Page 28 - ConnectorSupplier.com - How-to-Specify Handbook

Putting Product Configurators to Work for You
Ann Cibelli, Director of Communications, Advanced Interconnections Corp.
Selecting even a basic board-to-board connector can be a time-consuming process. Fortunately, many reputable suppliers have handy online tools that guide users through product selection so they can easily nd or build the exact connector part number needed.
Product con gurators step users through the available options for each component of a connector, from pin count to plating. They typically consist of a set of menus in which interdependent options are automatically narrowed as selections are made to ensure that the end results are always viable part numbers.
Figure 1: Advanced Interconnections’ Build-A-PartTM online product con gurator features simple menus that guide users through series of component con guration options required to build a part number that ideally suits their application, like the female dual-row connector pictured.
Getting Started – Basic Fit and Form Options
A typical product con gurator will categorize connectors by a key attribute, such as the intended board interface (e.g., through-hole or surface-mount), pitch (e.g., 1mm, 2.54mm, etc.), or application (e.g., signal, power, mezzanine, etc.).
Most of the information that users will need to progress through the menus and build their part is de ned on the PCB drawing or the drawing for the desired connector, if available, as these documents generally identify the key speci cations including:
• Pin-to-pin spacing (i.e., pitch)
• Row spacing
• Number of positions (i.e., pin count)
• Footprint or pattern (e.g., single row, dual row, etc.)
• Terminal dimensions (e.g., length, diameter, contact acceptance range, etc.)
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