PANASONIC AXE540127D

Notes on Using Narrow Pitch Connectors/High Current Connectors

About Safety Remarks

Observe the following safety remarks to prevent accidents and injuries.

• Do not use these connectors beyond the specification sheets. Usage outside of specified rated current, dielectric strength, and environmental conditions may cause circuitry damage via abnormal heating, smoke, and fire.
• In order to avoid accidents, thorough specification review is appreciated. Please contact our sales office if your usage is out of the specifications. Otherwise, Panasonic Corporation cannot guarantee the quality and reliability.
• Panasonic Corporation consistently strives to improve quality and reliability. However, electrical components and devices generally cause failures at a given statistical probability. Their durability varies with use environments or use conditions. Please check for actual electrical components and devices under actual conditions before use. Continued usage in a degraded condition may cause deteriorated insulation, resulting in abnormal heat, smoke, or firing. Carry out safety design and periodic maintenance, including redundancy design, design for fire spread prevention, and design for malfunction prevention, so that no accidents resulting in injury or death, fire accidents, or social damage will be caused as a result of product failure or end of product life.

Regarding the Design of Devices and PC Board Patterns

• When using board-to-board connectors, do not connect a pair of boards with multiple connectors. Otherwise, misaligned connector positions may cause mating failure or product breakage.
• With mounting equipment, there may be up to a +0.2 to 0.3 mm error in positioning. Design PC boards and patterns while considering the performance and abilities of the required equipment.
• Some connectors have tabs embossed on the body to aid in positioning. When using these connectors, make sure the PC board is designed with positioning holes to match these tabs.
• To ensure required mechanical strength when soldering connector terminals, make sure the PC board meets recommended PC board pattern design dimensions.
• Control the thicknesses of the cover lay and adhesive to prevent poor soldering. This connector has no stand-off; therefore, minimize the thickness of the cover lay, etc., to prevent poor soldering.
• For all connectors of the narrow pitch series, to prevent the PC board from coming off during vibrations or impacts, and to prevent loads from falling directly on the soldered portions, design some means to fix the PC board in place (e.g., secure with screws). When connecting PC boards, take appropriate measures to prevent the connector from coming off.
• When mounting connectors on an FPC:
  • When the connector soldered to FPC is mated or unmated, solder detachment may occur due to force on the terminals. Connector handling is recommended when a reinforcing plate is attached to the backside of the FPC where the connector is mounted. The external dimension of the reinforcing plate is recommended to be larger than the dimension of Recommended PC board pattern (extended dimension of one side is approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mm). The materials and thickness of the reinforcing plate are glass epoxy or polyimide (thickness 0.2 to 0.3 mm) or SUS (thickness 0.1 to 0.2 mm).
  • As this connector has a temporary locking structure, mating may be separated by dropping impact depending on the size, weight, or bending force of the FPC. Consider measures at usage to prevent mating separation.
• The narrow pitch connector series is designed to be compact and thin. Take care when mating the connectors, as displacement or angled mating could damage or deform the connector.

Regarding the Selection of the Connector Placement Machine and the Mounting Procedures

• Select the placement machine considering the connector height, required positioning accuracy, and packaging conditions.
• Be aware that if the chucking force of the placement machine is too great, it may deform the shape of the connector body or connector terminals.
• Be aware that during mounting, external forces may be applied to the connector contact surfaces and terminals and cause deformations.
• Depending on the size of the connector, self-alignment may not be possible. In such cases, carefully position the terminal with the PC board pattern.
• The positioning bosses give approximate alignment for positioning on the PC board. For accurate positioning when mounting to the PC board, use an automatic positioning machine.
• In case of dry conditions, note the occurrence of static electricity. The product may adhere to the embossed carrier tape or the cover tape. Recommended humidity is from 40 to 60%RH. Remove static electricity by an ionizer in the manufacturing process.

