Electronics distributor Farnell element14 is now offering RFI shield clips from manufacturer Harwin, which improve the process and reduce the cost of attaching shield cans to PCB by eliminating the need for post reflow solder operations.
Typically, to protect sensitive electronic circuits from extraneous EMI/RFI, shielding is mounted to the PCB using through-hole solder tails and manually soldered after the main assembly process. This practice is not only time-consuming and expensive, but also potentially destructive to the components because of the need to remove and reinstall the shielding during initial setup and subsequent maintenance, the company explained.
The new shield retaining clips, supplied in industry-standard tape and reel packaging, provide an automatic placement method which is soldered using standard SMT placement equipment. The clips can be fitted during final assembly and easily removed and refitted multiple times, reducing maintenance time and minimizing the risk of damage.
