Eliminate Soldering by using Pressfit Style Connectors from Ept

Until recently, all long tail PC/104 connectors required a through hole solder application. While the few through hole components may be hand or wave soldered, this is extremely difficult and time consuming for the 104 gold plated connector pins. Solder perform donuts or solder and flux bearing clips allow for improvements in the soldering process by eliminating the hand soldering operation. They do however still require a high temperature IR or hand solder process and close visual inspection. The only other option for applying a long tail stack through connector is with compliant pin technology.

Adopted by the telecomm industry many years ago, pressfit technology has proven itself to be a cost effective alternative to soldering connectors to a board. Modern compliant sections deform to the plated through hole during the insertion process thus creating a reliable gas tight fit. Extensive laboratory testing and years of field operation have proven pressfit connector reliability in demanding environments.

PC/104 connectors are now available with compliant pin technology. This allows for fast and simple insertion of the connectors into the finished boards, without any risk of uneven solder flow or contamination to the gold tails of the connectors. Fast and simple insertion of the connector into the through hole is accomplished by means of a flat rock tool and a simple bottom support fixture mounted on a hand press. The entire press-in process takes less then 5 seconds, with all positions maintaining equal resistance across the hole. Another added benefit of pressfit connectors, is the ability to rework the board by pressing the connector in a reverse process, allowing a replacement connector to be inserted.

More info about the PC/104 connectors