3M 961242-6700-AR-TP Rectangular Connector Header – Equivalent & Substitute Parts

Part Overview

The 3M 961242-6700-AR-TP is a surface mount rectangular connector header with 42 positions at 0.100" (2.54mm) pitch, configured as a 2-row board-to-board interface. This component is classified as obsolete, making equivalent substitute parts necessary for ongoing design support and procurement. The part features male pin contacts with gold-plated mating surfaces, solder termination, and operates across the -25°C to 105°C temperature range with UL94 V-0 flammability rating.

Key Parameters

Parameter	Specification
Connector Type	Header
Contact Type	Male Pin
Number of Positions	42
Number of Rows	2
Pitch – Mating	0.100" (2.54mm)
Row Spacing – Mating	0.100" (2.54mm)
Mounting Type	Surface Mount
Termination	Solder
Contact Finish – Mating	Gold
Insulation Material	Thermoplastic
Operating Temperature	-25°C ~ 105°C
Current Rating	2A
Material Flammability Rating	UL94 V-0
Moisture Sensitivity Level	1 (Unlimited)

Substitute Part Grouping Explanation

Substitution eligibility is determined by strict alignment with the following core parameters:

Connector configuration: 42 positions, 2 rows, 0.100" (2.54mm) pitch and row spacing
Mounting interface: Surface mount with solder termination
Contact system: Male pin configuration with gold mating surface finish
Electrical performance: Current rating and flammability compliance
Environmental compliance: MSL 1 rating and operating temperature range

The substitute parts are grouped into two categories:

Category 1 – Direct Header Equivalents (Samtec TSM-121 Series) These parts maintain the header connector type with male pin contacts, surface mount configuration, and solder termination. Differences exist in insulation material (LCP vs. Thermoplastic), contact finish thickness, and operating temperature range (-55°C to 125°C). All TSM-121 variants are active products with ROHS3 compliance.

Category 2 – Alternative Contact Technology (Mill-Max 814-22-042-30-009101) This part uses spring piston contact technology instead of male pins, maintaining the 42-position, 2-row, 0.100" pitch configuration and surface mount solder termination. The piston contact design provides an alternative mating interface while preserving the core electrical and mechanical footprint compatibility.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	3M 961242-6700-AR-TP	Mill-Max 814-22-042-30-009101	Samtec TSM-121-02-F-DV	Samtec TSM-121-02-F-DV-A	Samtec TSM-121-02-FM-DV	Samtec TSM-121-02-G-DV	Samtec TSM-121-02-G-DV-A	Samtec TSM-121-02-H-DV	Samtec TSM-121-02-L-DV-A-P	Samtec TSM-121-02-L-DV-A-P-TR	Samtec TSM-121-02-LM-DV
Connector Type	Header	Piston	Header, Cuttable	Header, Cuttable	Header, Cuttable	Header, Cuttable	Header, Cuttable	Header, Cuttable	Header, Cuttable	Header, Cuttable	Header, Cuttable
Contact Type	Male Pin	Spring Piston	Male Pin	Male Pin	Male Pin	Male Pin	Male Pin	Male Pin	Male Pin	Male Pin	Male Pin
Number of Positions	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42
Number of Rows	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Pitch – Mating	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)
Row Spacing – Mating	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)	0.100" (2.54mm)
Mounting Type	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount	Surface Mount
Termination	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder	Solder
Contact Finish – Mating	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold
Contact Finish Thickness – Mating	Flash	20.0µin (0.51µm)	3.00µin (0.076µm)	3.00µin (0.076µm)	3.00µin (0.076µm)	10.0µin (0.25µm)	10.0µin (0.25µm)	30.0µin (0.76µm)	10.0µin (0.25µm)	10.0µin (0.25µm)	10.0µin (0.25µm)
Contact Material	Copper Alloy	Copper Alloy	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze	Phosphor Bronze
Insulation Material	Thermoplastic	Not specified	Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)	Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)	Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)	Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)	Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)	Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)	Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)	Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)	Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)
Operating Temperature	-25°C ~ 105°C	Not specified	-55°C ~ 125°C	-55°C ~ 125°C	-55°C ~ 125°C	-55°C ~ 125°C	-55°C ~ 125°C	-55°C ~ 125°C	-55°C ~ 125°C	-55°C ~ 125°C	-55°C ~ 125°C
Material Flammability Rating	UL94 V-0	Not specified	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0	UL94 V-0
Insulation Color	Black	Not specified	Black	Black	Black	Black	Black	Black	Black	Black	Black
Moisture Sensitivity Level	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)	1 (Unlimited)
RoHS Status	Not specified	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant	ROHS3 Compliant
Product Status	Obsolete	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active

Engineering Selection Recommendations

Primary Recommendation: Samtec TSM-121 Series

The Samtec TSM-121 series represents the most direct functional equivalent to the 3M 961242-6700-AR-TP. All TSM-121 variants maintain active product status with ROHS3 compliance, ensuring long-term availability and regulatory alignment. The series offers multiple contact finish options and packaging configurations to accommodate specific design requirements.

