Interconnection


Receptacle carriers promote efficient assembly

8 April 2015 Interconnection

A receptacle carrier is a convenient way to pick up and place individual sockets (receptacles) as a group. It is essentially an assembly fixture having an array of protruding pins onto which individual receptacles are pushed. The receptacles are held in place by their internal spring contacts.

The carrier assembly is placed into a corresponding group of holes on a circuit board, and the carrier holds the receptacles in position during the wave or reflow soldering cycle. The carrier is then removed after soldering, leaving behind a group of receptacles to be used as a socket for a leaded component.

Many formats of carrier are available to match the footprint of the device being socketed, e.g. DIP, SIP, PGA, DC-DC converter, custom etc. Carriers can be categorised as three types:

1. Reusable carriers having a moulded plastic or machined epoxy frame with durable metal carrier pins. The carrier pins are machined from brass and nickel plated. The nickel plating is passivated (oxidised) to make it ‘non-stick’ to solder. All standard component footprints are available, and this type of construction is readily adapted for custom footprints.

2. Disposable metal carriers are one-piece stamped brass or aluminium lead frames used for DIP and SIP IC footprints.

3. Disposable plastic carriers are one-piece injection moulded frames with integral plastic posts to hold the receptacles.

Cost savings are available when Type 1 carriers are returned to the factory for reloading.

The benefits of using receptacle carriers include the convenience over placing individual sockets on a circuit board by hand with a pair of tweezers. At the other extreme, they do not require the expense of building a fully automatic assembly machine with a programmable X-Y table.

Using a receptacle carrier eliminates the insulator of a traditional socket. For high-speed circuitry, this results in a shorter electrical path (lower inductance) and reduced propagation delay (no socket dielectric). Elimination of the insulator also provides a lower socket profile. This is important for handheld devices such as mobile phones and PDAs, where space is at a premium and sockets are required for components that cannot go through reflow, i.e. speakers and microphones.

Receptacle carriers are also ideal for socketing DC-DC converters. One carrier can place the two different sizes of receptacle required by the power and control pins, while the receptacles themselves add very little to the height of the converter.

Carriers are used primarily for wave soldering receptacles into plated through-holes. The added weight of the carrier holds down the components as the circuit board passes over the solder wave. They are also used for surface mount assembly; this technique is called intrusive reflow. The carrier assembly is placed into plated through-holes on the circuit board, and solder paste adjacent to the holes is then reflowed before the carrier is removed.

Anatomy of a receptacle

Receptacles are discrete sockets used for plugging leaded components into printed circuit boards. They are made by press-fitting a stamped beryllium copper spring contact into a precision-machined housing. Pre-tooled are 35 sizes of contacts (3, 4 or 6 finger) to accept pins ranging in diameter from 12 mil to 102 mil, as well as square and rectangular component leads.

Heat-treated beryllium copper is the best choice of spring material to assure contact reliability. The receptacle’s two-piece construction provides the advantage of selective plating when a gold-plated contact is installed in a tin-plated housing.



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

High current and voltage interconnect
Hiconnex Interconnection
The 972 series interconnect from Glenair ensures peak performance for the latest specification requirements in high-current, high-voltage, and high-frequency commercial aircraft applications.

Read more...
M12 panel mount connectors
Communica Interconnection
Binder, a specialist in industrial circular connectors, offers a particularly wide range of M12 panel mount connectors that cover a wide variety of connection types, materials, and fastening solutions.

Read more...
Blade terminals deliver greater power density
Spectrum Concepts Interconnection
[Sponsored] Connectivity has become more important as designers pack more power into smaller spaces, all while managing thermal loads and ensuring efficiency.

Read more...
What’s the big deal with open pin fields?
Spectrum Concepts Interconnection
The concept behind the open pin field array is that it provides many contacts that are not limited to a single role.

Read more...
Hirose Electric’s push-on bayonet lock connectors
Avnet Abacus Interconnection
Hirose Electric’s HR22K Series is a compact, waterproof, and oil-resistant connector designed for demanding industrial environments.

Read more...
Halo mid-board optical transceiver
Spectrum Concepts Opto-Electronics
The Samtec Halo mid-board transceiver has been designed for next-generation embedded applications that require 56 and 112 Gbps PAM4 performance in low profile and ruggedised form factors.

Read more...
Innovation in high-frequency cable design
Spectrum Concepts Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
[Sponsored] With frequencies approaching 110 GHz, a mismatch in impedance, an increase in insertion loss, or minute phase distortion can be the difference between success and failure.

Read more...
New connector for Push-X technology
Phoenix Contact Interconnection
Phoenix Contact is extending the series of PCB connectors with innovative Push-X technology to include a new connector for conductor cross-sections up to 2,5 mm2.

Read more...
Test cable designed for maximum ruggedness
Conical Technologies Interconnection
The Anoison PT test cable is designed for maximum ruggedness using a high-quality raw cable, connector, and smart armouring module.

Read more...
Safe connection under load
Phoenix Contact Interconnection
The ArcZero DC connectors from Phoenix Contact can be safely connected and disconnected under load, providing operators with reliable protection against hazardous electric arcs.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved