High-speed mated set In seconds (Samtec)
Author: Danny Boesing @Samtec
A historic milestone
A while ago, Samtec has introduced the Solutionator® Flex Stacking tool, an online connector search tool that provides you the mated connector set that meets your connector board stacking design requirements. Let me say that again – the tool gives complete part numbers of the two mating connectors that meet your design specifications.
Almost every other connector search on the planet leads you to one connector, and then you still have to search to find the other half of the mated set. In other words, you have to do at least two searches. And after these two searches, you still have to figure out the stack height of the mating connector system. And that can be, putting it mildly, a major hassle. With the Solutionator tool, you can literally locate the best mated connector set for your board stacking application in a matter of seconds.
The Flex Stack Solutionator was a hit. Designers love its simplicity and the breadth of solutions.
A new high-speed connector search tool
Samtec also recently launched the Solutionator® High-Speed Board-to-Board. As the name suggests, this online tool provides a mated connector set for high-speed board stacking applications. Like the original, the new one gives you complete part numbers of the two mated high-speed connectors that meet your design specifications.
How it works
It’s simple. You provide specifications for one or more of the following attributes, and the program gives you a list of mated connected sets that meet your design criteria:
Select a connector type — you can choose an array, two row (traditional “mezzanine”), edge card, or backplane.
Select an orientation – there’s parallel (traditional “sandwich” style board-to-board), perpendicular (right angle, or 90°), or coplanar (horizontal, or 180°).
Select the pitch, or connector centerline. If you’re unsure, you can select several pitches.
Select the number of positions. The offering is dependent on the connector type and orientation previously selected. This way you will only see the pin counts available for the connector sets that match your previously selected criteria.
Select the connector stack height. Again, the choices available to you are dependent on the previous design criteria you selected.
BTW, I recommend completing as many search attributes as possible and being as specific as possible. The more specific your request, the quicker it is for you to identify the best solution.
The Solutionator tool lists the mated connector sets that meet your design requirements. In the example below, you’ll notice there are two mated connector set options, available with different gold plating thicknesses.
When you select one of the connector sets in the image above, the tool takes you to a screen like the one shown below. You can see the full part numbers of the mating connector set, standard book pricing, you can download 2D or 3D models, you have access to prints, catalog pages, and PADS libraries, and you can order free samples.
Notice that both connectors are in the Samtec Reserve™ program. This means a quantity of these connectors can ship tomorrow.
Another Solutionator connector search on the way?
The Solutionator® Flex Stacking and the Solutionator® High-Speed Board to Board are the first two installments of several new Solutionator tools. Coming soon is a Solutionator for Micro Rugged products.