Regarding Soldering

Reflow Soldering

• Measure the recommended profile temperature for reflow soldering by placing a sensor on the PC board near the connector surface or terminals. (Refer to the specification for detail as temperature settings differ by product.)
• Screen printing is recommended for cream solder printing.
• When setting the screen opening area and PC board foot pattern area, refer to the recommended PC board pattern and window size of the metal mask on the specification sheet. Ensure the size of the board pattern and metal mask at the base of the terminals are not increased.
• Pay attention not to provide too much solder. Excessive solder can cause miss mating due to interference at the soldering portion.
• When mounting on both sides of the PC board and the connector is on the underside, use adhesives or other means to ensure the connector is properly fixed to the PC board. (Double reflow soldering on the same side is possible.)
• The condition of solder or flux rise and wettability varies depending on the type of solder and flux. Consider solder and flux characteristics and set the reflow temperature and oxygen level.
• Do not use resin-containing solder, as it may firmly fix the contacts.
• Soldering conditions: Use the reflow temperature profile conditions recommended below for reflow soldering. Contact our sales office before using a temperature profile other than that described below (e.g., lead-free solder).
• The temperature profiles given in this catalog are measured values when using the connector on a resin-based PC board. When performing reflow soldering on a metal board (iron, aluminum, etc.) or a metal table to mount on an FPC, ensure there is no deformation or discoloration of the connector before mounting.
• Contact our sales office when using a screen-printing thickness other than recommended.

Hand Soldering

• Set the soldering iron so that the tip temperature is less than that given in Table A.
• Do not allow flux to spread onto the connector leads or PC board, as this may lead to flux rising into the connector.
• Touch the soldering iron to the foot pattern. After the foot pattern and connector terminal are heated, apply the solder wire so it melts at the end of the connector terminals.
• Be aware that soldering while applying a load on the connector terminals may cause improper operation.
• Thoroughly clean the soldering iron.
• Flux from the solder wire may get on the contact surfaces during soldering. After soldering, carefully check the contact surfaces and clean off any solder before use.
• These connectors are low profile. If too much solder is supplied for hand soldering, it can cause miss mating due to interference at the soldering portion. Pay attention to this.

Solder Reworking

• Finish reworking in one operation.
• In case of soldering rework of bridges, do not use supplementary solder flux, as this may cause contact problems.
• Keep the soldering iron tip temperature below the temperature given in Table A.

Handling Single Components

• Do not drop or allow parts to fall from the workbench.
• Excessive force applied to the terminals could cause warping, coming out, or weaken the adhesive strength of the solder. Handle with care.
• Do not insert or remove the connector when it is not soldered. Forcibly applied external pressure on the terminals can weaken the adherence of the terminals to the molded part or cause the terminals to lose their evenness.

Precautions for Mating

This product is designed for ease of handling. However, to prevent deformation or damage of contacts and molding, take care and do not mate the connectors as shown.

Cleaning Flux from PC Board

There is no need to clean this product. If cleaning, pay attention to the following points to prevent negative effects:

• Keep the cleaning solvent clean and prevent connector contacts from contamination.
• Some cleaning solvents are strong and may dissolve the molded part and characters, so pure water passed liquid solvent is recommended.

Handling the PC Board

When cutting or bending the PC board after mounting the connector, be careful that the soldered sections are not subjected to excessive force. The soldered areas should not be subjected to force.

Storage of Connectors

• To prevent problems from voids or air pockets due to reflow soldering heat, avoid storing connectors in high humidity areas.
• Depending on the connector type, the color may vary between connectors from different production lots. Some connectors may change color slightly if subjected to ultraviolet rays during storage. This is normal and will not affect operation.
• When storing connectors with assembled PC boards and components, be careful not to stack them in a way that subjects the connectors to excessive forces.
• Avoid storing connectors in locations with excessive dust, as it may accumulate and cause improper connections at the contact surfaces.

Other Notes

• Do not remove or insert electrified connectors (in the state of carrying current or applying voltage).
• Dropping or rough mishandling may bend or damage terminals and hinder proper reflow soldering.
• Before soldering, try not to insert or remove the connector more than absolutely necessary.
• When coating the PC board after soldering the connector to prevent insulation deterioration, perform the coating so that it does not get on the connector.
• There may be variations in product colors from different production lots; this is normal.
• The connectors are not meant for switching.
• Product failures due to condensation are not covered by warranty.