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Sales & Customer Service FAQ's

1) Can we make custom pins?

2) What are Mill-Max's purchasing terms and conditions?

3) What is the lead-time on custom products?

4) Can we pay a premium to get parts faster?

5) Are your parts available in surface mount?

6) Why are your part numbers so long?

7) What is the International Harmonization Code for your products?

8) What is the ECCN Number for your products?

9) Does Mill-Max offer RoHS products?


Applications and Design FAQ's

1) What is the current rating for Mill-Max male printed circuit pins?

2) What is the largest acceptance range for the Mill-Max female receptacles?

3) Can a pin/receptacle be supplied on Tape & Reel?

4) Does Mill-Max cross to stamped and formed parts?

5) Does Mill-Max provide any suggestions for press-fitting, footprints, etc.?

6) Which press-fit feature is best suited for my application?

7) Does Mill-Max offer non-magnetic parts?

8) Can Mill-Max provide tighter tolerances than what is listed in the catalog?

9) What is the minimum quantity for custom quoted loose/discrete Spring-Loaded Connectors, pins and receptacles?

10) Is bulging in the clip assembly area always expected?

11) What is the minimum distance the mating pin should protrude beyond the contact/clip?

12) What is the suggested mating pin diameter for a Mill-Max Receptacle?

13) What options are available for applications higher than 150° Celsius?

14) Does Mill-Max machine materials such as stainless steel or beryllium copper?

15) Does Mill-Max manufacture Pogo Pins?

16) What is the easiest way to way to search for products on the Mill-Max website?

17) Why can’t Mill-Max part number 0291-0-15-15-16-14-10-0 be located online?

18) What are the root, main causes for premature failures for the Spring Loaded Connectors?

19) Where can swage and crimp tooling be purchased?

20) Do you have a competitor cross reference?

21) Where can operating temperatures and material properties be found?

22) Does Mill-Max offer any parts on Kapton Tape or can they be provided?

23) What is the deepest end hole (coaxial hole) Mill-Max can provide?

24) Does Mill-Max offer over-molding capabilities?

25) Are Mill-Max Spring-Loaded Connectors sealed and/or waterproof?

26) Are Mill-Max Spring Loaded Connectors lubricated, and if not, is there a lubrication recommended?

1) Can we make custom pins? Yes! As a matter of fact, custom pins are what we do best. Whether it’s changing a diameter, a length, or a hole size, we can produce a pin exactly suited for your application. We are able to turn around custom pins quickly, at a reasonable price and a low 5,000 piece minimum.

2) What are Mill-Max's purchasing terms and conditions? All orders placed directly with Mill-Max are subject to our terms and conditions. To view them click here.

3) What is the lead-time on custom products? Custom pins and receptacles have a lead-time of about 5-6 weeks; custom assemblies (pins in plastic) from 7-10 weeks depending on the complexity of the design.

4) Can we pay a premium to get parts faster? Every order is important to us and we won't bump an order that has already been placed for a new order from someone who is willing to pay a premium. However, we will do whatever is possible to try to meet our customer's delivery needs.

We have over 200 machines running full time with a set production schedule. We are able to produce over 100 million pins per week and are very often ahead of schedule, resulting in deliveries earlier than expected.

5) Are your parts available in surface mount? Yes, we do offer surface mount products. We offer surface mount PGAs, DIPs, SIPs, PLCCs, and select pins. To see our many surface mount offerings click here.

6) Why are your part numbers so long? Believe it or not, every digit of our part number has a meaning. Our numbers are constructed so we can get most of the information about the part from the number itself. From the part number we can determine type of part - socket, pin, or receptacle, and what plating is on the shell and contact.

We have tens of thousands of part numbers and have never had to make a change in the format of our number system since we instituted it over 20 years ago.

7) What is the Harmonized Schedule (HS) Tariff Classification Number for your products? The Harmonized Schedule (HS) Tariff Classification Number for MILL-MAX products is 8536.90.4000, terminals, electrical splices and electrical couplings.

8) What is the ECCN Number for your products? In accordance with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Export Administration, items listed on the Commerce Control List (CCL) require an ECCN and are subject to Export Administration Regulations (EAR.) Mill-Max is a manufacturer of electronic components. Products, as delivered from Mill-Max, are not listed on the CCL and are therefore not required to have an ECCN. Therefore, all Mill-Max products are EAR-99. Your anticipated use of these products may classify the product as a controlled material. Please refer the EAR for your specific application as required.

9) Does Mill-Max offer RoHS products? Yes. Most Mill-Max products will be available in both RoHS compliant and non-compliant versions. The status of each individual part number can be found both in our printed Design Guide or online in the product details of each part. Typically, if a product is not RoHs compliant, the plating choice will be the reason.   All of our products have distinct part numbers that describe the content and construction. Identification of RoHS compliant products is provided in our product advertisement, on our website and on product labeling wherever applicable.  We strongly recommend customers re-qualify new lead-free RoHS compliant product before implementation into existing designs. For more information visit the ROHS information page here.

