snap buttons on pcb - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: VIRNA CATTANI
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 19, 2025, 07:28:03 am
content: I need to place a pair of snap buttons (like the ones used for clothes but only the male part!) on my future PCB. I was wondering if there is an optimal way to solder them onto a PCB, or if there are specific footprints I can use.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2025, 02:48:23 pm
content: Why not rivet them? That's how thry're normally used.

author: VIRNA CATTANI
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 23, 2025, 10:41:11 am
content: Oh,can you explain me how to use the rivets?Only the male part has to be soldered on the pcb

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2025, 01:24:46 pm
content: Good Morning Virna, Google is your friend, which is how I found this video about installing rivets:https://youtu.be/jjIJg8eMaPU

author: VIRNA CATTANI
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 23, 2025, 01:30:19 pm
content: thank you for the hint! I see that it works on leather or general clothes...i am not sure this is suitable for the pcb material...I am afraid that the pcb could crack or sth similar

author: eutectique
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2025, 01:51:36 pm
content: Then put a thin piece of leather or rubber under the button.

author: VIRNA CATTANI
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 23, 2025, 02:48:45 pm
content: Quote from: eutectique on September 23, 2025, 01:51:36 pmwhat do you mean? the clip has to be connected to all the circuit...i don't understand sorry

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2025, 02:09:14 pm
content: Good Morning Again Virna, be sure and use a rivet made of copper or brass. Crush it only until it holds, and then apply some solder to the edge of the rivet and the part on the PCB it goes to. The rivet is for strength and the solder is for reliable electrical contact. If the board is easily damaged by attaching the rivet, then if the snap halves hold 'aggressively' then you need to rethink the project, as pulling the snap apart may damage the board. Can you attach the male snap to a stronger part of the project, andthen run a wire to the PCB?

author: eutectique
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2025, 02:17:00 pm
content: The button usually consists of two parts, one put through another (and your PCB) and riveted. Place a 1mm rubber washer under one part. The other part on the opposite side of your PCB should make contact with the trace or pad.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2025, 09:27:25 pm
content: Quote from: eutectique on September 24, 2025, 02:17:00 pmExactly. But instead of a rubber washer, I'd use a conical spring washer instead.Like this one:

author: neillnz
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2025, 10:27:31 am
content: I produce some boards which have snap terminals similar to the terminals of a 9V PP3 battery.I use a tiny arbor press, it's smaller than the one in the video above.The terminals, rivets and staking tools are all Keystone product which I get from Digikey.You can see the result in the attached photo. That is a flexible polyimide printed circuit, on the rear is a small 1.6mm FR4 peice that is used to give it strength.The rivets are plated brass and don't require much force to deform. If you use the correct staking tools you can acheive perfect results.

author: Georgy.Moshkin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2025, 07:57:11 am
content: Quote from: neillnz on September 25, 2025, 10:27:31 amI've used leather rivets and a small press for similar purposes. It worked pretty well, but the rivets frequently cracked. I think it's because of the sharp/hard corners of the PCB holes.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2025, 09:30:29 am
content: Solder wont be all that strong mechanically. So you may find it cracks and breaks connection after some use.Probably ok if its a single use thing, or very low use, but if its used a lot it will crack the solder joint.As other have said, finding some snap buttons that are for riveting might be better. You should be able to rivet them to the PCB.Connecting to them electrically might be a little tricky. But if you rivet to a PTH with pads each side it might work ok.You could experiment with just epoxying them to the PCB with electrically conductive epoxy. That might be another option.Should be stronger than solder. There will be some resistance in the epoxy but should be fine for <100mA / signal stuff.If you can find some snap buttons that poke into a hole in the PCB it will make the glue option work even better as it will provide some rigidityand more places for the glue to flow into. But even just epoxying a flat surface to the PCB pad might work ok. You'd have to try it and see how strong it is.

author: VIRNA CATTANI
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 09, 2025, 08:39:21 am
content: Sorry,but what do think I have to make the hole in the pcb if i have these dimensions of the clip?

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2025, 01:54:31 pm
content: Good Morning again Virna, Get a set ofhollow hole punch setsthat cover your dimensions.But try a appropriate size drill bit first, as the hole punch may crack the circuit board.