Connector and manufacturing process

                                                 Connector and manufacturing process

Connector manufacturing as the second pillar industries of electronic components, its product is a kind of functional components with electrical connection properties. The main function is in the devices and components, components and cabinet, between systems and subsystems have the effect of electrical connections and signal transmission, constitute the whole circuit system is one of the basic elements of electrical connection necessary.  Now, the connectors have been widely used in aerospace, military equipment, communications, computers, automobiles, industries, household appliances and other fields.

There are many kinds of electronic connectors, but the manufacturing process is basically the same. The manufacturing of connectors can generally be divided into four stages: Stamping, Plating, Molding and Assembly.

Stamping:
The manufacturing process of electronic connectors generally begins with stamping pins. Through a large high-speed punching machine, the electronic connector (pin) is made of a thin metal strip. One end of the large rolled metal belt is fed into the front end of the punching machine, and the other end is wound into the winding belt wheel through the hydraulic working table of the punching machine. The metal belt is pulled out by the winding belt wheel and rolled into the finished product.
Stamping is the manufacturing area of the metal terminal. As the main component of the connector, the shape and size of the metal terminal affect the subsequent process and the quality of the finished product.

There are two common types of terminals
1: Pins.
2: Terminals
Suppliers typically use many different types of copper alloys to provide the best electrical and mechanical properties for terminal design.

Brass 
Features:
1: Zinc accounts for 5%-40%
2: Excellent elasticity, strength and electrical properties
3: The cheapest metal by mass

Phosphor bronze
Features:
1: Excellent strength, toughness, and electrical conductivity
2: Very good elasticity and fatigue strength
3: Use for typical electric contact springs

Pressing requires two types of equipment: Punch and Stamping die;
First, the die enters the crimping process. The crimping equipment provides the pressure, and the die cuts the terminal and shapes it.
Second, the bar metal is passed into the pressing equipment and die, the metal strip may be coated or not coated.
Next, the metal is cut and shaped into a joint. This is done in a small cutting and molding process as the parts pass through the mold.
Finally, the finished terminal is removed from the mold and dropped into the collection box for collection. They may be rolled into tubes to enter the next process, such as coating or assembly.

Plating:
Connector pin stamping should be sent to the electroplate section after completion. So - called Plating, that is, after the stamping forming metal terminal needs to be plated on the metal surface tin, lead, gold and other different coating.
Plating is the process of depositing a coating with the desired form by means of a point solution method. The purpose of electroplating is generally to change surface characteristics to provide improved appearance, corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance, and other required properties, or a combination of these properties.

The contacts material of the electronic connector is generally copper alloy, commonly used coating: Gold, Silver, Tin

Applicable scenario:

Flexible application of gold coating