Introducing Flecto, the latest in floating connector technology
Harwin’s Flecto range represents the state-of-the-art of today’s floating connector technologies. Capable of withstanding up to ±0.5mm misalignment in both the X and Y axes, these fine-pitch, high-pin-count board-to-board connectors offer perfect alignment, high-speed data transmission, mixed signal and power options, high contact reliability and multiple mounting options.
Key Features
- Up to 160 contacts in a symmetrical double-row layout
- Three choices of miniature pitches: 0.5mm (.0197”), 0.635mm (.025”) and 0.8mm (0.0315”)
- Board-to-board mating heights down to 7.2mm
- Horizontal option for 90° daughterboards
- Additional power pins with a current rating of 3A in the 0.5mm pitch range
- Location pegs to inhibit movement during soldering
- Shrouding and polarization options
- Tape and reel package options
What is a Floating Connector?
A floating connector is a board-to-board electromechanical interconnect for data and/or power that absorbs misalignments and small movements in multiple axes. Unlike traditional connectors, floating connectors features a spring-like mechanism to provide elasticity and take the stress off both the solder joints and contact pins.
Target Applications for Flecto
Enhanced manufacturing productivity and quality
Growth of automated manufacturing demands solutions for the high-speed placement of board-to-board connectors. However, when you have connectors mating the same two PCBs, the tolerance of the product location (whether from PCB manufacture, paste location, pick and place accuracy or a combination of these) can mean that one or both connectors will encounter additional side-loading and risk of damage that can halt production or lead to quality issues.
Multiple board-to-board interconnects in a single PCB
Their ability to handle slight movements allows floating connectors to compensate for accumulative positional mis-alignment across multiple board-to-board connectors. This not only makes for easier mating but also gives designers the flexibility to populate PCBs with two or more connectors without worrying about precise positional accuracy or compromising automated assembly throughput.
How do Floating Connectors Work?
Incorporating pins that are formed with a bend that flexes and housings that are suspended by the pins, floating connectors incorporate a spring-like action in the interior and exterior insulators.
This allows the connectors to support positional tolerances across multiple axes – ‘floating’ between rows and in the direction of pitch.
Improved reliability, extended operational life
As well as aiding alignment, the positional freedom of floating connectors eases any mechanical stresses that occur should one or more connections be mis-aligned. This extends operational life by mitigating against the possibility of long-term defects, including solder cracking.
Where are Floating Connectors Used?
Stacked boards with multiple micro-pitch connections are becoming common across a variety of industrial and automation systems that demand ever-more features but require control modules to occupy less and less space.
Floating connectors are ideal solutions for these markets and for any other high-performance applications manufactured using automated processes in which pick-and-place systems are used to populate PCBs with single or multiple connectors.
How can we help you?
If you would like to talk to someone about Harwin’s product, technical knowledge or documentation, contact one of our Experts for assistance.