01 SOLDERLESS
Mount without solder
Use polygon or compliant-tail press-fit features to create mechanical retention and an electrical path in a plated through-hole.
Precision machined interconnects
Precision Machined Connector Pins Built for Reliable Connections
Choose from standard PCB pins or work with Mill-Max on an application-specific design. Tight-tolerance machining, multiple termination features and in-house plating help engineers solve electrical, mechanical and assembly challenges with one component.
- Machined in the USA
- In-house electroplating
- Standard and custom designs
- Since 1971
Mill-Max precision machined connector pins are conductive, mechanically robust building blocks for PCB, board-to-board, wire-to-board, component lead and custom interconnect designs. They can be configured with press-fit, swage, solder, crimp or wire-wrap features and paired with receptacles for pluggable connections.
Engineering range
A Pin Platform Designed Around Your Assembly
Start with the connection method, mating interface and production process. Mill-Max can support a broad range of standard geometries and custom configurations.
.0005 inMachining tolerance available for critical-to-function features
.008 to .250 inAvailable diameter range for precision machined pins
3 materialsStandard base options: brass, phosphor bronze and tellurium copper
100M+Precision-machined interconnect components produced per week
Start with your requirement
What Does the Pin Need to Do?
02 BOARD + COMPONENT
Connect boards or components
Specify pin geometry for permanent or pluggable board-to-board connections, component leads, test points and low-profile assemblies.
03 WIRE TERMINATION
Terminate a wire
Choose solder cup, turret, wrapost or crimp features based on wire size, tooling, serviceability and production requirements.
04 CUSTOM DESIGN
Solve a non-standard problem
Customize material, plating, diameters, shoulders, retention geometry, termination features and packaging for the application.
Why precision machining
Repeatable Geometry for Electrical and Mechanical Performance
A connector pin is more than a conductive path. Its geometry can also locate, retain, strengthen and simplify the assembly.
Tight control
High-speed turning controls critical dimensions and produces repeatable parts from prototype through production.
Seamless construction
Machined construction supports robust pin bodies and eliminates a seam that could allow solder to enter the part.
Geometry flexibility
Shoulders, heads, barbs, knurls, polygons, slots, cups and compliant features can combine electrical and mechanical functions.
Material and finish control
Choose among standard copper alloys and application-specific plating finishes produced through Mill-Max's in-house processes.
Design comparison
Machined Pin Features and When to Use Them
Use this decision table to narrow the feature family. Final dimensions, materials and plating should be selected against the mating component, PCB and assembly process.
| Feature | Primary function | Typical design need | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compliant tail | Solderless press-fit into plated through-holes | Gas-tight PCB connection while accommodating standard hole tolerances | Find Compliant Tail Pins |
| Polygon | Interference retention in a plated through-hole | Electro-mechanical fit with stress relief during insertion | Learn More |
| Barb | Retention in a housing or drilled non-plated board | Mechanical hold in plastic or other non-plated material | Learn More |
| Knurl | Anti-rotation retention | Stabilizing solder cups, right-angle pins or receptacles | Learn More |
| Swage feature | Rivet-style mechanical fastening | Secure attachment using punch and anvil tooling | Learn More |
| Solder cup | Direct solder termination of a wire | Serviceable wire-to-board or wire-to-component connection | Learn More |
| Crimp end | Mechanical crimp termination to wire | Repeatable wire termination using matched tooling | Learn More |
| Turret or wrapost | Wire wrapping for production or test | Controlled wire termination and test access | Search terminals |
Application fit
Where Machined Pins Add Value
Board-to-board
Permanent or pluggable parallel, perpendicular, low-profile and stacking connections.
Wire-to-board
Solder cup, crimp, turret and wrapost terminations for signal or power wiring.
Component leads
Machined terminations for over-molded, potted or pluggable electronic components.
Test points
Accessible, repeatable conductive features for PCB test and verification.
Flex-to-board
Nail-head pin styles for connecting flexible circuitry to rigid PCBs or substrates.
Rugged electronics
Interconnect designs for medical, aerospace, military and industrial control applications.
Metal-core PCBs
Application-specific insulated pin designs for conductive board substrates.
Automated assembly
Pin geometries and tape-and-reel packaging options developed for production handling.
Build a complete interconnect
Pair Machined Pins with Receptacles When the Connection Must Be Pluggable
Use a machined pin for
- A male conductive contact or terminal
- PCB retention plus an electrical path
- Wire termination, test access or component leads
- Application-specific mechanical geometry
Add a receptacle when you need
- Plugging and unplugging of a component or board
- Acceptance of round, square or rectangular leads
- A replaceable or serviceable connection
- Contact clip options for force, temperature and mating range
Application-specific solutions
A Standard Pin Is the Starting Point, Not the Limit
Mill-Max can adapt dimensions, retention features, termination style, base material, plating and packaging to the connection and assembly process. Bring the mating diameter, PCB or housing details, current path and production requirements to the technical team.
Frequently asked questions
Precision Machined Connector Pin FAQ
What is a precision machined connector pin?
A precision machined connector pin is an individual conductive component turned to controlled geometry for electrical connection and mechanical retention in a PCB, housing or mating receptacle.
How can machined connector pins be mounted?
Common mounting and termination methods include press-fit, compliant press-fit, swage or rivet, solder, crimp and wire-wrap features.
What pin diameters are available?
Mill-Max precision machined pins are available in diameters from .008 inch through .250 inch. The correct size depends on the mating contact, current path, board geometry and assembly method.
Which base materials and platings are available?
Standard base material options include brass, phosphor bronze and tellurium copper. In-house plating options include finishes such as gold, nickel, copper, pure tin and tin-lead in application-specific thicknesses.
Can Mill-Max make a custom connector pin?
Yes. Mill-Max supports custom machined pins and receptacles, including application-specific geometry, material, plating, retention and termination features.
How do I choose between a pin and a receptacle?
Use a machined pin for the conductive male contact or terminal. Pair it with a receptacle when the design requires a pluggable, replaceable or repeatedly mated connection.
Technical resources
Continue Your Design Research
Selection
Product Search
Search Mill-Max standard interconnect products by category and design requirement.
Design guide
Pins & Receptacles Brochure
Review machining features, applications, materials, plating and packaging options.
Engineering
Precision Machined Crimp Contacts
Compare standard crimp pin and receptacle families by wire size and tooling.
Support
Technical Assistance
Send application details to a Mill-Max technical services engineer.
Maximum connections
Find the Right Pin or Define the One You Need
Move from a connection requirement to a manufacturable component with Mill-Max standard products, technical support and custom precision-machining capabilities.