GP-1S Spring-Loaded Guide Pin - 3.2mm OD, 300g Force PCB Alignment Pillar

Specifications

• Model Name: GP-1S

• Function: Mechanical Alignment / Positioning

• Barrel Outer Diameter (OD): 3.2mm

• Flange / Collar Diameter: 3.5mm

• Tip Diameter: 2.48mm

• Total Exposed Pin Length: 8.5mm (6.0mm straight + 2.5mm taper)

• Barrel Length: 18.0mm

• Spring Force: ~300g (3.0N)

• Material: Nickel/Gold Plated Brass and Stainless Steel

• Mounting Method: Press-Fit (Self-Clinching)

Key Applications and Projects

• ICT / FCT Test Jigs: Building "Bed of Nails" In-Circuit Testing and Functional Circuit Testing fixtures for mass-producing custom electronics.

• Microcontroller Programming Docks: Creating a rapid-flashing dock for ESP32 or Arduino modules where you simply press the board down to upload firmware without soldering headers.

• Automated CNC Alignment: Using the spring-loaded pins to register blank aluminum or FR4 plates onto a CNC spoilboard before routing.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The Rapid Deployment Flashing Jig: Are you currently hand-soldering jumper wires to flash bootloaders onto your custom PCBs? Stop wasting hours of production time! Evolve your workflow by building a rapid programming jig. Cut a piece of thick clear cast acrylic. Drill two 3.2mm holes in opposite corners for these GP-1S guide pins. Drill smaller holes for standard P100-E2 pogo pins aligned to your PCB's programming pads. Mount a vertical toggle clamp to the acrylic. Now, you can simply drop your blank PCB onto the guide pins, pull the clamp down, flash the firmware in 5 seconds, and release! You have just stepped up to professional, factory-level production!

Package Includes:

• 1 x GP-1S Spring-Loaded Guide Pin (3.2mm OD)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What is the main purpose of the GP-1S guide pin? It is a purely mechanical alignment pillar. It guides a printed circuit board (PCB) into the exact perfect position on a testing fixture so that electrical pogo pins can accurately hit the board's test pads.

2. How does this differ from a standard pogo pin? Standard pogo pins (like the P100 series) are thin, fragile, and designed to transmit electrical signals. The GP-1S is much thicker, highly rigid, and carries no electrical signal; its only job is physical structural alignment.

3. Why is the pin spring-loaded instead of solid metal? If a board is inserted incorrectly or lacks a tooling hole, pressing down on a solid metal dowel will crack the PCB. A spring-loaded pin will safely retract into its barrel under pressure, protecting the delicate circuit board.

4. What is the exact outer diameter of the main barrel? The main cylindrical body (barrel) that mounts into your fixture is exactly 3.2mm in diameter.

5. What size hole should I drill to mount this? For a tight friction-fit in acrylic or Bakelite, a drill bit exactly matching 3.2mm (or extremely close, like 3.15mm depending on material shrinkage) is recommended so it securely presses in without needing glue.

6. What is the diameter of the upper positioning pin? The upper pin that actually passes through the hole in your PCB is 2.48mm in diameter. Your PCB tooling holes must be larger than 2.5mm for this pin to fit.

7. How long is the exposed pin section? The exposed section protruding above the collar is 8.5mm total (comprising a 6.0mm straight section and a 2.5mm tapered tip).

8. What is the length of the main barrel? The main 3.2mm diameter barrel measures 18mm in length.

9. How do I stop the pin from falling entirely through my mounting hole? The pin features a slightly wider flanged collar measuring 3.5mm in diameter. This collar acts as a physical stop, resting flat against the surface of your acrylic base plate.

10. What is the rated spring force? This specific pin features a heavy-duty spring calibrated to approximately 300g (3.0 Newtons) of compression force.

11. Can this be used to transmit power or data? No. While it is made of conductive metal, it is not designed to be wired into a circuit. It is exclusively for mechanical positioning.

12. Is the tip sharp enough to scratch my PCB? No, the tip is bullet-nosed and smoothly tapered. As long as it is aligning with a drilled tooling hole, it will gently slide the board into place without scratching the solder mask.

13. What materials are typically used for the jig's base plate? Fixture bases are usually CNC-routed or laser-cut from 8mm to 10mm thick clear cast Acrylic, Delrin, or FR4 Bakelite sheets.

14. How many guide pins do I need for a single test fixture? You need a minimum of two guide pins per fixture, usually placed at opposite diagonal corners of the PCB, to lock the board's X, Y, and rotational axes perfectly in place.

15. Can I use this for aligning 3D printed parts instead of PCBs? Absolutely. As long as the mating part has a 2.5mm or larger alignment hole, these pins work brilliantly for positioning any flat mechanical assembly.

16. Does this require a separate receptacle socket? No. Unlike electrical pogo pins that slide into brass receptacles for easy swapping, the heavy-duty 3.2mm barrel of the GP-1S is designed to be press-fit directly into the fixture base material.

17. What happens if my PCB tooling hole is smaller than 2.48mm? The guide pin will not be able to pass through the hole. You will need to either design your future PCBs with larger tooling holes or purchase a smaller micro-guide pin.

18. Can this pin withstand high temperatures? It is constructed entirely of metal and can withstand ambient operating temperatures, but it is not intended to be run through reflow ovens or wave soldering machines.

19. How long will the internal spring last? The high-quality internal steel spring is rated for hundreds of thousands of compression cycles in a standard factory environment before showing signs of fatigue.

20. Do I need to lubricate the pin? No, the pin comes factory-assembled and should not be lubricated. Adding oils or grease will attract factory dust and fiberglass shavings, which can eventually jam the internal spring mechanism.