Product category:
Electronics manufacturing: equipment, automation, software
News Release from: PEM Europe | Subject: Surface Mount Fasteners
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 08 August 2005
Surface mount fasteners suit SMT
machines
Surface mount fasteners minimise damage to PCBs, as they are placed during the population of the PCB, not after.
Penn Engineering Fastening Technologies has developed ReelFast, a range of PEM SMT fasteners that are mounted to printed circuit boards in the same manner as other surface mount components, prior to the Re-Flow Solder process These new fasteners have been designed with productivity in mind, as they have to work with surface-mount assembly machines
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 25 Feb 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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As the name suggests, the PEM ReelFast parts typically come in tape-and-reel packages suitable for use with existing pick-and-place robots.
The PEM ReelFast SMT fasteners minimise damage to PCBs, as they are placed during the population of the PCB, not after.
Broaching fasteners are inserted into PCB's after population, which can subject boards to significant amounts of stress when they're at their most expensive.
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An illustrated 'Self-Clinching Fastener Handbook' provides an informative overview about these types of fasteners and profiles the self-clinching process.
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ReelFast gives another option to the designer when addressing the board fixing issue.
PEM ReelFast parts also eliminate secondary fastener installations, thus reducing cost.
Key benefits of PEM ReelFast SMT are: Faster PCB assembly.
Reduced scrap.
Reduced loose hardware.
Reduced PCB handling.
Reduced risk of PCB damage that may occur when fasteners are improperly installed with off-line equipment.
Once installed onto the PCB, the PEM ReelFast hardware exhibits performance characteristics equal to those of an equivalent broaching fastener.
A PEM ReelFast retaining nut soldered into a 6.35mm hole has an average pull-off strength of at least 375N, and an average torque-off strength of 3.7N/m.
In the same test, a comparable PEM broaching style fastener achieved a push-out strength of 420N and torque-out of 3.9N/m.
In both cases, the circuit board de-laminated before the fastener failed.
PEM ReelFast SMT Fasteners are available as surface mount nuts, spacers and panel fasteners.
The PEM ReelFast Nuts and Spacers are available in M3, M3.5, M4, #4-40, #6-32 and #8-32 threaded versions and in two through hole versions, in lengths from 2mm to 10mm.
Other lengths and thread sizes can be requested.
PennEngineering plans to release M2 and M2.5 threaded versions of the nuts and spacers in 2006.
The PEM ReelFast SMT Panel Fastener is ideal for applications that require a PCB to be easily removed and replaced.
Thread sizes for PEM ReelFast panel fasteners include M3, M3.5, #4-40 and #6-32.
The panel fastener can also have a cosmetic benefit in that the colours of the thermoplastic screw cap can be customised to match chassis colours.
PennEngineering will soon release PEM ReelFast SMT versions of its R'Angle Right Angled Fastener, ideal for PCB fixing at right angles, minimising additional brackets and loose hardware.
The PEM ReelFast SMT Fastener range from PennEngineering is available from Arconix UK.
Arconix UK serves as a single source for all PEM Brand fasteners and additional hardware, offering application engineering, technical support and logistical services to satisfy assembly needs from design through production.
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