Offering a complete architecture solution along with its software and hardware compatibility with the PC bus, the PC/104 bus is rapidly becoming the embedded computing industry standard. This acceptance is due largely to its size (3.6 x 3.8 inches) and the self-stacking nature of the PC/104 modules.

This self-stacking feature of the PC/104 bus is made possible by the bus connectors. These connectors are considered hermaphroditic, since a single connector functions as both plug and receptacle. Simply put, the extended connector tails on the bottom side of one module plug into the receptacle side of the bus connector attached to the module below it. In this manner, several modules can be connected together to create an integrated embedded solution.

This stacking ability is one of the PC/104’s greatest assets as well as one of its major assembly drawbacks. as the PC/104 bus continues to grow in popularity, the assembly process of soldering the bus connectors to the printed circuit board (PCB) presents a challenge to the high volume production of the PC/104 modules. In this article, Mike covers the shortcomings of traditional soldering methods and offers a viable alternative.