Applications and Design FAQ's

1) What is the current rating for Mill-Max male printed circuit pins?  The current rating is typically a measured function of the female socket/connector.  The amount of current a solid, male, brass pin can tolerate is a direct relation of the heat displaced based on current and the ability of neighboring components to handle displaced heat.

2) What is the largest acceptance range for the Mill-Max female receptacles?  .084”-.102” (2.13 - 2.59 mm). The full acceptance range can be viewed on the Mill-Max website under the Design Guide (Page 214) or the Mill-Max Catalog, page 214.

3) Can pin/receptacle be supplied on Tape & Reel? Yes. Customers should ensure their Pick & Place Machine has the proper nozzle or they have means to obtain the proper nozzle before pursuing this option.  Typically, press-fit parts are not good candidates for Tape & Reel due to the press-fitting requirement.  However, the new high end Pick & Place machines do have the option of installing press-fit nozzles.  A minimum quantity of 1 reel will be required for Tape & Reel parts.   The amount of parts per reel can range from 200 parts up. For a complete list of parts available on tape and reel click here.

4) Does Mill-Max cross to stamped and formed parts?  Mill-Max uses high speed, precision screw machines to manufacture pins, receptacles, and Spring-Loaded Connectors.  If a customer is in need of a low cost alternative to a stamped product, a screw-machined product would not be the best suggestion.  If the customer is in need of a solution to inadequate performance of the stamped product, a screw-machined part would be an excellent solution.  Typically, a custom solution can be created or developed to emulate many stamped products.

5) Does Mill-Max provide any suggestions for press-fitting, footprints, etc.?  Available now on the Mill-Max website is the Engineering Notebook or Knowledge Database.  The Engineering Notebook is a good resource for learning best practices when designing and using Mill-Max products.  Information focusing on internal contacts/clips, hole-sizes for press-fit requirements, swage & crimp tooling and more can all be located in this section.         

6) Which press-fit feature is best suited for my application?  Below is a general guideline which displays press-fit features and when they should be (properly) used.  Additional information focusing on press-fitting and parts can be found in the Engineering Notebook.  

 
7) Does Mill-Max offer non-magnetic parts?  The typical Brass Alloy 360 material will contain traces of lead (3.1 %.)  Depending on the application and the requirements, the brass may or may not be acceptable.  Typically, nickel plating is an issue for most non-magnetic applications.  A nickel under plate is commonly used for adhesion purposes for the top level plating.  Tellurium Copper can be used as an alternate material in cases where brass is not acceptable.   Gold over copper plating can be provided to remove the nickel under plate in cases where the nickel plating is unacceptable but the brass material is acceptable.

8) Can Mill-Max provide tighter tolerances than what is listed in the catalog?  For some features, Mill-Max can hold machined tolerances to +/- .0005” (.0127 mm) before plating.  Typical manufactured tolerances can be located on page 4 in the catalog or on the Mill-Max website. 

9) What is the minimum quantity for custom quoted loose/discrete Spring-Loaded Connectors, pins and receptacles?  For custom-quoted pins, receptacles, and Spring Pin Connectors, we require a 1,000 piece minimum.  Custom-quoted parts will be quantity sensitive.  Spring-Loaded Connectors will typically be costly at low volumes due to the four part construction, required assembly methods and tightly machined components.

10) Is bulging in the clip assembly area always expected?  For end holes where wall material is lacking or thin, insertion of an internal contact/clip will typically create bulging of .001-.003" (.0254 - .0762 mm), which is expected.

11) What is the minimum distance the mating pin should protrude beyond the contact/clip?  To ensure a good solid electrical and physical connection between the mating pin and receptacle, Mill-Max suggests having the mating lead exceed the tines of the contact/clip by approximately .020-.025”+ (.508-.635 mm)  Scoring, marking, or grooving on the male mating pins are all positive signs of a good physical and electrical connection between the female receptacle and the male mating pin.

12) What is the suggested mating pin diameter for a Mill-Max Receptacle?  Ideally, the Mill-Max contact clip selection should have a pin acceptance mid-range, near the diameter of the mated pin.

13) What options are available for applications higher than 150° Celsius?  Mill-Max offers high temperature equivalents to the standard beryllium copper contact/clips.  These contact/clips are typically used in applications such as down-hole, burn-in, or where temperatures will exceed 150° Celsius.  The available substitutions can be seen on pages 214-215 in the Mill-Max catalog or on the website.

14) Does Mill-Max machine materials such as stainless steel or beryllium copper?  Mill-Max machines Brass Alloy 360, phosphor bronze, or tellurium copper.  Page 4 in the catalog or on the website will display the materials, properties and their available diameters.
  
