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Passivate modified gold-plated 303 SST SMA connector

I need to enlarge the holes on a gold plated SMA connector. Can I clear passivate the connector after machining the holes bigger or will the acid effect the gold plating or teflon insulator? This is for space so it would have to be QQ-P-35. If not, any suggestions?

David Tobias
product designer - New York
January 9, 2009

By holes, you mean the 4 flange holes used to mount that style sma to a plate or pcb? I've modified connectors like that and then gone into our gold bath for a few minutes to flash the base metal, no problems. Will that pass muster as space qualified, no idea. We've done some space qualified product here (not our routine business) and it could be handled on a piece by piece basis with our inspectors. I think my preference would be to not replate, since we're not actually talking about a contact surface there.

Gerry Petencin
nrao.edu - Charlottesville, VA, USA
January 12, 2009