Post to bridge stacked PCBs?

[iXod]

When a design requires that 2 PCBs be separated by less than 1/2 inch (~12 mm), or so, and a circuit be joined across this gap, often a post is soldered between vias on each board. Typically many of these posts are used which also make a physical support between the boards. Sometimes these are soldered to one board and pin "sockets" are soldered to the other board which make it possible to split the boards when desired.

Not necessary to be soft or bendable.

I'm trying to find this type of wire/post, approximately 0.05 inch (1.29 mm), preferably square, small prototype quantities.

What is this called? Source?

Thanks.

[cantata.tech]

It's a lot of work for others to search online catalogs and give you selections of products, that merely cost cents or under a dollar.

However you aren't out of luck.

I suggest you buy a 3D printer because it's just so much fun making parts like that. It's amazing what you can do.

If you don't have the budget for that, you can perhaps buy some metal-tube and some thread-taps.

It depends on how many you want.

Another way is to junk hunt the dumpster with the electronic junk and they're probably on existing units that people are throwing out.

[TomS_]

I have more typically seen standoffs used to support boards, and some kind of board to board or other connector system in between. Can be 0.1" pin headers and sockets with the right dimensions to bridge the gap, or ribbon cables, or flat flexes, or specific high frequency connectors depending on the exact application...

If you are going to solder wires to each board as e.g. a cost saving measure (connectors can be expensive), perhaps dont double them up as supports, and keep them contained along one edge or in one area so that you can at least open the stack up if need be.

Soldering pins or supports between the boards to keep them separated and also route signals is going to make it a nightmare to probe and debug if required. Assembly and disassembly will be tough, and will eventually damage the boards if it has to be done more than a couple of times. So at least try to design your boards so that functionality is compartmentalised at the board level and they can be operated independently of each other for e.g. testing during manufacturing.

[fchk]

I'm trying to find this type of wire/post, approximately 0.05 inch (1.29 mm), preferably square, small prototype quantities.

What is this called? Source?

Mezzanine Connectors.

Suggestion: Molex SlimStack 501527.

https://www.molex.com/molex/products/family/slimstack_fine_pitch_smt_board_to_board_connectors

https://www.molex.com/molex/products/part-detail/pcb_receptacles/5015270530

fchk

[tooki]

When a design requires that 2 PCBs be separated by less than 1/2 inch (~12 mm), or so, and a circuit be joined across this gap, often a post is soldered between vias on each board. Typically many of these posts are used which also make a physical support between the boards. Sometimes these are soldered to one board and pin "sockets" are soldered to the other board which make it possible to split the boards when desired.

Not necessary to be soft or bendable.

I'm trying to find this type of wire/post, approximately 0.05 inch (1.29 mm), preferably square, small prototype quantities.

What is this called? Source?

Thanks.

You just mean headers, but bigger than the usual 0.1” pitch?

Yeah, they make those. You can find them e.g. on Digi-Key, in the male headers. Then select a larger pitch, like 3.81 or 3.96mm. Here’s a saved search: https://www.digikey.com/short/rp3mh2v3

[tooki]

I'm trying to find this type of wire/post, approximately 0.05 inch (1.29 mm), preferably square, small prototype quantities.

What is this called? Source?

Mezzanine Connectors.

Suggestion: Molex SlimStack 501527.

https://www.molex.com/molex/products/family/slimstack_fine_pitch_smt_board_to_board_connectors

https://www.molex.com/molex/products/part-detail/pcb_receptacles/5015270530

fchk

I think they mean the opposite: much larger than usual, like 0.05” pin size, not pitch.

[Someone]

https://www.mill-max.com
They have a pretty usable product selector, and are stocked well at the usual distributors.

[jonpaul]

molex, AMP, Berg old line USA vendors

SamTech has a,wide line and great catalog.

May even have samples.
https://www.samtec.com/connectors
Used them many times
Jon

[David Hess]

Tektronix had some assemblies like that using individual square pins which went completely through an individual square "socket" on the other board, but I have no idea what they were called or where they got them.