Jan Satterfield wrote:
>
> An employee in publications is asking what the technical name is for the
> "gold fingers" on the edge of a PWB. I've always called them gold
> fingers. What does the industry call them? Are they edge connectors?
>
> Jan Satterfield
> L-3 Communications
>
Hi Jan--
For standards, specifications, product definition, contractural
requirements, and training, you should use the most correct and
definitive term to eliminate confusion.
In our industry, shop jargon is widely used and leads to confusion in
our industry. As you read technet's postings, you find that many
shop-jargon and technically incorrest terms are deeply ingrained and
widely used to communicate information and requirements. The use and
proliferation of incorrect and inappropriate terms should be eliminated
because their continued use makes it more difficult to communicate
requirements, especially when we try to communicate technical
requirements between various languages. We (as an idustry) should use
the most technically correct, explicite and definite term in our
communications of requirements in order to improve communications by
reducing errors, to convey exact (unabigious) technical requirements,
and to simplify communications (don't have to remember all the possible
equivalencies).
The term that you should use in your query is the plural "Printed
Contacts", which by IPC-T-50 is "A portion of a conductive pattern that
serves as one part of a contact system" because most printed.
You could use the IPC-T-50 term "Edge-Board Contact(s)" which are
defined as "Printed contact(s) on or near any edge of a printed board
that are used specifically for mating with edge-board connectors."
I'd recommend the use of "printed contacts" as it's the more "generic"
term, and includes the utilization of "printed contacts" that are not
located at the edge of a printed board.
The use of technically incorrect terms adds confusion to our industry.
You should also use the preferred term "Printed Board (PB)" in
preferrence to the terms printed circuit boards (PCBs) and printed
wiring boards (PWBs). The use of PCBs is confusing, is PCB
"polychlorniated biphenol", a politically correct review board, a
personal computer board, or a PB with electrical characteristics. The
term "printed wiring" should likewise be discouraged unless the printed
board doesn't have any electrical characteristics designed and
manufactured into the design (other than the distribution of power and
ground).
I'd recommend that you or the "publications personnel" obtain a copy of
IPC-T-50, and use the "preferred" terms.
Examples of some of the most abused and misused terms are those listed
above but also, the various terms used for "lands" (pads, donuts, etc),
"conductors" (trace, tracks, lines, path, etc), likewise the terms
fabricate, manufacture, and assembly when used as technical terms for
"processes".
If you need some more help, please feel free to contact me.
Ralph
Ralph Hersey & Associates
3885 Mills Way
Livermore, CA 94550-3319
PHN/FAX: 925.454.9805
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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