What this connector is and where it sits in the series
The Molex 430451811 is the 18-circuit member of the Micro-Fit 3.0 43045 series — a dual-row 0.118 in (3.00 mm) pitch board-to-cable header with a right-angle SMT profile and a locking ramp that holds the mating half under vibration. It mates with the matching Micro-Fit 3.0 receptacle housing on the cable side, making it the board-edge termination point for harness assemblies in automotive, industrial, medical, and telecom equipment. Eighteen positions in a dual-row footprint means the 430451811 takes the same board area as any other 18-position member of this series — the row spacing is fixed at 0.118 in, so the routing channel between the two rows stays consistent across the family. The 4-wall shroud on all four sides of the housing cavity keeps the receptacle fully guided on mating and prevents accidental stubbing of pins in dense panel assemblies.
What the ratings mean for your design
The contact finish split is the key selection signal here: gold (30.0 µin / 0.76 µm) on the mating side, pure tin (100.0 µin / 2.54 µm) on the solder post. The gold flash on the mating interface gives low insertion resistance and good fretting resistance for applications where the connector will see repeated mating cycles — the locking ramp supports that intent by making each mate deliberate. The thick tin on the post is sized for solderability and long-term oxidation resistance in the SMT reflow profile; the solder retention feature on the post body adds pull-out resistance during preheat before the solder wets. The LCP housing is glass-filled and rated UL94 V-0, which covers the flammability requirement for most industrial and automotive in-cabinet deployments without requiring a separate flame-barrier boot. The 0.290 in (7.37 mm) insulation height measured from the board surface is the figure to check against your z-height budget when stacking connectors or routing cables underneath the mated assembly.
Lifecycle and compliance
Packaging and assembly fit
Shipped in Tape & Reel (TR) for automated SMT placement, with Cut Tape (CT) as a secondary option — match the reel count to your panelization and pick-count before quoting the line. The right-angle orientation is fixed; there is no vertical variant of this specific 18-position cut in this series. The square pin contact shape accepts the matching Micro-Fit 3.0 crimp terminal in the corresponding receptacle housing.