PROVERTHA 's TMC series offers various D-sub connection technologies to meet the needs of modern board design and fully automated printed circuit board production.
D-sub connectors, which have been on the market for decades, are available in many versions from various manufacturers. This makes the choice particularly difficult. However, one thing is certain: anyone who makes compromises today and, for example, focuses only on price when making purchasing decisions, should not be surprised later if production or quality problems or additional costs arise during fully automated processing. It is therefore advisable to take the aspects of further processing and quality into account when selecting a D-sub connector.
D-sub connectors used as connectors on printed circuit boards for making contacts via solder terminals on printed circuit boards have been around for a long time.
This type of trapezoidal connector had already been designed in 1952 by the American company ITT-Cannon.
Today's modern applications involving fully automated, high-speed SMT assembly demand the utmost in process and operational reliability from D-sub SMT connectors. Therefore, even for a connector as tested as the D-sub, development is not yet complete.
A fully-automated production process and optical inspection of the D-sub connectors produced guarantee the high level of process reliability required for the subsequent fully-automated assembly of printed circuit boards.
Provertha's new optimised D-sub connectors feature improved contacts and SMT terminations that are moulded and formed in a single processing step, guaranteeing 100% coplanarity.
Design and manufacturing process for modern PCB applications
Provertha has been making D-sub connectors for over 25 years. The acquisition of Erni's TMC range in 2019 has expanded the choice of D-sub connectors further and considerably.
Soldering technology, eitherSurface Mounted Technology (SMT) or ThroughHole Technology(THT), is predominantly used to make the connector contacts on the PCB.
Thanks to their special design, the connectors in the TMC range allow a fully automatic and economical assembly and soldering process, whether using SMT or THR(Through Hole Reflow) termination.
THR connectors make it possible to reduce the production costs of assemblies that have hitherto been manufactured using a mixed SMT/THT assembly process. No layout changes are required either.
Solderless processes for connecting connectors such as press-fit technology are also considered to be extremely reliable as well as economical, as the soldering phase is no longer necessary.
Products optimised for fully automated and safe SMT process
In addition to interference-free data transmission, today's D-sub components must above all allow efficient, automated and safe processing. This is particularly important for the SMT versions of Provertha, which are so robust that they can be processed in large quantities without affecting coplanarity.
Total coplanarity ensures rationalised processing in fully automated SMT assembly and reflow soldering processes.
Forfully automated assembly, D-sub connectors are supplied in SMT-compatible trays or tape-on-reelpackages.
A black thermoplastic insulating body resistant to high temperatures facilitates recognition with a camera system.
A large material handling surface and/or a cap ensure easy and reliable withdrawal through vacuum pipettes.
The optimised arrangement with respect to the connector's centre-of-gravity positioning pins allows the D-sub to be held in place during all common SMT soldering processes.
Ultra-flat and angular SMT version
A recent innovation from Provertha in the area of D-sub SMT connectors is the ultra-slim construction.
Thanks to its 90° SMT terminations and ultra-slim design, the 'Slimline' version requires up to 33% less PCB surface area than a conventional D-sub.
Thereliability of this Slimline connector under high mechanical loads ensures high safety margins when used in heavy industrial applications.
With its low installation height of just 4.65 mm, it offers incredible miniaturisation opportunities combined with great robustness.
The double-line spring contact ensures maximum contact safety.
Additional guide pins for the surface-mounted connector ensure reliability under mechanical loads and offer safety margins in harsh industrial environments.
D-sub in press-fit technology: seamless termination for backplanes and in the presence of vibrations
D-sub connectors with press-fit technology are particularly cost-effective, robust and reliable, provided that the printed circuit board meets the minimum requirements and the hole specifications are met.
Special press-fit zones protect the circuit board from excessive stress, preventing damage to the copper layers and preventing delamination in the presence of multiple layers.
Press-fit zones ensure gas-tight, corrosion-protected and mechanically robust electrical connections.
Due to the construction of contacts with an elastic press-fit zone, D-sub press-fit connectors are particularly suitable for backplanes and applications with very high requirements.
The use of this process avoids welding defects, flux problems and thermal loads and the cleaning process becomes superfluous.
The press-fit technology offers further advantages: the contact is formed in the copper layer, not in the tin coating of the printed circuit board.
In addition, the high elasticity of the zone can compensate for bore tolerances or dimensional changes throughout the life of the product.
Finally, the press-fit zone design ensureshigh edgecompression on the copper layer of the PCB hole. The result is a stable connection over time.
Hermaphroditic high-power connectors
High power D-sub connectors are also available with different terminations (SMT, THR, press-fit).
For backplane applications Provertha offers a complete range of high-current products in straight press-fit versions for standard layouts with hermaphrodite connectors type 3W3 and 3WK3 as well as 5W5 and 8W8.
The range is rounded off by press-fit versions (3W3, 3WK3 and 7W2) at an angle.
For the fully automatic and economical assembly and soldering process with SMT technology, the often used hermaphrodite contact layouts 3W3, 3WK3 and 7W2 in angle versions are available with SMT and THR terminations.
Customer-specific solutions thanks to in-house tool construction
A comprehensive portfolio of fastening components, insulating bodies in various thermoplastics and a wide range of contacts enable customer-specific applications to be realised in a fairly short time-to-market.
A current example is the straight plug connector with press-fit termination in the special installation height of 5.7. It was possible to launch the new white insulating body onto the market within a very short time thanks to in-house tool construction for plastic injection moulding.
D-sub range for everything and everyone
Provertha has always had a comprehensive range of D-sub connectors for connecting cables in crimp, solder cup and IDC (Insulation Displacement Connection) modes as well as a diverse portfolio of all-metal and plastic D-sub connector caps featuring innovative locking principles such as the push-pull "Quick Lock" and PCB connectors with machined contacts for high current loading. The company also offers complete solutions for D-sub I/O interfacing, i.e. for the device side and the cable side. In this way, special requirements for fixing or clamping can be taken into account in a customised solution. Together with the new high-performance D-sub PCB connectors from the TMC range, Provertha offers one of the most comprehensive D-sub product ranges for customer-specific applications on the market.
Original article by: Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Manfred Schock, Advanced Product Engineering at PROVERTHA Connectors, Cables & Solutions GmbH in Pforzheim.
