Introduction to Spring Loaded Pogo Pins & Connectors
Spring-Loaded pins, sometimes called Spring-Loaded Contacts, Spring probes, or Pogo Pins, provide a highly-reliable, precision made interconnect solution ideal for a number of demanding application requirements in the fast moving world of electronic interconnects. Each Mill-Max spring-loaded pin is precision machined to ensure a high quality, low resistance, compliant connector giving it the edge over other technologies. Mill-Max’s innovative design leads the industry, enabling engineers to specify the right connector for their application.
THE BACKGROUND ON SPRING-LOADED PINS:
| Each Mill-Max spring-loaded pin is typically made of 3 machined components and assembled with an internal spring to provide the range of movement required. All of these components are electroplated with gold over nickel to ensure excellent electrical conductivity, durability and corrosion protection throughout the life of the product. Thanks to the many advantages spring-loaded pins offer, companies in the telecommunications, military, medical, transportation, aerospace and industrial automation industries have discovered the advantages of using spring-loaded pins in their design. |  |
SPRING-LOADED PIN & CONNECTOR OPTIONS
Whether your application requires through-hole mounting, surface mount, wire termination, press-fit or features for alignment, Mill-Max has multiple styles to choose from to ensure you find the right spring-loaded pin for your design.
Features of most Mill-Max Spring-Loaded Contact Pins:
- Built to last up to 1,000,000 Cycles
- Typical Contact Resistance, 20mΩ at mid stroke
- Tested to a minimum of 50G shock and 10G vibration
- Gold Plated Components provide optimal electrical & mechanical performance
- Rated Current between 2 and 9 amps continuous @ 30° temperature rise
Discrete Spring-Loaded Contact Pins
Field proven for performance and reliability in harsh environments, our discrete Spring-Loaded pins are tested to a minimum of 50g shock and 10g vibration with no spikes >1µs and > 1.5V with 0.5A applied. This ensures continuity across a wide variety of length and stroke configurations.
Use our product finder to search for a specific style to fit your specific application or consult with an applications engineer to discuss your requirement and possibly have a custom solution designed.
Connector Arrays
Spring-Loaded pins are often sold assembled into high temperature thermoplastic to form connector arrays. We offer several standard arrays from .050” (1,27mm) to ,158" (4,00mm) pitch, or we can selectively load pins into specific patterns.
It is also possible to incorporate mounting hardware into the insulator such as threaded inserts to fixture the connector to a board or other substrate.
Omniball® Spring Loaded Contacts for sliding and rotational applications
These unique contacts offer an omni-directional mating surface allowing for sliding into place in blind mate or “twist & lock” applications. These contacts feature .030” (0,762mm) of vertical compression to ensure a quality electrical and mechanical connection, and offer a “wiping” connection, to ensure a cleaner contact surface.
Omniball® Spring Loaded Contacts are ideal for horizontal and rotational connections as wear is minimized at the point of contact between the plunger and mating pad surfaces.
Packaged on Tape and Reel
Mill-Max currently offers several discrete spring-loaded pins on tape & reel. Most spring-loaded pins can be removed from the tape packaging using modern automated assembly equipment, or in some cases may be packaged with a removable pick and place cap.
Can't find what you need? Contact technical support to discuss packaging a particular part on tape & reel.
Large Base Spring-Loaded Pins
For increased PCB stability consider our family of discrete Spring-Loaded Contacts featuring a large base.
These part families offer a range of application heights from .137" to .430" (3,48mm to 10,92mm.) and a base of .159" (4,00mm).
Rugged, higher current Spring-Loaded Pins
Our series of rugged spring pins are capable of carrying 9 amps continuous current at a low 30° C temperature rise.
The high current spring-loaded pins are an excellent choice for rugged applications and for use as power and ground pins.
Insulated Spring-Loaded Pins
Where electrical isolation is required, Mill-Max offers a range of spring-loaded pins with insulating sleeves.
This feature provides insulation of the spring pin terminal for situations such as passing through a conductive case or housing, or for isolating the pin from surrounding conductive components or elements.
Spring Force Options
Most Mill-Max Spring-Loaded pins are designed to maintain 60 grams of force at mid-stroke. For applications requiring a force higher or lower than the standard, a spring may already be available for the spring pin or connector you are interested in.
The product detail pages of some spring-loaded pins indicate the spring force options available; you can also consult with an applications engineer to discuss your requirement and possibly have a custom spring designed.
Horizontal Mount
For connections on a horizontal plane, we now offer a selection of horizontal mount spring-loaded interconnects.
These pins and connectors are designed for parallel or right angle mating of boards and components. Available in .050" (1,27mm) or .100" (2,54mm) pitch in both through hole and surface mount. For the lowest profile option, be sure to check out our spring-loaded connectors with removable insulators.
Wire Termination
For customers looking to utilize spring-loaded pins to terminate wires or cables, Mill-Max offers specific spring-loaded pin designs with solder cups or crimp barrels. Two categories of discrete pins are available; standard size which accept up to 24 AWG wire and large scale for up to 16 AWG.
Mill-Max now also has the ability to offer a select series of Spring-Loaded connectors with crimped wires already attached.
Double Action Spring Pins
Where multiple finished sub-assemblies, boards or components, are stacked and then mechanically fastened together consider double action spring-loaded pins which feature a spring-loaded plunger at both ends of the pin.
In situations where soldering to the circuit board is not an option, we also offer compression mount connector assemblies, featuring double action spring-loaded pins. When using a double ended spring-loaded pin it is recommended to compress the pin to near full stroke as the pressure of the plungers on the mating surfaces is the only factor keeping the electrical connection intact.
Power/Signal Connectors
Spring-Loaded pins may also be arranged to make power and signal connectors by providing differing height and stroke spring pins in the same insulator for efficient combination connectors. Additionally, these First Mate/Last Break (FMLB) connectors can accommodate the requirements of hot swap connectors. For your specific requirements, consult with an applications engineer
Custom Solutions
If you cannot find the exact product you are looking for from our standard line-up, we can work with you to design a custom pin or connector specifically for your needs. Feel free to contact our engineering department to discuss your design requirement. With low minimums and competitive pricing, you should be able to find the solution you need, whether it is for full production or prototyping volumes.
View Spring-Loaded Applications