What This Cage Does in the System
It accepts QSFP form-factor transceivers and provides the mechanical alignment, EMI containment, and thermal path for a four-port group in a line card or switch. The press-fit termination eliminates a wave-solder step, which is a clean fit for high-layer-count backplanes where through-hole reflow is not an option. Right-angle mounting orients the cage parallel to the PCB, so the cable exits at the board edge.
Press-Fit Assembly and Board Layout
The press-fit tails are the key detail for the board layout engineer. No solder paste, no wave — the compliant pin compresses into the plated through-hole and cold-welds. The integrated heat sink sits on top of the cage body and draws heat from the transceiver modules through the cage wall — no secondary clip or thermal pad to align.