PCB Connector Options Glenair® offers a variety of options when terminating Printed Circuit Boards, Flex Tape or Rigid Flex to Connectors using solder. Each terminating method depends on the customer application, processes and space restrictions.

Standoff Technology Depending on space limitations, when soldering a board to a connector, it is desirable to have space between the bottom of the board and the surface of the connector. This provides an area for cleaning (termed washout) and inspection. Keeping the board from the connector is achieved using “standoffs”.

Securing PCB Pins Most of the options we will explore have the contacts rigidly secured into the connector with epoxy. This provides sealing at 1x10-4 and while not hermetic, it is better than standard environmental connectors. This keeps the contacts aligned to the X/Y Axis of the board for ease of assembly. The pins do not “wobble” thus dropping directly into the PCB layout. This is especially important in dense layouts and high pin counts where accuracy is much more significant.

No Standoff or Washout (Type 0) This is the least desirable option. It places the PCB directly onto the flange of the connector providing no washout or inspection. This option should only be used when there are severe space restrictions. Similar to 257-841

Insertable Contacts (Similar to Type 0) This option is widely used and takes standard Mil Spec connectors. PC tail pins are inserted as a crimp would be. This allows the customer to use available connectors but the drawbacks are solder stability, intrusion into the box, environmental sealing and washout contamination on the elastomer. These connectors are not sealed with epoxy as the others. Similar to 257-904

Standoff Technology (Type 1) This is a very simple standoff achieved with a modification to the shell. This provides minimum intrusion into the box and a place for the PCB to rest during the soldering process. Board is held in place by the solder. Similar to 257-973

Threaded Standoff (Type 2) This style of standoff is threaded to allow the PCB to be directly attached to the connector. This provides stability of the board during installation of the PCB/Connector assembly into the chassis. This removes all stress from the solder joints thus reducing the chance of a bad solder connector, electrical intermittence and costly rework. Available in any connector style, jam nut or square flange. Similar to 2570-1008

Dual Flange Technology (Type 3) Same process as in the previous example. This however provides additional stability as the board gets further away from the chassis. This will allow using a distance that would not be achievable with only being mounted to the pins. This provides structural support over distance. Similar to 257-909

Step Down Pins (Type 4) Not recommended but if required by the application, contacts can have a step that will allow the PCB to be mounted only to the pins but away from the surface of the connector for washout. If not using standoff technology, this is the next best option. Similar to 2570-1034

Types of Standoff Technology Type 0 --- no standoff Type 1 --- basic standoff Type 2 --- basic threaded holes standoff Type 3 --- dual flange standoff Type 4 --- step down pin standoff

Application Specific Designs Please contact any member of our Field Engineering staff or Glenair factory Engineers for assistance in your application of PCB type interconnect systems. We also provide similar systems in our Mighty Mouse, MicroD, Hermetics and Filter connector platforms. Similar to the 3-Amigos