🚀 go-pugleaf

For shock mounting, one needs to be careful.  Better to use screw
terminals with appropriately terminated flexible leads.  If the
body of the capacitor can move relative to the printed circuit card
on which it is mounted, the soldered connections on the card will
inevitably crack.  It is doubtful a shock-mounted component without
flexible leads would make it through a mil spec vibration soak.

Ruggedizing for military or rough industrial applications is quite
an art form.  If you're new to the field, it is a good idea to
consult with a packaging mechanical engineer that knows the field.

Even consumer stuff can suffer from cracked solder connections even
with light duty.  I've fixed quite a few of those pizza box type AC
power distribution centers that are supposed to fit between one's
computer and monitor.  They were mostly "Computer Accessories"
brand, but there are some that look identical with other labels on
the front.  In these units, there are big inductors that are
stuffed into a PC board.  There is about 1 cm of space between the
PC board and the inductors in most units.  Several came in the door
DOA due to cracks.  Many others failed after time passed (but were
apparently cracked due to handling in shipping; I doubt they were
dropped by the end users.)  It is ironic that these units have
UL/CSA stickers.  Had I been those certification bodies; I would
not have passed those units -- apparently the models being made
were more sloppily constructed than the lab queens given to the
certifiers.  My fix was to strap down the inductors so they're
flush against the PC boards.


-- 
Bill Mayhew      NEOUCOM Computer Services Department
Rootstown, OH  44272-9995  USA    phone: 216-325-2511
wtm@uhura.neoucom.edu (140.220.1.1)    146.580: N8WED