From:                   Ralph Hersey <[log in to unmask]>

> 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".

Hi Ralph!

I'm glad to see this reply.  One of the biggest problems I had when I first
started doing board layouts was understanding the terminology.  We had IPC-D-
275 but didn't use it much.  I tried reading it but......... well, it was a bit dry.  I
didn't know that a "land" was a "pad" was a "padstack", etc.  And PCB vs
PWB was another mess!  Working with the library has made me appreciate a
common terminology being used by everyone here.  I have a copy of the IPC-T-
50 and try to use those terms when I'm talking with our techs or engineers.
Maybe between the two of us we could change the industry, huh?  And then
we can tackle the issue of slowing down the rotation of the earth on weekends.
 ;-)


JoAnn L. Amerson
Design Librarian
Red Lion Controls, Inc.
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Voice: (717) 767-6961 ext 6308

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