press fit.
Pin Header and Socket Designs
PCB connectors are the means of transferring power or signals between printed circuit boards. These are essential in ensuring the proper flow of information across components, and they are used for both board-to-board connections and wire-to-board connections. They can also be used in conjunction with other devices like a chassis or housing for additional protection, signal transfer, and even mounting.
There are several different types of PCB pin headers and socket designs, but all work under the basic premise of having a male (header) and female (receptacle). This is commonly referred to as either “board-to-board” or “wire-to-board.”
These can be made with either a straight, right angle, or spring-loaded design. The receptacle portion of the connector is then inserted into the board and soldered in Connector PCB Miracle Supplier place. Headers may be packaged on tape and reel or in trays. Some are even available with a press-fit termination, which eliminates the need for soldering and is done as a cold process.
These headers are a simple way to add multiple input/output ports to your circuit board. They can be a great choice for smaller projects with tighter spaces because they can reduce the number of holes needed on the board and provide an excellent alternative to molded connectors. FR-4 pin headers are also more customizable, which allows you to choose from a variety of row configurations and pin counts.
High-Current Connectors
High-current connectors are used to connect power from a source to a board and provide an essential means of safely distributing electrical current. Without them, your board could heat up to dangerous levels and plastic components might melt. High-current connectors are engineered to meet specific electrical current and voltage ratings, and they’re typically tested with conservative criteria compared to actual use.
They feature a wide range of termination options, such as soldered or crimped pins, a choice of shell styles, and two mechanical codings. Their conductor sizes range from 20-11AWG, and their ratings can span up to 200A at 40degC. They also have a maximum voltage rating of 500VDC/AC, and their insulators can resist oil, water, oxidation, radiation, and other environmental factors.
These connectors have an innovative design that allows you to make connections using common tools. Their insulated metal blades are imbedded in the insulator and are only exposed when they’re mated. They’re available in a wide range of sizes and ratings, including insulated connectors with metallic blades that are imbedded in the insulator for low-voltage overhead distribution lines. Several types of shear-sheild connectors are also available for high-voltage stranded conductors. Unlike other connectors, these have a unique locking mechanism that ensures the shear-sheild shears are properly aligned with each other.
Heavy Copper Plating
The heavy copper plating used by Connector PCB Miracle allows high currents to be carried by the board while allowing thin traces. This also helps reduce the heat generated by a circuit and increases its resistance to extreme temperatures and special environment.
This type of PCB is known as a heavy copper or thick copper circuit. It refers to a circuit board that has a copper thickness of more than 3 oz per square foot. These circuit boards are designed for a variety of uses in the military, aerospace grade and beyond industrial products that are expected to be exposed to harsh environments.
Printed circuit boards made with heavy copper plating are more expensive to produce than standard circuit boards, but the extra cost is well worth it when the safety and performance of your product is at stake. It is important to work with a professional PCB manufacturer that understands these extra demands and will be able to make the necessary adjustments to your design.
This includes discussing the manufacturing process, limitations and tolerances before submitting your final design. It will be much easier for both you and the PCB manufacturer to avoid costly delays and redesign if these issues are addressed during the initial design phase. Pro-Tech Interconnect Solutions works closely with its customers to ensure their new designs will be fabricated successfully the first time.