15) Does Mill-Max manufacture Pogo Pins?  Mill-Max manufactures Spring-Loaded Connectors.  Spring-Loaded Connectors are commonly used in charging or docking applications, whereas Pogo Pins are typically used in testing applications, such as a bed of nails type application.  A Pogo Pin can commonly be manufactured from beryllium copper, which will be harder than the copper alloy used in Mill-Max’s Spring Pin Connectors.

16) What is the easiest way to way to search for products on the Mill-Max website?  The Mill-Max website offers five separate ways to conduct a search for products.  Depending on the individual’s knowledge of the product line, some customers may find it easier to search by a picture while others may prefer conducting a search based on text. 
The five search options are: 

 - Search by Part Number
 - Search by Product Picture
 - Search by Parameter
 - Search by Keyword
 - Search by Description

17) Why can’t Mill-Max part number 0291-0-15-15-16-14-10-0 be located online?  The 0291 base receptacle will be a standard, off the shelf item.  Due to the non-standard contact/clip plating choice, this part will not be considered a standard item.  The below part number breakdown will help identify and define the digits used in a Mill-Max part.  The breakdown of the part number will also apply to situations where customers require a non-standard or high temperature beryllium nickel internal contact/clip.

Mill-Max part number defined:

0291-0-15-15-16-14-10-0

0291       =             Receptacle/Shell Part Number
-0            =             In-House Code
-15          =             In-House Code
-15          =             Body/Shell Plating
-16          =             Contact/Clip Number
-14          =             Contact/Clip Plating Choice
-10          =             In-House Code
-0            =             In-House Code
 
The Plating Options Pins PDF File will display the plating differences which are available in the center of many product specification pages.
  
18) What are the root, main causes for premature failures for the Spring Loaded Connectors?  Typically, if a customer experiences premature failures, most likely over-compression or side loads has played a part.  Most customers, intrigued by the products, will begin compressing them in their hands, putting extreme forces on the plunger and creating a set spring.  Once the spring has taken a set, the plunger no longer will return to the original position.  Side loads or axial loads will also contribute to binding or sticking, creating stuck plungers.  Our recommendation is to protect the plunger from any side loads if possible, along with over-compression.  Customers can easily solve this problems by creating a mechanical stop or limit on the application’s compression ability.

19) Where can swage and crimp tooling be purchased?  Mill-Max does not manufacture crimp or swage tooling.  Listed below are good suggestions:

Crimp Tooling:
Daniel’s Manufacturing Corp.
www.DMCTools.com
407-855-6161
 
Swage Tooling:
Electronic Hardware
www.ElectronicHardware.com
818-982-6100
 
20) Do you have a competitor cross reference? The Mill-Max Cross-Reference Section located on the website is expanded and updated frequently.  When conducting a search using the cross-reference, the less digits entered commonly brings back the most results.  For example, if a customer has a FCI part number such as: SIP1X12-011BLF, entering SIP1 would be suggested for the initial search.

21) Where can operating temperatures and material properties be found?  Material and plating specifications, documented ratings and ranges can all be located on page 4 & 227 in the Mill-Max catalog or on the website under the Design Guide Section.

22) Does Mill-Max offer any parts on Kapton Tape or can they be provided?  Mill-Max offers the 836 Series which will feature the loose/discrete 3169 “V” Groove Pin loaded on Kapton Tape. Mill-Max has the ability to provide many parts on Kapton Tape however, this may require modification of the pin/receptacle.

23) What is the deepest end hole (coaxial hole) Mill-Max can provide?  For high speed turning, a hole depth of 5 times the diameter is the preferred maximum depth.  If the hole depth exceeds the above factor, the part will be forced to run on a slower machine, raising the cost.

24) Does Mill-Max offer over-molding capabilities?  Press-fit or interference-fit is the provided mounting of Mill-Max parts in injection molded insulators/housings.  Mill-Max offers several pins and receptacles which have been successfully used by customers in applications requiring over-molding. Mill-Max has the ability to provide custom pins and receptacles with features designed for over-molding. 

25) Are Mill-Max Spring-Loaded Connectors sealed and/or waterproof?  A typical Mill-Max Spring Pin Connector will have four precision-machined components.  The spring pin plunger or tip, when compressed will move inwards in the linear direction, residing inside the pin connector's body, creating an entry point for liquids or contaminants.  In some cases, customers will install a Mill-Max Spring Pin Connector in their own sealed housing to create a sealed chamber where environments are not friendly.

26) Are Mill-Max Spring Loaded Connectors lubricated, and if not, is there a lubrication recommended?  Mill-Max Spring Loaded Connectors are not lubricated.  Customers have used light viscosity, thin metal oils in the past and have had success.  Typical applications do not require lubrication.