The TE Connectivity 2227640-1 is a SAS Mini HD receptacle, a 72-position connector laid out as 36 signal pairs in two rows. The 72 positions map to 36 lanes, each lane carrying a transmit and receive pair — the typical count for a multi-drive backplane controller interface. Press-fit termination means this connector presses into plated through-holes on the backplane without solder. That avoids the thermal stress of reflow on a large connector body and makes field replacement of a damaged receptacle possible — desoldering a 72-position through-hole part is not a field operation.
Why Press-Fit Matters for the Assembly
Press-fit is the standard termination for high-density backplane connectors because it eliminates the solder joint as a failure mode. The compliant pin compresses into the plated barrel of the through-hole, creating a gas-tight connection that handles thermal cycling in a server chassis better than a soldered pin. The trade-off is that the PCB requires a controlled hole size and plating thickness — the backplane fab must hold the drilled diameter within the press-fit pin manufacturer's specified range, or insertion force and retention suffer.