Wave soldering 2mmpitch 2x10 THT connector? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MaxH
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2025, 07:38:06 am
content: Hi,Im currently facing a small challenge deciding how to solder this connector in mass production: CI0102M1HR0-NHits a 2mm pitch tht connector with 20 pins, it seems a bit tight for wave soldering plus there are many smd components directly next to the bot pins, im also designing the wave soldering mask but getting seperators between the pins in ducolite seems unrealistic.Design change is not an option.. I need to figure out how this was soldered before, one option would be a small titanium grid that seperates the pins during wave.Any suggestions?Thanks in advance

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2025, 07:44:07 am
content: Use a press-fit header ?

author: Accu-Sembly
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2025, 03:47:57 pm
content: This is obviously not a great design for automation. I would use a selective solder machine with a 2.5mm ID 4mm OD nozzle. Possibly require masking that one absurdly close diode depending on how controlled your wave height is and the application/aggressiveness of the flux used. If you were doing really high volumes, a titanium fixture covering the SMT components would become cost effective.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2025, 08:54:05 pm
content: How do you know it wasn't hand soldered before?"Design change is not an option", even if you just have the gerbers its still an option. Though might not be worth it at that point.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2025, 09:28:32 pm
content: What about reflow soldering it, using pin-in-paste?

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 07:40:15 am
content: Quote from: tooki on August 06, 2025, 09:28:32 pmThis is probably the solution with the best result, Sony's Raspberry Pi line went from wave to dip to pin-in-paste and each move was an incremental improvement. I would agree with others, this is far from an ideal design.We hand solder all THT parts for connectors on the "wrong side" of double sided boards and in lower cost labour markets it gets even more common.Robotic soldering might work given it mimics hand soldering.Redesign should always be an option if it improves yield or removes a process.

author: Accu-Sembly
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 10:51:41 pm
content: Unless the temperature specs are listed, there's a good chance the plastics on the headers won't survive a reflow profile with pin-in-paste. You are also going to have an issue with proper solder volume and degassing voids. I've seen enough cross section and x-ray analysis indicating internal failures with pin-and-paste to confidently consider it when hand soldering or selective are options.

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2025, 07:25:23 am
content: Quote from: Accu-Sembly on August 07, 2025, 10:51:41 pmYou would absolutely have to identify a replacement header that is compatible with whatever one they are using now. Pin in paste connectors typically have shorter pins and will come packaged for SMT possibly including pick pads/tape. Annoyingly they can be quite hard to find in some manufacturers catalogues, not helped by the inconsistent terminology used to describe them & the process. What part that might be is anyones guess as the part number given by the OP is not the THT connector we are looking at.

author: 48X24X48X
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2025, 09:52:18 am
content: Slapping a SMD version of the header would have save you money and time. Nowadays I avoid through hole completely whenever possible. Save money and time.

author: mtwieg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2025, 11:29:08 am
content: Yikes, I think you need to have a talk with the PCB designers about their DRC settings. Hard to believe a redesign would be worse than hand-soldering. Did this design already go through some sort of DFM review?Also I don't think that part number is correct.... CI0102M1HR0-NH seems to be a two-pin surface mount part.