TFC-121-02-LM-D-A SAMTEC Connector (Other) In Stock
TFC-121-02-LM-D-A is a 42-position Tiger Eye cost-effective terminal strip from SAMTEC with 0.050 inch pitch and dual-row layout. It features SAMTEC's Tiger Eye contact technology for reliable mating performance at a finer pitch, supporting high-density board interconnects in compact electronic designs.
- Manufacturer
- SAMTEC
- Package
- Other
- Pin Count
- 42
- Lifecycle
- ACTIVE
- Datasheet
- TFC-121-02-LM-D-A Datasheet PDF
- Category
- Connector
- RoHS
- Compliant
- Lead Time
- 3–7 business days
- Shipping
- DHL Express · Worldwide
Key Features
- 42-position dual-row layout on 0.050 inch (1.27 mm) pitch enables ultra-high-density board-to-board or board-to-cable interconnection in minimal PCB space
- Tiger Eye contact technology provides superior wiping action, ensuring reliable low-resistance connections across a minimum of 30 mating cycles
- Cost-effective (CE) design optimizes price-performance for high-volume production without sacrificing SAMTEC quality standards
- Left-angle (LM) mount orientation allows low-profile routing parallel to the board surface, ideal for card-edge and stacking applications
Applications
TFC-121-02-LM-D-A is designed for high-density board-to-board interconnects in embedded computing, FPGA development boards, and rack-mount server modules where 0.050 inch pitch saves significant PCB real estate compared to 0.100 inch alternatives. Its Tiger Eye contact geometry and 42-position dual-row configuration make it suitable for connecting daughtercards, memory modules, and high-speed parallel buses in compact instrumentation chassis. The cost-effective construction targets high-volume consumer and industrial electronics where connector cost per pin must be minimized without compromising mating reliability.
Compliance & Regulatory
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes (Pb-Free) |
Alternate & Equivalent Parts
No known alternates. Submit an RFQ and our team can suggest alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does TFC-121-02-LM-D-A's 0.050 inch pitch save board space compared to a standard 0.100 inch pitch 42-position connector?
At 0.050 inch (1.27 mm) pitch, the TFC-121-02-LM-D-A spans approximately 26.7 mm for 42 dual-row positions, whereas a 0.100 inch pitch equivalent would require 53.3 mm — a 50 % reduction in connector length. This halving of the connector zone allows designers to fit a 42-signal interface on a PCB with less than 30 mm of available connector real estate, critical in handheld instruments and compact embedded controller boards.
What is the mating cycle rating and contact reliability advantage of Tiger Eye technology in TFC-121-02-LM-D-A?
SAMTEC's Tiger Eye contacts in TFC-121-02-LM-D-A are designed for a minimum of 30 mating cycles with maintained contact resistance below 20 mOhm per pin. The dual-beam wiping action clears surface contamination on each insertion, unlike single-beam contacts that degrade after 10 to 15 cycles, making Tiger Eye suitable for test fixture sockets and field-serviceable modules that undergo frequent reconnection.
When is TFC-121-02-LM-D-A a better choice than a higher-cost SAMTEC precision terminal strip for FPGA or high-speed signal routing?
TFC-121-02-LM-D-A is well-suited for signals up to 500 MHz where cost-per-pin matters more than ultra-low crosstalk, making it appropriate for parallel data buses, JTAG, and GPIO expansion ports on FPGA development boards. For differential SerDes signals above 3 Gbps per lane or controlled-impedance traces requiring 50 Ohm matched connectors, a premium SAMTEC high-speed series would be more appropriate, but at 2 to 3 times the per-connector price.
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