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Thicker PCB Nicomatic

In your designs, you’ve probably noticed it: printed circuit boards are getting thicker. This trend is increasingly present across many industries, driven by requirements for power, reliability, and robustness.

But while thicker PCBs provide undeniable advantages, they also introduce a major challenge: ensuring reliable interconnections beyond standard limits.

 


Why Design with Thicker PCBs?

Engineers choose thicker PCBs to address very concrete needs:

Power Management

- Integration of thicker copper layers, essential to handle high currents.
- Reduced losses and improved heat dissipation.

Mechanical Rigidity

- A thicker board resists vibrations, shocks, and bending more effectively.
- Stronger solder joints with reduced risks of microcracks in vias.

Increased Via Reliability

- Through-holes are more robust in a thick PCB.
- Result: improved resistance to thermal cycles, reduced material fatigue, and longer-lasting interconnections.

Application Trends

- The rise of high-density embedded systems and power electronics is driving strong demand for thicker PCBs.

In short, thicker PCBs are a justified technical choice, but they also require rethinking interconnection strategies.

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Nicomatic’s Offer

To support you in these developments, Nicomatic provides a full range of through-hole contacts on its CMM and DMM connector series.

CMM

The CMM series offers a wide variety of straight or right-angle through-hole contacts for thick PCBs:

- Signal contacts: available in lengths up to 9.1 mm, suitable for boards up to 8.1 mm thick.
- High-power contacts (30A): a new reference now available, with a maximum length of 5.1 mm.
- Modularity: option to combine signal, power, and coaxial contacts in the same connector for compact, robust integration.

The CMM series is particularly well suited when you need to combine density, modularity, and robustness on thicker boards.

 

DMM

The DMM series also offers a wide variety of straight or right-angle through-hole contacts for thick PCBs:

- Signal contacts: available in lengths up to 6.1 mm, suitable for boards up to 5.1 mm thick.
- High-power contacts (30A): available in lengths up to 5.1 mm, suitable for boards up to 4.1 mm thick.

Thanks to the D-51-XL fixing accessory, our DMM connectors can be used with boards up to 5 mm thick.

👉 Nicomatic is one of the few players offering a mixed configuration of signal (LF) and power (HP) for boards up to 5 mm thick.

 


Robustness and Fixing for Harsh Environments

Beyond through-hole contacts, we also provide dedicated fixing solutions.

Our CMM and DMM connectors integrate screw-locking systems, specifically designed to withstand harsh environments.

We also offer screw-through fixings, further strengthening the connector’s mechanical retention.

👉 The result: an ultra-robust connector, ready to ensure reliable performance even in the most demanding applications.

 


In Summary

The move toward thicker PCBs addresses new requirements for power, reliability, and robustness in harsh environments. These boards require specially adapted contacts.

At Nicomatic, we support your developments with solutions designed to meet these evolving needs.

Working on a project with 4, 5, or even 8 mm PCBs? Our team is here to assess your constraints and guide you to the most suitable solution.

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