TSM-121-02-L-DV-A-P-TR is the preferred variant when board guide and pick-and-place features are required for automated assembly. TSM-121-02-G-DV-A provides board guide functionality with gold post finish in tube packaging. TSM-121-02-F-DV and TSM-121-02-FM-DV offer standard configurations without board guide features.

The TSM-121 series operates across -55°C to 125°C, extending the original part's temperature range. Insulation material transitions from thermoplastic to liquid crystal polymer (LCP), providing improved dimensional stability and thermal performance. Contact material changes from copper alloy to phosphor bronze, with varying gold plating thicknesses across variants.

Secondary Recommendation: Mill-Max 814-22-042-30-009101

The Mill-Max 814-22-042-30-009101 provides an alternative approach using spring piston contact technology. This part maintains the 42-position, 2-row, 0.100" pitch configuration and surface mount solder termination. The piston contact design offers different mating characteristics compared to male pin headers. This option is suitable for applications where contact force and wiping action are beneficial. The part carries ROHS3 compliance and MSL 1 rating.

Selection Criteria

For direct header replacement: Select from the Samtec TSM-121 series based on packaging requirements (bulk vs. tube) and board guide necessity.
For alternative contact technology: Select Mill-Max 814-22-042-30-009101 when piston contact performance is acceptable.
For temperature-critical applications: All substitute parts exceed the original -25°C to 105°C range, supporting extended thermal environments.
For automated assembly: TSM-121-02-L-DV-A-P-TR includes pick-and-place features.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can the Samtec TSM-121 series directly replace the 3M 961242-6700-AR-TP?

A: Yes. The TSM-121 series maintains the same 42-position, 2-row, 0.100" pitch configuration, surface mount solder termination, and male pin contact type. The primary differences are insulation material (LCP vs. thermoplastic), contact material (phosphor bronze vs. copper alloy), and extended operating temperature range (-55°C to 125°C vs. -25°C to 105°C). These differences are compatible with the original part's functional requirements.

Q: What is the difference between TSM-121-02-F-DV and TSM-121-02-G-DV?

A: Both parts are header connectors with identical pitch, position count, and mounting configuration. The primary difference is contact finish thickness on the mating surface: TSM-121-02-F-DV has 3.00µin (0.076µm) gold plating, while TSM-121-02-G-DV has 10.0µin (0.25µm) gold plating. TSM-121-02-G-DV also includes gold finish on the post, whereas TSM-121-02-F-DV uses tin post finish.

Q: What does the "-A" suffix indicate in TSM-121-02-F-DV-A and TSM-121-02-G-DV-A?

A: The "-A" suffix indicates board guide features and tube packaging. These variants include mechanical guides to assist with board alignment during mating. Tube packaging is specified for these parts, whereas standard variants use bulk packaging.

Q: Is the Mill-Max 814-22-042-30-009101 a direct pin-for-pin replacement?

A: The Mill-Max part maintains the same 42-position, 2-row, 0.100" pitch footprint and surface mount solder termination. However, it uses spring piston contacts instead of male pins. This represents a different contact technology that occupies the same PCB footprint but provides different mating characteristics. Compatibility depends on the mating connector design.

Q: What does the "-P" and "-TR" suffix mean in TSM-121-02-L-DV-A-P-TR?

A: The "-P" suffix indicates pick-and-place features for automated assembly equipment. The "-TR" suffix indicates tape-and-reel packaging format. This variant combines board guide, pick-and-place functionality, and tape-and-reel packaging for high-volume manufacturing environments.

Q: Are all substitute parts ROHS3 compliant?

A: Yes. All Samtec TSM-121 variants and the Mill-Max 814-22-042-30-009101 carry ROHS3 compliance certification. The original 3M part does not specify RoHS status.

Q: What is the difference in contact finish thickness between variants?

A: Contact finish thickness varies across TSM-121 variants: TSM-121-02-F-DV and TSM-121-02-FM-DV use 3.00µin (0.076µm); TSM-121-02-G-DV, TSM-121-02-G-DV-A, TSM-121-02-L-DV-A-P, and TSM-121-02-L-DV-A-P-TR use 10.0µin (0.25µm); TSM-121-02-H-DV uses 30.0µin (0.76µm). Thicker plating provides enhanced durability for high-cycle mating applications. The original 3M part specifies flash gold plating.

Q: Can I use TSM-121 parts in applications requiring the original -25°C to 105°C temperature range?

A: Yes. The TSM-121 series operates across -55°C to 125°C, which encompasses the original part's temperature specification. The extended range provides additional thermal margin for demanding environments.

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