As the electronics industry continues to experience the increasingly important need for mobile technologies and the subsequently smaller packages required, the real estate on the printed circuit boards (PCBs) becomes more critical for mobile devices as well as current and new technologies. Since a few years already, connectors have been moving from pin-through-hole assembly to surface-mount technology soldering.

Surface mount connectors are usually subjected to higher processing temperatures than pin-through-hole connectors. CMM micro-connectors temperature ranges from -60°C to +260°C and is reflow solder process compatible.

A number of new additions, improvements and evolutions have been added into the CMM micro-connectors catalogue over the last weeks (from November 2010 to June 2011). Quite a few concern SMT assembly processes and we wanted to sum up & point out the most significant news that have occurred.

Our CMM micro-connectors are perfectly adapted to the surface mount SMT technology. A wide selection of CMM series is designed for Pick and Place SMT processes. Let’s see what's new:

CMM 100/200 series (1 & 2-row LF contacts connectors):

1.    A new “LS” latch for 90° SMT terminations (R type contacts):
The SMD latch is generally used in board-to-wire interconnection systems where a connector is fixed to female housings on cable. Our LS latch is made of Beryllium alloy over Nickel 3µ. Typical Nicomatic part numbers are 101RnnLS (from 2 to 25 LF contacts) and 201RnnLS (from 4 to 50 LF contacts).

Good to know: The Nicomatic SMD latch leads to substantial production cost reduction on electronic modules as it is no longer necessary to use the strain relief strap and thus to pierce PCB wholes. The latch allows a high quality mechanical locking system and PCB soldering at the vapour phase. Connectors equipped with this fixing are delivered in blisters or Tape & Reel. Read more.

You can also use our existing latch for for straight SMT terminations (T type contacts).

2.    As a result a new pattern has been designed for 90° SMT male connectors to accept the new SMD latches (catalogue page 21).

3.    In order to allow good mating, female 90° SMT constructions have been added into our connectors range as well.

4.    New tape & reel option using market standard reel of contacts:
NICOMATIC has added a new option for the delivery of its CMM series micro-connectors in T&R. This new feature allows to place automatically the 1 or 2-row connectors from the CMM range in straight SMT or 90° SMT versions equipped with LF signal contacts (CMM series 100/200/220).

CMM 220/320 series (2 & 3-row LF and mixed-layout connectors):

1.    A new compact 3-row 90° SMT connector available in standard:

CMM320 series in 90° SMT version is the result of SMT range extension allowing us to present the most compact connector existing on the market today in the 2mm pitch category. The length between the rear side of the insulator and the 3rd row of contacts is 13mm which makes a compact connector with the smallest PCB footprint found on the marketplace! Read more.

2.    New straight SMT & 90° HF contacts:

30-1600 (male) & 30-2600 (female) straight SMT HF contacts have been included into the range. The new high frequency contacts as all other Nicomatic special contacts allow up to 5 000 mechanical operations, and up to 50 contact replacements in insulator. The contacts are applicable at a frequency range of 6 GHz and over 11 GHz according to the routines test other than MIL.

The previously right angled version HF contacts 30-1500CMM (male) available upon request  are now available in standard. They are designed for CMM220 series LF connectors. An other version with P/N 30-1500-12 (male) also exists for mixed-layout CMM 220 series specifically designed for card edge applications.

3.    New straight SMT & 90° HP contacts:

30-3600 (male) & 30-4600 (female) straight SMT HP contacts are also available in the high power range. They can be used in a fully special contacts connector design or in mixed-layout (CMM220 and CMM320 connectors). The contacts can be used at 50Ohm or 75Ohm impedance and above according to the routines test other than MIL.

30-3500 (male) & 30-4500 (female) 90° SMT HP contacts can also be used in all LF or mixed versions.