Interlink Electronics Micro Joystick - Manual (Page 19)

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17
MicroJoystick
Integration Guide
Anisotropic (Z-axis) Conductive Adhesives
Electrical connections between the MicroJoystick and a flexible tail are typically made with a Z-
axis conductive adhesive. These adhesives offer excellent Z-axis conductivity, with little leakage
in the X and Y axis. Two common types of Z-axis adhesives are heat-bond adhesives and
pressure-sensitive tape adhesives. Please review the following sections that detail design
parameters for both styles of Z-axis adhesives, so you can select the best adhesive for your
application.
Heat-Bond Z-axis Adhesives
Flexible-circuit tails can be attached to the MicroJoystick with heat-bond Z-axis adhesives.
Heat-bond adhesives are activated by heat and pressure. A heated ram applies the heat and
pressure to the bond joint allowing the adhesive to attach to the polyester tail and the
MicroJoystick. Special care should be taken to ensure that the ram head is parallel to the bond
joint. If the ram is not parallel, open circuits or biases (caused by high-resistance connections)
could result. For more details on applying heat-bond adhesives, please contact your adhesive or
heat-bonding machine vendor.
PROPERLY ALIGNED RAM MIS-ALIGNED RAM