Assembly Instructions
AN2009-01
General Information
Application Note 5 V2.2, 2015-02
1 General Information
PressFIT is an alternative method for connecting control and load current contacts on IGBT modules to
a PCB (printed circuit board) that complies with the requirements for greater durability, the trend
towards higher temperatures, RoHS and – of course – very simple handling.
This contact technology has already been employed for years now in the automotive sector under the
most difficult of conditions and with medium-sized currents. The contacts have also been used in the
telecommunications sector for some time now for signal transmissions. This type of contact is therefore
ideal for use in IGBT modules in which the contacts have to satisfy the requirements for load, control
and sense connections.
The press-fit contact for modules in the EconoPIM™ and EconoPACK™ series is an initial
development for the technology.
The solution for modules without a base plate is now provided with the Easy PressFIT pin. It should be
noted in the case of the Easy PressFIT geometry that it has been used for decades in a wide variety of
applications and was able to be adapted for use in the modules.
The Easy PressFIT contact allows solderfree assembly of the EasyPIM™, EasyPACK and Easy
Automotive modules in the EasyB series. In this assembly technology the module can be mounted on
either side of the circuit board.
The electrical and thermal contacts with the circuit board are implemented by means of cold welding.
The contacts can be used in standard FR4 printed circuit boards with the tolerances typical of
manufacturers.
Figure 1: Modules in the EasyB series featuring PressFIT contacts
Easy PressFIT contacts have an area approximately 1.7 mm long that adapts itself to the hole in the
printed circuit board during the press-in process. Permanent deformation takes place as a result. This
deformation is intended to accommodate the tolerance and provides the basis for the cold welding.
The forces resulting during the press-fitting process ensure that the welded materials on the PCB and
pin exhibit a continuously consistent – and unlike other contact technologies – very small electrical
contact resistance (approximately 0.05 mΩ). Figure 2 shows various sections and REM images that
provide a view of the materials connected together in a gas-tight manner due to the press-in force.
Figure 2: Easy PressFIT contact sections
Note Normative References: For referenced undated standards the edition applies, which was valid at the
application note release in January 2009.