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Spinoff story
Tiny Springs Improve Electronic Reliability
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
A connection issue in printed circuit boards led to a tiny solution that could have an outsized impact. Printed circuit boards are layered with copper lines and pads that connect electronic components together. However, the joints can break when things heat up. Marshall Space Flight Center’s Mark Strickland and Jim Hester engineered a micro-coil spring connector that is far stronger and longer-lasting. Milledgeville, Georgia-based Topline Corporation now sells the springs and attaches them to components for industry tests and verifications.