Date: Wed, 23 May 2012 15:59:06 -0400
From: Vanessa Ezekowitz <vanessaezekowitz AT gmail DOT com>
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: [geda-user] 6 Pin, 0.1" Pitch, Male, Panel Mount Connector
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On Wed, 23 May 2012 13:30:28 -0400
Rob Butts <r DOT butts2 AT gmail DOT com> wrote:

> Yes, but I want to be able to mount it in a box so that only the pins are
> coming out of the box.

I think we're all a bit unclear what you want - maybe you could draw an example picture and attach it?

As Bdale mentioned, a right-angle header strip that is exposed through a hole in your project's casing is a possibility; indeed I could swear I've seen right-angle header strips with pins so long that, if mounted close to the edge of the board, would stick out of the case far enough to fit a connector onto the ends without it touching the case (assuming the pins stick out through little individual holes .

That said, I don't think you'll really want the pins to stick out like that in the long run.  Not only are they at risk of being damaged or broken off from bumping into something (say, when you move your project, or put it away when it isn't in use), and those pins could in turn damage something else, including your hands.  I'm sure we've all had the experience of finding some random through-hole component or row of pins the hard way.

It sounds like you want to be able to reach these pins easily e.g. for hacking purposes, so I would suggest one of three options (roughly in order of preference):

1. Use a shrouded male right angle header, and mount it so that the ends of the pins sit just under the surface of your project's casing.  If you choose a common size, it's easy to find pre-made cables with appropriate matching connectors (you may already have such in your junk box).  Just chop off one end of said cable and hook the wires to whatever.

2. Work a 0.156" male card edge into your board layout, designed so that you can plug a female edge connector into/onto it.  Card edge connectors of that pitch are big and easy to handle, especially if you have large hands or poor coordination (like me), and it's quite easy to solder wires onto the terminating pins.

3. Do the same thing, but using a 0.1" pitch connector.  These are less common, for some reason, and are a little less easy to handle due to their smaller size, but they're otherwise as flexible as the 0.156" size.

4. Use a right-angle female header. No need for a mating connector here initially - you can just jam wires or individual male pins into it as needed.

Any of these, if placed correctly, would also allow your project to accept a peripheral mounted directly against it, sidecar style, if it should come to that.

-- 
"There are some things in life worth obsessing over.  Most
things aren't, and when you learn that, life improves."
http://digitalaudioconcepts.com
Vanessa Ezekowitz <vanessaezekowitz AT gmail DOT com>