Stacking PCB's

I am looking for some kind of connector that will let me stack several
of the same PCB on top of each other. Something that will have pins
sticking out the bottom and sockets directly on top so if I had 2 of the
same board they would just plug into each other. Do they make
connectors like that? I have seen socket headers that look like they
would work if only the pins were a little longer. Anyone here know of
somewhere I can buy something like that?

--
Chris W

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Samtec makes lots of stacking connectors. Check their website.

 

Samtec.

John

 

I can't seem to find what I am looking for there. I saw plenty of
connectors to stack and solder boards. What I am looking for is a
plug/pin combination so I can solder it to each board then plug and
unplug boards on top of each other. In other words, a non permanent
stacking connector. They may have it there but I did a fairly extensive
systematic search of the .100 connectors and didn't see anything.


--
Chris W

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I'm not sure I made myself clear. I don't want to stack just 2 boards
but 3 or 4 or 5 or however many, and I want all of those boards to be
exactly the same and the connections to be plug and unplugable.


--
Chris W

Gift Giving Made Easy
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Samtec makes several types of connectors to plug circuit boards
together. If you want to stack a bunch of cards in any order you put
matching sets on the boards. Male on one side and female on the other.
Their connectors are very good, I used them while working at L3 on their
RCB-2000 telemetry system in engineering and on the production floor.

Our boards had to stack in one order only, but some of the signals
went through the board to another set of connectors. You can even order
a custom length if you need to. I'm sorry I don't have any part
numbers. They moved the plant out of state and I don't have any
contacts there anymore.

 

As others have said, Samtec make connectors which can do this. Just put
a male connector on one side of each board, and the corresponding female
connector on the other side. E.g SFM on the top and TFM on the bottom

http://www.samtec.com/signal_integrity/technical_specifications/overview.asp?series=SFM

See also:

http://www.samtec.com/search/board_stacking.asp

Obviously, it will easier with surface mount connectors, since the
through hole parts cannot be placed directly opposite each other.

Gareth.


--

 

Chris, you may want to look for the connector system used
with PC104 boards. These are essentially reconfigured
ISA bus computer boards that are made to stack just as
you requested. The typical installation is an embedded
processor, where the CPU is on a little mother board, and
if you want to add (say) an A/D converter board you just
plug it on top. Any other options, you just keep stacking
them up.

Hope this helps!


Bob Masta
dqatechATdaqartaDOTcom

D A Q A R T A
Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis
www.daqarta.com

 

Here is a list of PC/104 connector manufacturers
http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_Connector_PC104.html

 

That is almost exactly what I am looking for. I want 2 single row 16
pin connectors but a single 4 row should work fin too, I will just need
to put standoffs at the other corners of the board. Thanks!

--
Chris W

Gift Giving Made Easy
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give the gifts they want
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That was the good news. The bad news is I can't find anywhere to buy
them with out getting a minimum of $50 worth of them.

--
Chris W

Gift Giving Made Easy
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give the gifts they want
http://thewishzone.com

 

Try one of these:
http://www.interfacebus.com/Parts_Catalog.html

(maybe digikey)

 

For thruhole boards, this would not be possible. Can't solder the connector
to the board. However, for surface mount, just use any male/female connector
pair. This will have an alignment issue.
Harold

 

Top Poster --- PLONK!

 

Then PC-104 products must not exist since they use exactly this type of
connector.

 

Even ordinary wire-wrap IC sockets will work - I did that once with a
daughterboard. Don't use the machined-pin kind - use sockets that will
take a .025" pin.

Cheers!
Rich

 

I believe a tool is required to press the connector into the board. Is that
correct?. The solder type of connector is not stackable.
Harold

 

Sorry to burst your bubble Harold, but I just installed several sets of stacking
connectors by soldering them onto a boards Friday.

Here is the Samtec catalog pages for the connectors we use -
http://www.samtec.com/ftppub/pdf/ESQ_TH.PDF
http://www.samtec.com/ftppub/pdf/SSQ_TH.PDF

To solder them with an iron, you push the long square tails through the board
holes from the top side of the board until the socket bottoms against the board
and solder the pins down next to the board on the backside. If you are using
the three row SSQs, hand soldering the center row of pins is difficult but it
can be done. For reflow soldering, you put solder preforms on the connector
pins (or buy connectors with preforms already installed), push the connector all
the way down on the board and reflow using hot air.

 

Plonker - <PLONK>

 

Thanks James
Harold