PCB Design Considerations

Follow the guidelines below to ensure seamless integration and optimal performance when designing PCBs with elastomeric connectors.

1. Mounting Holes and Fasteners for Connector Housing

Importance of Secure Mounting:
Proper mounting is crucial for maintaining alignment and ensuring a reliable electrical connection. The connector housing should be securely fastened to the PCB using appropriately sized mounting holes and fasteners.

Design Recommendations:

alignment tolerances
  • Mounting Holes: Ensure the mounting holes are precisely aligned with the connector housing to prevent misalignment during assembly.
  • Fasteners: Use fasteners that provide adequate holding force without damaging the PCB or connector. Suitable options include screws, bolts, or clips designed for the specific connector type.
  • Spacing: Allow enough space around the mounting holes to accommodate the fasteners and any tools required for assembly.

2. Hard Gold or ENIG Plated Pads

Enhanced Contact Durability:
Hard gold or Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG) plating is recommended for elastomeric connector pads due to their superior wear resistance and conductivity.

Design Recommendations:

  • Hard Gold Plating: Offers excellent wear resistance, making it ideal for applications involving frequent mating and unmating. This ensures a long-lasting, reliable connection. For long-term production applications, we recommend a 30mircoinch minimum plating thickness.
  • ENIG Plating: Provides good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity, suitable for high-performance applications.

3. No Soldermask on Contact Pads

Optimizing Electrical Contact:
To achieve the best possible connection, the contact pads for elastomeric connectors should be free of soldermask. This ensures a clean, unobstructed contact surface.

Design Recommendations:

  • Soldermask Clearance: Ensure that the soldermask is completely removed from the contact pad area. This eliminates any barriers that could interfere with the connector’s ability to establish a solid electrical connection.
  • Pad Finish: Maintain a smooth and clean surface on the contact pads to ensure optimal contact with the elastomeric connector.

By following these guidelines, engineers and designers can effectively integrate elastomeric connectors into their systems, ensuring reliability and performance.