ZQSFP+ Cage — Press-Fit, EMI-Shielded, Right-Angle
The press-fit termination eliminates the need for soldering — the compliant pins cold-form into the plated through-hole, a standard backplane assembly method that keeps the board-side process clean and rework-friendly. The cage is EMI shielded, which is essential for containing the radiated noise from 28 Gbps and higher serial links.
Press-fit termination means the cage pins are pressed into the PCB using an arbor press or insertion tool — no wave solder, no reflow. The compliant pin design (typically an eye-of-the-needle or action-pin) deforms elastically to grip the plated barrel, creating a gas-tight joint.
EMI Shielding and Signal Integrity
The EMI Shielded feature means the cage body is a continuous metal enclosure (often with spring fingers at the panel interface) that attenuates radiated emissions from the high-speed differential pairs inside the ZQSFP+ module. For 28 Gbps NRZ or 56 Gbps PAM4 links, the cage's shielding effectiveness directly determines whether the system passes FCC Class A or Class B radiated emissions. The cage also provides a low-impedance ground path for the module's chassis ground.
The bulk package (tray or tube) suits medium-to-high volume panel assembly where tape-and-reel is not required.