Press-fit connectors in prototypes

Press-fit connectors are increasingly used in industrial electronics. And for good reason: they are reliable, vibration-resistant and well suited for automated production.

Some advantages at a glance: * No soldering process required * Gas-tight, robust connection * Less thermal stress * Good scalability for series production

But... in the prototype phase, priorities are often different. Speed and flexibility are then more important than maximum mechanical performance.

Why 'press-fitting' in a ProtoPCBA is often impractical: * Very strict tolerances on PCB holes * Special pressing tools required * Difficult (and risky) to rework

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Design the PCB with slightly larger (0.1-0.15 mm) holes than the press-fit specification and treat the connector in this phase as a normal through-hole component. And if in doubt, filling up with a bit of solder can sometimes help.

This way: * you prevent assembly problems, * reworking remains straightforward, * and your design stays suitable for press-fit in later series production.

PS If you have doubts about the specific mounting characteristics of the press-fit connector, it may be worth considering making a simple extra PCB with several holes of increasing diameter for the connector in question.

HappyEngineering