CAMARILLO, Calif. - Binder has expanded its M12 connector portfolio with angled panel-mount connectors designed to position printed circuit boards (PCBs) along the connector axis, reducing packaging constraints in cylindrical electronic devices.

The M12-A connectors receive the PCB at its front edge rather than mounting on top of the board. This midmount arrangement places the connector axis in the PCB plane, avoiding the extra assembly height of conventional surface-mounted connectors. The design accommodates PCB thicknesses of 1 to 2 millimeters and is intended for applications where electronics must fit within a narrow, tubular enclosure.

The configuration is particularly suited to industrial sensors installed in cylindrical housings. These devices often have a fixed housing diameter and limited space for internal electronics. With the connector positioned at the front of the populated PCB, the assembly can be inserted into the housing connector-first, centering the electrical interface on the front face. Preserving the available cross-section for the electronics may also allow manufacturers to use a smaller enclosure.

Other potential applications include level, distance, and pressure sensors; light barriers; position switches; measuring transducers; and fieldbus and peripheral devices with limited installation space.

The connectors feature four- or five-pin M12 A-coded interfaces compliant with DIN EN 61076-2-101. Options include shielded or unshielded configurations, with or without an O-ring. The connectors are rated IP68 when mated and locked and are designed to operate from -40 to +85 degrees Celsius, with a mechanical endurance rating exceeding 100 mating cycles.

For manufacturing, the through-hole reflow (THR) version can be soldered using standard reflow processes on a surface-mount technology (SMT) production line. An integrated pickup surface enables automated handling by pick-and-place equipment, eliminating a separate manual soldering operation. This can reduce assembly steps when replacing conventional arrangements that use straight-contact connectors wired and hand-soldered to the PCB.

Electrical specifications include a rated voltage of 60 volts and a rated impulse withstand voltage of 1,500 volts. The connectors feature gold-plated contacts and a contact body specified by binder as liquid crystal polymer (LCP) rated UL 94 V-0.

For more information, visit https://www.binder-usa.com.