Introduction to Maxnetic® Connectors
Maxnetic® connectors deliver the best of both worlds: magnetic alignment for intuitive, zero-force engagement and spring-loaded contacts for durable, high-reliability electrical connections.
The polarized neodymium magnets guide the mating halves into position, ensuring precise alignment even in blind or constrained conditions. Once mated, spring-loaded pins provide consistent contact force and superior conductivity across thousands of cycles.
This dual-action design reduces mechanical wear, simplifies user interaction, and ensures a secure, repeatable connection — making it ideal for rugged, high-use applications in medical, industrial, and military environments. This engineering notebook takes a tour of the major considerations when employing magnetic-and-spring-loaded connections inside high-performance electronic designs.
Advantages of Magnetic Connectors
Maxnetic® connectors are engineered for zero-force magnetic mating, allowing users to establish a secure electrical connection without applying pressure. This stress-free engagement is particularly useful in tight spaces, wear-sensitive assemblies, or applications requiring frequent connections and disconnections.
Blind Mating | The connectors self-align using polarized neodymium magnets combined with mechanical body features. This ensures reliable mating even in blind or awkward orientations — minimizing user error and reducing connection time in field or production environments. |
Durability | Built for high durability, these connectors are rated for up to one million mating cycles without degradation in electrical performance. That resilience is backed by precision-machined construction from Mill-Max to ensure mechanical integrity and consistent contact force over time. |
Compactness | The .100” pitch version of Maxnetic® connectors maintains a low-profile stack height — as low as 10.9 mm — making them a compact solution for space-constrained designs. Each contact is capable of handling up to 5.2 A*, delivering strong performance for power and signal applications alike. |
Design Flexibility | Engineers can choose from multiple configurations including surface mount, single- and double-row options, with both solder tail and solder cup terminations available to match a variety of assembly requirements. |
*Current rating is a de-rated value based on an individual pin in free air. Actual performance may vary by configuration.