Elma expands SureLock card retainer family for secure PCB placement

FREMONT, Calif., 25 Feb. 2016. Elma Electronic in Fremont, California, has expanded its line of card retainers providing uniform retention force across the entire length of the device to ensure printed circuit boards (PCBs) are held securely in place.

The company’s SureLock family of multi-segment, extruded aluminum retaining devices, now available in more length and profile options, is well suited for rugged applications where PCBs slide into a channel in the cold plate assembly or enclosure.

A turn of a screw expands the SureLock retainer to hold the card assembly in place, eliminating tooling costs in most implementations. An added benefit is a uniform retention force across SureLock's entire length to protect cards subject to extreme shock and vibration, as typically found in rugged, harsh, or otherwise challenging computing environments.

"For embedded electronics in mobile applications that require conduction cooling, SureLock not only holds cards securely in place, but facilitates heat transfer as well,” describes Walter Podbelski, Elma's director of business development. “Widely used in ruggedized military and defense applications, this growing family of PCB retainers is finding a home in other areas, including small-form-factor (SFF) industrial systems."

The lightweight, aluminum construction not only makes the SureLock Series useful in compact, mobile applications, but also facilitates conduction cooling by transferring heat from a circuit card to a cold plate or to an enclosure's extruded side walls.

Available in three standard lengths, the expanded series is available in custom lengths from 2.15 to 12.99 inches. Standard nominal cross section profile sizes are 5.7 mm x 5.7 mm (0.225 x 0.225 in.) for the 290 Series; 6.4 mm x 6.6 mm (0.251 x 0.260 in.) for the 325 Series; and 9.3 mm x 9.5 mm (0.365 x 0.375 in.) for the larger 460 Series.

All Elma SureLocks are designed to conform to the DLA standard DSCC-DWG-89024 with an optional DFARs-compliant specialty metal.

Typical SureLock Applications

· In-flight aerospace electronics (commercial and military)

· Mobile communication systems and networks

· Railway electronic systems (positive train controls)

· Electronic monitoring, control and guidance equipment

· Medical equipment such as imaging systems

· Conduction cooled small form factor systems

· Police and fire networks

· Satellite and space electronic systems