![]() ![]() These most often either have a separately assembled (stamped and formed) spring retention device or cooperate with a spring device contained within the housing. They may be identified by the presence of a seam along their length.Ī second style involves a machined contact (made by precision turning of solid stock, such as by screw machining). ![]() Stamped contacts can frequently be removed from a connector housing with simple tools (small screwdriver or probe), and sometimes may even be re-used. Its performance also depends on the integrity of an internal housing feature such as a shelf, notch, step, or ledge. These lances frequently take the shape of a simple cantilever spring, which can be curved, tapered, straight, or jogged, and generally extend away from the body of the contact.Īlthough adequate for many applications, performance of a stamped retention lance may be limited by the base material of the contact, since it inherently has the same properties and thickness. They often incorporate blanked and formed flexible retention features (or lances) as an integral part of the contact. This resulting interaction essentially “captures” a contact within the connector housing.įirst, there are stamped contacts. It’s common for contacts to incorporate some type of flexible (spring) feature that engages another feature (such as a step) within the circuit cavity of a housing. Basic Types of Contact Retention Features ![]() As is frequently the case, the right retention design depends on the application. It is wise to understand various retention methods, and even better to specify connectors having superior designs. However, connectors featuring highly effective contact retention mechanisms need not cost substantially more. Often, low-cost connectors suffer in terms of poor durability and inadequate contact retention features. Retention features are generally designed for multiple uses (repairability) with the aid of insertion/removal tools that are specific to each type of connector. These features absorb contact mating forces and resist forces resulting from normal use of the connector (mating/unmating). This permits proper engagement and mating of the connector.Ĭontact retention features ensure proper axial contact positioning, facilitate assembly of the contacts and wiring/harnesses, and may allow the connector to be repaired. Serious issues can arise if the contacts are not assembled properly or if the design of the retention device is not robust.Īlthough some connectors are supplied to an end user with contacts pre-assembled in a housing (headers, surface mount tails, etc.), often the user must assemble contacts himself. Because this usually occurs after terminating conductor wires, it can affect connector performance, for better or worse.Įlectrical contacts enable a separable, conductive path through a connector, and in effect extend the attributes of the primary conductors (wires, PCB traces, etc.). A housing physically separates, and electrically isolates, individual contacts while maintaining their orientation and spacing. Some retention mechanisms are more reliable than others. Connectors retain their electrical contacts within an insulating housing. ![]()
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