In a message dated 10/10/2006 7:41:10 PM Pacific Standard Time, ceengland@bellsouth.net writes:


    I must respectfully offer a somewhat modified view.

    In general, crimped connectors are only reliable if done with very
    high
    quality crimpers, costing many 10's to hundreds of dollars. In a
    production environment, big bucks for a crimper means any klutz
    who can
    squeeze can be very productive.

    Soldered joints are prone to corrosion only if corrosive flux is
    used.
    Improperly crimped pins can have corrosion within the joint, just
    like a
    riveted or bolted structural joint. Crystallizing is a product of
    improper technique, not the soldering process itself. Breakage from
    vibration is an issue with either technique; the stress riser on a
    crimped joint is much sharper than a soldered joint. Proper
    support just
    outside the joint is the remedy, whichever process is chosen.

    Milled pins are certainly better than the rolled sheet metal pins,
    but
    with proper technique, they can be soldered with relatively
    inexpensive
    equipment.

    FWIW,

    Charlie

Charlie
This is one of those where people must agree to disagree. Get the proper crimpers, you need only buy them once. Far to many failures occur due to incidentals and ancillary systems. The milled pins or even the better rolled pins work with the crimper to form the best possible connection. The conductor is crimped in the pin and the insulator is captured by the "tails" of the pin forming a sort of strain relief. This isn't possible with the soldered pins regardless of how good your technique is. Even a perfect solder joint is more likely to break. We need solder joints on circuit boards but crimps are better for everything else. The US Navy now uses crimp connectors on everything. They can "afford" it of course at our expense. If you live in Florida or California's coastal area corrosion could be a factor. Any coastal area for that matter.
Bill Jepson