Restated from perspective of a recovering sailor and former VW mechanic...

a) Get the starting drill size right. Game over if you ignore this 
(read connector datasheet carefully -- it's usually very specific).

b) Get the minimum amount of copper in via (1.2mil for >=40 mil vias 
and 1 mil min for smaller vias)

c) Don't overplate the via. Minimum hole size is where we have had 
most of your problems.  Press can't do it or pins Z-into surface of pwb.

... and yer good to go.

At 06:52 AM 9/10/2009, David D. Hillman wrote:
>Hi Brian - the primary cause of plated thru hole cracking using ENIG
>surface finishes and press-fit/compliant pin technology is incorrect
>plated thru hole size due to: (a) incorrect fabrication of the plated thru
>hole; (b) incorrect nickel plating of the plated thru hole; (3) incorrect
>design dimensioning/tolerancing of the plated thru hole. A secondary cause
>of plated thru hole cracking would be improper installation
>force/alignment of the press-fit/compliant pin devices.  If I get a
>chance, I'll see if I can find the technical article references in our
>database.
>
>Dave Hillman
>Rockwell Collins
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>Brian Chandler <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent by: TechNet <[log in to unmask]>
>09/10/2009 06:42 AM
>Please respond to
>TechNet E-Mail Forum <[log in to unmask]>; Please respond to
>Brian Chandler <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>To
>[log in to unmask]
>cc
>
>Subject
>[TN] PTH Cracking with NiAu and Compliant Pin
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Does anyone have any experience or articles with PTH cracking when using
>NiAu board finish with compliant pin? I saw some articles about it a few
>years ago but I cannot find them now.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Brian
>
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