It is not a connector with signal contacts — the cage provides the mechanical enclosure, EMI containment, and light-pipe indication for the SFP module that plugs into it. The press-fit termination means the cage presses into plated through-holes on the board, no solder required, which suits high-reliability backplane or line-card builds where rework access matters. The right-angle through-hole mounting places the cage parallel to the board edge, lining up with a front-panel cutout for fiber or copper SFP modules. The integrated light pipe gives a visual link-status indicator on the faceplate without extra assembly steps. Bulk packaging is standard — no tape-and-reel, so plan for hand placement or tube-fed pick-and-place with a custom feeder.
Press-Fit Termination — Why It Matters for Assembly
Press-fit (compliant-pin) termination avoids the thermal cycle of wave or reflow soldering. The cage pins deform elastically into the plated through-hole, creating a gas-tight joint.