How to protect pin headers on a board?

[victorhooi]

I have several small modules that have pin headers soldered onto them. (If you're curious, Flipper Zero modules I ordered from Tindie):

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When they shipped to me, some of them came with the pins pressed into a white foam - which I assume stopped them from getting bent. (Curious what that white foam is called).

The white foam I assume is going to eventually wear out if you keep poking the pins in and out of it.

Question - how do I protect these boards (specifically the pin headers) going forward, particularly if I need to transport these modules around a lot? (e.g. in a small Pelican case, or some other kind rigid case, or maybe an EVA foam case).

Are there some kind of plastic caps, or other kind of protection you can buy to protect them whilst transporting them around? (I've googled, and couldn't seem to find anything - but possibly I'm using the wrong search terms).

How do other people handle this?

[dferyance]

If you've got something with 2 rows, you might be able to put an IDC connector on it just to keep things lined up.
But really, if this is a problem, you are probably better off removing the pin header. If you don't have something connected to it, no need to have it.

[coromonadalix]

same toughts on any empty idc  single row  dual row connector  (no cable in it)

you can apply the same tricks on other connectors type / sizes  etc ....     or  put them in some anti static storage bags ...   

enclosures in anti static  foam,  not the white foam or any other color  but anti static pink,  not the ordinary pink  loll

metallic enclosure ...

white foam ...  trash this,  static  ...

[JustMeHere]

Convert them to female headers.

[tooki]

If you've got something with 2 rows, you might be able to put an IDC connector on it just to keep things lined up.
But really, if this is a problem, you are probably better off removing the pin header. If you don't have something connected to it, no need to have it.

Convert them to female headers.

 

If you guys had bothered to actually read the OP, you'd know that they are boards to plug into a Flipper Zero. Since they must plug into an existing device, it is that device that dictates what kind of connector must be used. The Flipper Zero has female sockets, so mating boards must use male headers.

[tooki]

When they shipped to me, some of them came with the pins pressed into a white foam - which I assume stopped them from getting bent. (Curious what that white foam is called).

The white foam I assume is going to eventually wear out if you keep poking the pins in and out of it.

Question - how do I protect these boards (specifically the pin headers) going forward, particularly if I need to transport these modules around a lot? (e.g. in a small Pelican case, or some other kind rigid case, or maybe an EVA foam case).

Are there some kind of plastic caps, or other kind of protection you can buy to protect them whilst transporting them around? (I've googled, and couldn't seem to find anything - but possibly I'm using the wrong search terms).

How do other people handle this?

It'll probably take a long time before the foam is actually worn out!

But chunks of black antistatic foam would be even better -- there are soft ones and firm ones.

You could use ESD transportation containers like the ones made by Protektive Pak, who sells both impregnated cardboard, corrugated plastic, and solid plastic containers with foam inside. Those work great for little modules without needing to make specific cutouts. Look at their part numbers 8521, 57021, 37033, and 38841 for examples of different types.

Or you could get those silver static-shielding bags (small ones), put each board in one, and then put those in some kind of box. Just don't stuff them in roughly.

If you're really ambitious, you could get antistatic filament for a 3D printer and make custom cases.

[dferyance]

If you guys had bothered to actually read the OP, you'd know that they are boards to plug into a Flipper Zero.

I have no idea what a Flipper Zero is. All I heard was there were these dang pin headers getting bent and how to avoid. The pin headers aren't really great for something that needs to get plugged in and unplugged a lot. Normally you want a connector designed for that. Just the act of plugging and unplugging will often bend pins.

Maybe solder a box header on it? The box will help protect the pins. Converting to female headers may be possible. I've done this, put in a female header and use the extra long male-to-male pins in between. You have more connections going on so there could be reliability issues but you'll have them anyway with swapping out modules.

[JustMeHere]

If you guys had bothered to actually read the OP, you'd know that they are boards to plug into a Flipper Zero. Since they must plug into an existing device, it is that device that dictates what kind of connector must be used. The Flipper Zero has female sockets, so mating boards must use male headers.

Then jummper.the two.boards together.   Not particularly hard to figure out. 

Please quit bothering to face palm and flame on this forum.

[amyk]

Your image is broken but shrouded pin headers are available. Back when floppy and hard drives used ribbon cables, all mobos had them.

[tooki]

Your image is broken but shrouded pin headers are available. Back when floppy and hard drives used ribbon cables, all mobos had them.

Won’t work here, since the Flipper Zero’s female headers are flush with the housing. :/

[tooki]

If you guys had bothered to actually read the OP, you'd know that they are boards to plug into a Flipper Zero. Since they must plug into an existing device, it is that device that dictates what kind of connector must be used. The Flipper Zero has female sockets, so mating boards must use male headers.

Then jummper.the two.boards together.   Not particularly hard to figure out. 

Please quit bothering to face palm and flame on this forum.

It’s not a “flame” to point out that you didn’t consider OP’s stated constraints.

[tooki]

I have no idea what a Flipper Zero is.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Flipper+Zero

All I heard was there were these dang pin headers getting bent and how to avoid. The pin headers aren't really great for something that needs to get plugged in and unplugged a lot. Normally you want a connector designed for that. Just the act of plugging and unplugging will often bend pins.

Sure, when you’re designing a system from scratch you’d do that. But since these boards have to interface with an existing product, one has to deal with what it has, suboptimal as it may be.

Maybe solder a box header on it? The box will help protect the pins.

Won’t work here unfortunately, since the Flipper Zero’s female headers are flush with the housing.