TFM-138-21-SM-D SAMTEC Connector (Other) In Stock

SAMTEC TFM-138-21-SM-D Tiger Eye surface-mount dual-row terminal strip with 0.050-inch pitch delivering high-density board-to-board and mezzanine interconnections. Gold-plated Tiger Eye contacts rated at 1 A per pin and 125 V AC maintain stable signal paths across hundreds of insertion cycles. Eliminates through-hole drilling for lower PCB fabrication cost in aerospace, defense, and industrial applications.

ACTIVEConnectorVerified Jul 2026
Package / Visual Reference
TFM-138-21-SM-DOther
Quick Facts
Manufacturer
SAMTEC
Package
Other
Pin Count
76
Lifecycle
ACTIVE
Category
Connector
RoHS
Compliant
Lead Time
3–7 business days
Shipping
DHL Express · Worldwide

What are the key features of TFM-138-21-SM-D?

  • Surface-mount (SM) dual-row 0.050-inch pitch layout eliminates through-hole drilling, reducing PCB fabrication cost while doubling pin density versus single-row configurations
  • Tiger Eye gold-plated contact system sustains contact resistance below 30 mohm across hundreds of mating cycles, meeting mission-critical reliability requirements in aerospace and defense
  • Compatible with automated SMT reflow soldering at up to 260°C peak temperature, enabling seamless integration into high-volume pick-and-place assembly lines

What is TFM-138-21-SM-D used for?

The SAMTEC TFM-138-21-SM-D is optimized for surface-mount board-to-board and mezzanine interconnections in aerospace computing, military embedded systems, and high-reliability industrial equipment where consistent signal integrity across repeated mating cycles is essential. Its 0.050-inch pitch dual-row configuration enables dense signal and power routing on FMC daughter cards and rugged module boards operating from -55°C to +125°C. The surface-mount design removes through-hole constraints, allowing component population on both PCB sides and simplifying multi-layer board stack-up in compact system designs.

Compliance & Regulatory

RoHS StatusCompliant
Lead-FreeYes (Pb-Free)

Where can I find the TFM-138-21-SM-D datasheet?

TFM-138-21-SM-D Datasheet Download

Official datasheet from SAMTEC

What are equivalent replacements for TFM-138-21-SM-D?

Compatible alternatives and drop-in replacements for TFM-138-21-SM-D:

TFM-138-01-SM-D-RASamtec Inc

Board Connector, 76 Contact(s), 2 Row(s), Male, Right Angle, 0.05 inch Pitch, Solder Terminal

View Part →
TFM-138-01-L-D-RASamtec Inc

Board Connector, 76 Contact(s), 2 Row(s), Male, Right Angle, 0.05 inch Pitch, Solder Terminal

View Part →

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the surface-mount design of the TFM-138-21-SM-D simplify PCB integration compared to through-hole Tiger Eye terminal strips?

The TFM-138-21-SM-D surface-mount variant eliminates through-hole drilling by using SMT solder pads, cutting PCB fabrication cost while preserving the 0.050-inch pitch and 1 A per pin current rating of the Tiger Eye series. It supports automated reflow soldering at up to 260°C peak temperature and allows component placement on both PCB sides, providing greater layout flexibility for compact mezzanine and daughter card designs.

Which rugged embedded computing platforms are best served by the dual-row 0.050-inch pitch of the TFM-138-21-SM-D?

The TFM-138-21-SM-D is ideal for signal and power distribution on 3U or 6U VPX mezzanine modules, FMC daughter cards, and radar processing boards where the dual-row 0.050-inch pitch concentrates a large pin count into a compact connector footprint. With a 125 V AC rating and reliable operation from -55°C to +125°C, the Tiger Eye contacts maintain signal integrity under high-vibration aerospace and defense conditions that would stress conventional SMT connectors.

When is the dual-row TFM-138-21-SM-D a stronger choice than a single-row 0.050-inch Tiger Eye strip for a high-speed mezzanine design?

The dual-row TFM-138-21-SM-D provides more than twice the pin count of a single-row strip at the same 0.050-inch pitch, which is critical for high-speed mezzanine buses operating above 100 MHz where dedicated ground pins between signal lines are required for signal integrity. This interleaved ground-signal arrangement reduces crosstalk and electromagnetic interference, and the 1 A per pin rating accommodates both high-speed data signals and auxiliary power distribution across the connector in a single compact footprint.

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About SAMTEC

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AvailabilityIn Stock
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In Stock · 24h Response · Worldwide Shipping

Lead Time3-7 business days
MOQFrom 1 piece
ShippingDHL / FedEx / UPS
OriginChina (Authorized)

Response within 24 hours · Worldwide shipping

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