Soldering interface
Describe the soldering and assembly process so the material-and-finish combination can be assessed.
Define material, thickness and finish separately
Material selection depends on the structure, frequency conditions, soldering, contact, cost and operating environment. A material name alone does not establish how the part will perform in the system.
Specify material thickness, plating and other surface treatments separately in the drawing or purchase requirements. A description such as tin-plated or nickel-plated shield still needs a defined base material and manufacturing specification.
Common material options
Use these as starting points for discussion. Specific grades, thicknesses and process combinations are established through drawings and approved samples.
| Material | Selection considerations |
|---|---|
| Tinplate | Stamping, soldering and board-level mounting requirements |
| Nickel silver | Strength, solderability and environmental conditions |
| Stainless steel | Strength, corrosion resistance and surface finishing |
| Aluminum alloy | Weight, joining method and surface treatment |
| Beryllium copper and phosphor bronze | Installed contact conditions for spring clips and fingers |
| Other materials | Application, process feasibility and material supply conditions |
Specify the finish around the mounting interface
Select tin plating, nickel plating or another finish alongside the soldering, contact and environmental requirements. Where a coating needs inspection, state the test method and acceptance criteria.
Selective gold plating at contacts, stainless-steel passivation and anti-oxidation treatments for copper parts can be discussed for specific projects. Confirm which treatment applies to the quoted part.
Contact areas
Identify the mating surfaces, contact locations and inspection tasks.
Operating environment
Provide the environmental conditions and test requirements behind a description such as corrosion-resistant.
Keep the material revision traceable
Use consistent material names, thicknesses and finishes across drawings, samples and orders. A change of base material or plating calls for a review of manufacturing, dimensions and assembly.
Once material and finish are agreed, arrange paid samples for mounting and the agreed engineering checks with the actual PCB or mating components.